Skip to main content

athletics department

The official name of the university department that administers 22 NCAA Division I varsity sports is:

Department of Athletics

Treat capitalization of this department as you would any other department: Capitalize headline style when the full, official name is used, and lowercase otherwise.

  • Correct: Debbie Yow is director of the Department of Athletics.
  • Incorrect: Debbie Yow is director of the Athletics Department.
  • Correct: Debbie Yow is director of the athletics department.

In specific references to the department or its staff, avoid the singular version of the word.

  • Correct: NC State is hiring an assistant athletics director.
  • Incorrect: NC State is hiring an assistant athletic director.
Back to All