An Investigation of Financial Spending and Distributive Justice Principles in NCAA Division I Athletic Departments

Abstract

The Knight Commission cites two critical spending issues in Division I college athletics: the imbalance of rapidly rising expenditures against slow-moving revenues and the widening gap between wealthy conferences and struggling conferences (2009). The purpose of this study is to compare expenditure trends in men’s revenue sports, men’s non-revenue sports, and female sports from 2006–2009, to determine if differences in distributive justice principles exist in budget decisions of athletic departments that fall within three Division I classifications: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), and the Non-Football Subdivision (Division I without Football). FBS institutions were found to almost completely abide by equity principles when making budgetary decisions while the FCS and Non-Football Subdivision made more decisions founded in principles of equality and need.

Keywords:

• NCAA
• finance
• revenues
• expenses

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Coyte G. Cooper

Coyte G. Cooper, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in Sport Administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research area of specialization focuses on innovative branding and leadership principles in intercollegiate athletics.

Danielle Gaynor

Danielle Gaynor, M.S., is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Sport Administration Graduate Program and is currently the Assistant Director of Development at Miami University.

Edgar W. Shields

Edgar W. Shields, Ph.D., is the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His area of expertise involves statistical analyses and research design in sport.

Barbara Osborne

Barbara Osborne, J.D., is an Associate Professor in Sport Administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research area of specialization focuses on legal issues in intercollegiate athletics.