TURN YOUR athletic director EXPERIENCE INTO REAL sports tech impact
Join our community of forward-thinking ADs who get paid to shape the future of sports tech.
750+ Ads. 47 states. Real consulting, real impact.
WHY WE BUILT THE AD THINK TANK
Compensate AD real-world experience through paid consulting work
Unify trusted AD leaders through community and opportunities to enhance their leadership in the world of school sports
Influence the next generation of tech tools through direct contact with builders to ensure future solutions meet your needs
Get inside access to the latest school sports tech and the disruptors in the industry
WHAT’S BROKEN AND HOW WE FIX IT
There’s a real disconnect between athletic directors and the sports tech companies trying to serve their programs. The AD Think Tank is here to help close that gap.
Most sports tech is built in isolation from real Athletic Director work.
- The Think Tank fosters direct, structured feedback loops between ADs and sports tech founders.
- Through paid consulting opportunities, your experience is compensated, and your level of engagement is on your terms.
Your time as an AD is spent managing tools rather than your programs.
- ADs help define for sports tech builders what ‘efficiency’ means in their day to day and provide a blueprint for these companies to build tools that make the AD’s daily work easier and more efficient.
ADs have no voice after purchasing a new tech tool.
- Too often the relationship between the vendor and AD ends with the purchase transaction.
- The AD Think Tank gives you a persistent seat at the table so your feedback for founders is collective, visible and actionable.
As an AD Think Tank member, you gain access to opportunities, conversations, and projects that both recognize your expertise and value your time spent working to ensure better sports tech tools are available for all ADs, nationwide.
For example: reviewing new tools before launch, shaping pricing models, or helping founders avoid costly missteps.
CORE BENEFITS
Through the AD Think Tank, ADs like you gain direct access to school sports leaders to influence how tools are built before their decisions are locked in. You can participate when it makes sense for you, and step away when it doesn’t.
You decide exactly how involved you want to be.
No mandatory meetings.
No obligation to participate in everything.
The Think Tank is designed to match the demands of your schedule, so your engagement fits your life.
Specifically you receive:
Paid consulting opportunities
Projects range from quick feedback sessions to deeper paid engagements
Early access to vetted sports tech solutions through our Vendor Directory
Direct connections to trusted sports tech vendors
Early access to vetted sports tech solutions through our Vendor Directory
Direct connections to trusted sports tech vendors
Ready to get started?
HOW IT WORKS
By participating in the AD Think Tank, Athletic Directors like you contribute their experience to ongoing consulting work that directly informs how sports tech is built and improved.
Your sustained engagement ensures the needs of school sports leaders remain central to innovation, while providing you with meaningful, compensated opportunities to influence change.
Step 1: Join the AD Think Tank
Create your AD Think Tank profile to get access to paid consulting opportunities and vetted sports tech conversations.
Step 2: Activate Your Membership
A short, no-pressure call to confirm your interests, answer questions, and ensure you’re matched to the right opportunities. This step officially activates your membership.
Step 3: Participate On Your Terms
Join projects when it makes sense for you. Step in or out as needed. You control your level of involvement.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the AD Think Tank?
The AD Think Tank is a practitioner-led group of Athletic Directors who directly influence how sports tech tools are built for school athletics. Members collaborate with sports tech founders to ensure new solutions address real-world AD challenges.
Who is the AD Think Tank for?
The AD Think Tank is built for current and retired Athletic Directors who want a stronger voice in the tools they’re expected to use every day. It’s especially valuable for ADs frustrated by fragmented systems, inefficient workflows, or tech that doesn’t reflect the reality of school sports operations.
How does participating actually help improve sports tech tools?
Through structured conversations and paid consulting engagements, ADs share real use cases, challenges, and feedback directly with founders. That insight informs product decisions before features are finalized, helping builders create more connected, efficient, and usable tools for athletic departments.
Do Athletic Directors get paid for participating?
Yes. Many AD Think Tank members are compensated for their time and expertise through consulting projects with sports tech companies. These engagements recognize the value of your experience and ensure your feedback directly influences product development.
Is Think Tank membership just a sales pitch from vendors?
No. The AD Think Tank is designed to prioritize AD voices, not vendor demos. Conversations are facilitated to focus on real operational challenges, workflow improvement, and product usability keeping the needs of Athletic Directors at the center.
How much time does participation require?
Engagement is flexible. Some members participate in occasional feedback sessions, while others take part in recurring consulting projects. You can choose opportunities that fit your schedule and level of interest.
What makes K12 Sports Tech different from other sports tech platforms?
K12 Sports Tech is built around practitioners, not platforms. Instead of pushing tools, K12 creates structured access, insight, and collaboration that allows Athletic Directors to shape innovation across the sports tech ecosystem.
What happens if Athletic Directors don’t get involved?
When ADs aren’t part of the conversation, tools continue to be built in isolation, leading to fragmentation, inefficiency, and wasted time. The AD Think Tank exists to prevent that by giving Athletic Directors a persistent seat at the table where decisions are made.
TURN YOUR EXPERIENCE AS AN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR INTO REAL IMPACT IN SPORTS TECH
Not ready to join the Think Tank yet? Download our AD Think Tank Whitepaper