| The trend of using search firms to assist in the hiring process for coaches and administrators has recently emerged in intercollegiate athletics. This study utilized institutional isomorphism for the theoretical framework. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of search firms in intercollegiate athletics, pinpoint the reasons administrators cite for choosing whether or not to engage search firms, identify the investment associated with search firms, and examine the perceptions and experiences that Division I athletics administrators have with these firms. The response rate from these administrators was 24.96 percent. Descriptive statistics were tabulated, and t-tests, one-way ANOVA's, and a linear regression were performed to determine if administrators' responses were significantly different. Institutional isomorphism was found to be a factor in the decision, but several other factors were also present. The data collected provides a solid foundation of the current role of search firms in intercollegiate athletics. |
