Adam Fisher is the Director of Basketball Operations for the University of Miami. Front Office Sports is proud to have had the chance to talk to him. He is an alumnus of The Pennsylvania State University where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. After that, he got his Master’s in Educational Leadership from Villanova while working as a graduate assistant for head coach Jay Wright. He was kind enough to share his knowledge about college sports, how to become a Division I basketball coach, and why you should treat every day like an interview.
Would you mind telling me about the jobs you had before this one? How did those jobs help you get to where you are now?
My first job was as a student manager at Penn State. After that, I worked as a graduate assistant at Villanova.
On Saturday night, we played a final four game against a very good North Carolina team and lost. After that game on Sunday night, I talked to an assistant coach at Villanova who had been hired as the head coach at Boston University. The next day I got on a plane and moved to Boston to work for Patrick Chambers as his Director of Basketball Operations. We had a great run for two years. The second year we made it to the tournament as the 16 seed.
Patrick Chambers was offered the job of head coach at Penn State, and I went back to work for him as his video coordinator and director of player development.
After that, I went to work for Coach Larranaga as the Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Miami.
Why do you do what you do as Director of Basketball Operations for the University of Miami? What are some of the challenges you face every day?
As Director of Basketball Operations, I handle anything from travel to tickets to hotels. I basically am in charge of helping run the program from a day-to-day standpoint. I’m also a liaison for academics and community involvement.
Every day is different. In the summer, we run a ton of camps where I’m the camp director. The summer is filled with a plethora of camps and clinics. As the season starts, it’s dealing with hotels, facilities and academics. Every day, Coach L, the assistants, and I get together to talk about everything from recruiting to the week’s plans.
The one thing that is a norm for me is my morning runs. I like to run 4–5 miles every morning before I get into work. It helps me clear my head.
I wanted to get into coaching at a young age so I started out as a student manager. That’s what I’ve been told is the best way to become a coach if you didn’t play basketball in college. From there, I have taken steps toward becoming a coach. Whether it’s as a Grad Assistant, Video Coordinator, or Director of Operations, I’ve been slowly getting closer to my goal of becoming a DI basketball coach.
The best moment in sports for me was when I was at Villanova and we beat Pitt at the buzzer in the Elite 8 to make it to the Final 4. Everything was so exciting it was unbelievable! The week of the Final Four is an unforgettable experience for the athletes, coaches, and staff as a whole.
It’s hard to describe how great it feels to know that all your hard work has helped the program get to that point. Everyone was so genuinely excited, no matter how big or small their part was.
The second best for me would be when I was at Boston University. We won the conference championship at home in my second year there. We were behind the whole game and took our first lead of the game with 2. 1 seconds left. There’s nothing more exciting than having one game left to decide if you make it to the NCAA tournament. Especially at a smaller college!.
I love working with the student athletes. You meet these kids when they are 16 and 17 years old making visits. You can then watch them become men when they are 22 and 23 years old. It’s great to be able to teach them not only the game but also simple things like how to cash a check and find healthy food at the store. The best thing about the job, especially here in Miami, is feeling like you’re part of something bigger. Coach L is one of the best in the country at what he does. He makes the program feel so connected and special by including everyone in the success. We have great student athletes who do great not only on the court but also off of it! They do great in school and in their community service.
It is extremely important. There’s more to it than just what you know. It’s also who you know and how you affect them. What makes your resume stand out from the other 200 that are applying for the same job? Why will the person remember your name and pick you over the other 199?
Networking is so important. Just meeting someone and introducing yourself nowadays is not enough. It’s all about the follow up. You might not get responses but you can’t get discouraged. You have to continue to follow up and meet new people.
You can’t just reach out to people when you need something. It’s better to reach out to someone to see how he or she is doing. You could send a coach a simple text message telling him that his team played a great game. This will help them remember you and pick your resume out of the stack.
What advice do you have for people who want to do well in the sports business, especially in terms of operations?
School first. You have to have done a great job in the classroom. After that, you need to set yourself apart; you need to bring something useful to any program or group you join. Everyone is replaceable. You need to have something that a program has or be good at something that a program is not.
You need to talk to people. Ask around and see what professionals are doing. The more you can learn from people who have done it successfully the better off you will be. Always be a sponge, there is always room to learn. Take notes on what you like and what you don’t like. Taking notes on what you don’t like is just as important as taking ones on things you do.
Treat everyday like it’s a job interview. If you go to work everyday thinking it’s a job interview it’s going to be a great day. I always tell guys just to work as hard as they can. I don’t want guys wasting their time.
A lot of people think that working in sports is glamorous. Could you explain how much work and hours it takes to be successful in this field?
