Perceived leadership styles of NCAA Division III coaches and the levels of satisfaction of student-athletes

This study investigated the association between transactional and transformational leadership styles of selected NCAA Division III coaches and the levels of satisfaction among their student-athletes. The study population included NCAA Division III coaches in the states of Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee and the athletes who play for them. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire Short Form 5X was used to assess the coaches' leadership styles and athletes' satisfaction. Thirty head coaches and 299 corresponding student-athletes responded to the questionnaire and demographic survey. An independent samples t-test was used to measure the association between the perceived leadership styles of selected NCAA Division III coaches and the level of satisfaction of the athletes who play for them. There is a statistically significant difference between male and female student-athletes and their levels of satisfaction. An independent samples t-test was also conducted to compare the association between the perceived leadership styles of selected NCAA Division III coaches and the gender of the athletes who play for them. There is a statistically significant difference between male and female student-athletes and transformational and transactional leadership style of their coaches. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to compare student-athletes' class standing with transformational and transactional leadership behavior of their coaches. ANOVA revealed no statistical difference according to class standing of the student-athletes and transformational or transactional leadership behavior of their coaches.