ABSTRACT
Intercollegiate athletics may be the topic, among those covered in thechapters of this volume, that new presidents and senior leaders know least about. Many new leaders of universities and colleges have limited experience with college athletics, and so they face a steep learning curve. For example, when a dean of public health or a president of a small women’s college assumes the presidency of an institution with a notable sports legacy, he or she may quickly face serious challenges. It is not unusual for new presidents to find themselves in the midst of sports-related controversies early in their terms (Woodhouse, 2015).