There are so many jobs behind the scenes in athletics that nobody ever see or thinks about. Everyone on our team, from the cleaners to the janitors, is important to our program. It takes a lot of hard work. You can’t just say on your resume that you work hard; you have to show it by how you finish tasks and keep up with them. I can’t do my job without having all the people who work for me do their jobs.
Did you have a coach when you were younger? If so, can you say again how important that was to you?
My biggest mentor growing up was my father. He coached all my sports teams and taught me so many great life lessons. He, along with my mother, showed me the importance of support.
There were a few guys in college basketball who took me under their wing and helped me. Early on, Dan Earl and Kurt Kanaskie were great help to me at Penn State. When I went to Villanova, Patrick Chambers was a great mentor and helped me learn how to run a business.
Right now it would be Coach Larranaga, he’s as good as it comes in this business. As great of a coach he is, he’s an even better person.
Landing a job as a Director of Basketball Operations is no easy feat. With competition fierce for these coveted leadership roles, you need to come prepared to knock your interview out of the park.
This complete guide will give you insider information to help you ace the hiring process and show why you’re the best person to run basketball operations for a top sports organization.
Why the Pressure is On in Basketball Operations Interviews
As Director of Basketball Operations, you oversee off-court activities for a basketball team or sports club. This could include anything from travel logistics and player contracts to media relations and budget management.
With such an expansive portfolio, the hiring team needs to thoroughly assess your capabilities before handing you the keys to their kingdom. Expect in-depth behavioral and situational questions that test both your strategic acumen and leadership competencies.
Unlike interviews for junior roles, you won’t get away with textbook responses Demonstrating your experience managing teams, juggling responsibilities and making high-stakes decisions is a must Let’s unpack the types of questions you’re likely to encounter.
7 Key Focus Areas in Director of Basketball Ops Interviews
After extensive research analyzing feedback from real candidates we identified 7 core competencies frequently evaluated
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Leadership: How you motivate teams, resolve conflicts and communicate vision.
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Strategy: Your ability to analyze data, identify solutions and plan systematically.
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Operations: Experience managing budgets, logistics and administrative tasks smoothly.
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Relationships: Building partnerships with media, sponsors, vendors and other stakeholders.
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Player Personnel: Recruiting talent, negotiating contracts and enhancing performance.
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Compliance & Governance: Following rules, minimizing risks and ensuring ethical conduct.
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Culture: Promoting diversity, inclusion, work ethic and continuous improvement.
Expect a balanced mix of questions covering each of these areas. Let’s look at some examples:
25 Common Director of Basketball Operations Interview Questions
Here are 25 actual questions candidates have reported facing:
Leadership
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How would you describe your leadership style and approach to managing teams?
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Share an example of when you motivated a disengaged or underperforming team member. How did you turn their performance around?
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Tell me about a time you had to make an unpopular decision. How did you handle communicating this and managing potential fallout?
Strategy
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If we were 3-4 months away from playoffs, how would you work with coaches and players to enhance our chances of success?
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How would you leverage data and analytics to inform basketball operations and strategic planning?
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Describe a situation when you identified an operational bottleneck or challenge and devised an innovative solution.
Operations
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Walk me through how you would plan a 5-game away tour including travel, accommodation and other logistics.
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What experience do you have managing budgets and controlling costs for a basketball department?
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Tell me about a time you successfully project managed a large-scale event or initiative from end-to-end.
Relationships
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How have you secured sponsorship deals and partnerships in the past to help fund basketball programs and facilities?
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Share an example of how you successfully managed media relations and publicity for a high-profile basketball organization.
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Describe your approach to negotiating with vendors and suppliers to reduce costs. Share an example deal you secured.
Player Personnel
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What is your philosophy and process for recruiting, assessing and retaining top talent?
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How would you handle a difficult contract renegotiation with a star player seeking significantly higher pay?
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Tell me about a time you helped a player overcome issues affecting their performance or morale. How did you support them?
Compliance & Governance
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Share an example of how you ensured policies and procedures were followed by all staff and players.
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How do you stay up-to-date with the latest rules and regulations around compliance, health and safety?
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Describe a time when you identified unethical behavior within a team and how you responded.
Culture
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What steps would you take to build an inclusive, high-performance culture?
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Tell me about a time you motivated a team during a period of low morale or poor performance.
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How have you recognized players and staff for their achievements and contribution in past roles?
Specialized Questions
Sometimes you may get thrown a curve-ball relating to a specific skill, such as:
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What experience do you have using data analysis tools and sports science to enhance athletic performance?
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Give an example of how you successfully utilized social media and digital platforms to engage fans.
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Share ideas on how you would utilize new technologies like wearables, VR and analytics within basketball operations.
