The purpose of this research was to gain insight into the decision-making factors, priorities and process used when adding sports to NCAA Division I institutions. The media often focuses on gender equity and financial parameters when discussing athletic decision-making, but this study seeks to go beyond speculation and add to intercollegiate athletic literature by exploring the factors used in the decision-making process to add a sport to an individual institution. What adds to the relevance and timeliness of this study are recent conference realignments as well as the explosion of men's and women's lacrosse and women's sand volleyball. A literature review demonstrated gaps in the available literature while providing support for factors to be explored in this study. Taking a rational choice theory approach is a key benefit because it allowed the researcher to assume that humans make decisions in a rational mode and that their decision-making can be modeled, allowing for predictions about future behaviors, actions, or decisions. This exploratory qualitative study used an elite interview protocol to collect data allowing for individuals who had a critical understanding of the decision-making process to provide clarity regarding their individual institution's experience. From this study's findings, it is much clearer which factors are being used in the decision to add a sport to an individual institution, how those factors are prioritized and the general process that is being used. From those findings a Collegiate Sport Addition Process Model and Tool is proposed and serves to advance the field of decision-making in intercollegiate athletics. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]