An examination of environmental forces driving change and stakeholder responses in a Football Championship Subdivision athletic department

Change is a constant in the sport industry, with numerous forces driving and inhibiting the change process. To add to our conceptual understanding of forces driving and inhibiting change, this qualitative case study investigated environmental forces driving change agent decision making, as well as employee and student-athlete responses to organisational change, in a Division I Football Championship Subdivision athletic department in the U.S. Findings revealed that forces for change included competitive pressures from conference affiliation, economic conditions in a turbulent environment, and alumni, parents and fans. Themes shaping stakeholder responses to change were organisational history and tradition, institutional support and politics, and concerns for legitimacy of the organisation. Stakeholders also had homogenous and heterogeneous responses, based on self-interest, symbolic predispositions and sense of collective identity. A discussion situating the findings in the broader sport context is provided, as well as suggestions for future research and practice.