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Walk me through how you would develop a 5-year strategic plan for a basketball department.
These questions aim to test niche capabilities that may be beneficial in certain Director of Basketball Operations roles depending on the organization. Make sure you’re prepared to showcase any specialized expertise.
Now let’s look at crafting winning responses…
How to Stand Out with Your Responses
You understand the types of questions you’ll face, but how do you take your responses to the next level and showcase why you’re the ideal candidate?
Here are 8 tips for crafting winning answers:
1. Outline the Situation First
Before diving into how you solved a problem or made a decision, take a sentence to outline the situation context first. This helps the interviewer easily follow your story. For example:
“In my previous role with the Clippers, we faced a situation towards playoffs where our star shooting guard suffered a season-ending injury…”
2. Focus on Your Own Contribution
Don’t speak generically about a “team effort” – highlight what YOU specifically did to drive a successful outcome. Use “I” statements rather than “we.”
3. Quantify and Qualify Your Impact
Include measurable results and data to demonstrate your influence. For example “I improved shooting accuracy by 15% across the team within 6 months.” Qualify how this impacted performance and success.
4. Get Granular with Details
Avoid vagueness. Get into the nitty-gritty of HOW you solved a problem and WHY you made certain decisions to add credibility.
5. Align with Role Priorities
Tailor your responses to showcase capabilities directly relevant to the Director of Basketball Operations role. Draw upon experiences that exemplify desired competencies.
6. Showcase Leadership Skills
Even when discussing technical tasks, try to demonstrate transferable soft skills like strategic thinking, relationship building and communication.
7. Be Concise
Keep your answers focused within 60-90 seconds. Resist rambling or getting sidetracked.
8. Practice!
Rehearse your responses out loud to perfect your delivery. Memorize key anecdotes you can re-use for commonly asked questions.
Preparation is power when it comes to acing the Director of Basketball Operations interview process. Let’s look at sample responses covering the key focus areas:
12 Sample Responses to Model
Here are 12 sample responses to help you create your own winning answers using the strategies outlined above:
Q1. How would you describe your leadership style and approach to managing teams?
In my leadership roles, I’ve focused on leading by example, fostering collaboration, and empowering team members. For instance, at the Bulls, I kickstarted daily coaching clinics where I demonstrated techniques hands-on before staff replicated with players. This helped instructors master skills while building trust in me as a leader. My approach is to give staff autonomy within a structured framework. I communicate responsibilities clearly, then provide the tools and support for them to succeed in their roles. Ultimately, I aim to create a culture of accountability, transparency and continuous improvement.
Q2. Share an example of when you motivated a disengaged or underperforming team member. How did you turn their performance around?
In one case, we had a conditioning coach who was struggling to engage new players in his training programs. I noticed attendance falling and morale declining. I arranged to meet with him 1:1 to better understand his perspective. By actively listening, I uncovered that he felt overwhelmed by expanding responsibilities. Together, we devised an action plan to review his workloads. I assigned an assistant to take certain tasks off his plate, enabling him to focus on player training. Within months, session attendance and feedback improved. This example shows my approach – diagnose issues through open dialogue, then provide tailored solutions empowering staff to thrive.
Q3. If we were 3-4 months away from playoffs, how would you work with coaches and players to enhance our chances of success?
With playoffs looming, I would take three steps:
Firstly, liaise closely with coaches to analyze player performance metrics and upcoming opponents. This data would inform tailored training programs targeting our weaknesses. I’d also arrange joint strategy sessions for players and coaches to align on game-plans.
Secondly, I’d schedule sports psychology workshops focused on pressure performance. This would equip players mentally to
Top 20 Director of Operations Interview Questions and Answers for 2024
What are the most common director of operations interview questions?
To help you navigate these discussions with confidence and clarity, we’ve compiled a list of common Director of Operations interview questions along with insights on how to approach them effectively, as well as sample answers to inspire your own unique responses. 1. Can you describe your experience in managing cross-functional teams?
How do you interview a director of operations?
Directors of operations are tasked with a high level of management, which requires an excellent candidate to have the necessary skills to prevent, respond to, and solve issues within or between departments. Behavioral questions are often used by interviewers to get a better understanding of your soft skills.
What questions do you ask a director of operations?
As a Director of Operations, it’s essential to be well-informed about the latest advancements and best practices in your field. Interviewers ask this question to gauge your commitment to continuous learning and your ability to adapt to new developments.
What does the interviewer ask a young basketball player?
This question is designed to determine if you have the necessary experience to work with young players. The interviewer is looking for an understanding of how to motivate and lead young players, as well as knowledge of developmental basketball skills and strategies. How to Answer:
