THE AD ALMANAC: A Field Manual for the Modern Athletic Director (Athletic Legacy Series) Hardcover – December 31, 2025

The AD Almanac: A Field Manual for the Modern Athletic Director is the definitive field manual for modern athletic directors who want to build programs that outlast seasons, staff changes, and shifting community pressures. Blending practical systems with transformational leadership principles, Lee Burchett offers a comprehensive blueprint for creating sustainable, high-impact athletic departments rooted in purpose, culture, and long-term success.Across ten research-informed chapters, Burchett guides readers through the evolving role of the athletic director—from manager to movement leader, from operations coordinator to architect of culture. Readers learn how to design and implement clear systems for game-day operations, communication, data tracking, community engagement, and staff development. Drawing from leadership theory, educational best practices, organizational psychology, and real-world athletic experience, The AD Almanac demonstrates how intentional structures not only streamline operations but also strengthen relationships, improve morale, and enhance student-athlete outcomes.At the heart of this book is one foundational truth: culture is built, not born. Burchett equips athletic leaders with actionable tools such as the Culture Dashboard, Legacy Library folder system, PDCA Annual Review Calendar, and a full suite of ready-to-use checklists and templates. Each chapter ends with reflection prompts designed to deepen learning and drive implementation.More than a technical guide, The AD Almanac is a call to lead with purpose, humility, and humanity. It integrates servant leadership principles to emphasize that the true measure of an athletic director is not trophies, but lives changed. Readers are challenged to build programs that elevate their schools, engage their communities, and develop student-athletes into leaders who carry the culture forward.Whether you are a new athletic director, an experienced administrator, or a coach aspiring to lead, this book will help you design systems that scale, cultures that inspire, and programs that endure. The AD Almanac is not just a book—it is a legacy-building movement for leaders who want to make a lasting impact in athletics and beyond. Read more