Description
Job Classification: Seasonal
Reports to: Director of Athletics
Department: Athletics
Summary
Integral to the success of any athletic program is the head coach—the person who creates and sustains a vision that embodies the purpose and the goals of the Department of Athletics at Mercersburg Academy. The first objective for each head coach at Mercersburg should be to provide a transformative experience for every participant in their program, regardless of level of play or area of contribution.
Vision is fostered and sustained by serving as an ambassador for the school, teaching skill sets alongside determination and commitment, modeling sportsmanship, and by providing direction for all of the teams and individuals within a sport. Paramount to this direction is the consideration of the health, safety, and welfare of the adult staff and student athletes within the program.
The head coach works with the school’s athletic leadership to coordinate the operation and performance of his/her program. Head coaches also work with the athletic department staff in several areas and collaborate, as needed and as appropriate This includes, but not limited to, athletic trainers, the strength and conditioning coordinator, and facilities personnel.
Responsibilities and Duties
Leadership
- Establish a vision for the program and demonstrate a commitment to the mission and the purpose of the program. Communicate and embody the competitive and cooperative nature of athletics, the need for teaching and learning, and the drive for achievement and improvement.
- Effectively set and communicate short, intermediate, and long-term goals and execute action steps with the coaching staff and team(s).
- Create and maintain an atmosphere of trust and respect for, and between, athletes and coaches through demonstration and application of integrity and high ideals in the sport and in relationships with athletes and coaches.
- Exercise self-control and sound judgment when engaged with staff and athletes during practices and competitive events, as well as beyond the athletic venue.
- Consistently apply and strongly adhere to the rules of competition relative to the sport and a respectful approach to both victory and defeat.
Organization and Instruction
- Prepare and execute practices, contests, and other components of team operations effectively and efficiently.
- Demonstrate proficient technical knowledge and strategies. Effectively convey these skills in teaching and guiding athletes of all abilities in the sport.
Community
- Promote and support all athletic teams. Emphasize, encourage, and recognize academic endeavors and other areas of school life beyond the athletic sphere.
- Explore and encourage participation by athletes and coaches in charitable and community oriented activities.
Administrative/Program Management
- Adhere to athletic department philosophy, policies, guidelines, and calendar items.
- Work with the athletic leadership to effectively administer and monitor team operations, including preseason preparations and post-season assessments, coaching assignments, scheduling, team travel, and team inventory maintenance.
Admission
Independent schools rely on an admission process for enrollment, an exercise that involves all faculty to some extent and specifically involves athletic coaches in many instances. The basic expectations of head coaches are:
- Participate in Admission Open Houses and Revisit Days.
- Respond to inquiries from prospective students who express interest in the coach’s sport.
- Respond to inquiries from prospective students who are referred to the coach by the admission office.
- Meet prospective students who visit campus (outside of open house and revisit days) or arrange for assistant coaches to contact and/or meet with prospective students, when needed.
- Communicate on a regular basis with admission officers during the admission process regarding prospective students.
- Coaches are encouraged to initiate interest in the school and their sport by also cultivating appropriate relationships with college coaches, youth clubs and organizations, and other connections that can result in admission inquiries and applications. Any outreach is guided by school admission parameters and Mid-Atlantic Prep League recruiting rules.
Sports Communication
- Facilitate submission of contest results to designated media outlets.
- Submit cumulative and individual statistics to the athletic department for archiving at the end of each season.
Coaching Development, Advancement, and Training
- Engage in sport specific associations, attend clinics/conferences, and embrace opportunities that bring development in coaching methods, strategies, and approaches beyond workshops and seminars provided by the school. Head coaches should engage in these extended advancement opportunities at least once each two years.
Note: All coaches complete mandated courses relative to athlete health and safety on a consistent basis, as directed by the Department of Athletics, in concurrence with applicable state and national rules and laws.
College Recruiting
- Provide appropriate and accurate guidance to athletes who desire to compete on the collegiate level. This involves knowledge of opportunities and NCAA rules, coordinating recruiting video production, communicating with college coaches, and generally being active in the advising process for athletes and their families.
Reflection and Review
- All coaches engage in reflection and provide feedback about their experience and their contributions to the program after each season. Coaches also receive feedback from athletic leadership and from student-athlete surveys.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Mentoring student-athletes in athletic and personal development.
- Demonstrates integrity and sound judgment at all times.
- Ability to establish and execute a cohesive program vision by setting and communicating goals.
- Ability to foster a positive and inclusive team culture.
- A disciplined, results-oriented, self-starter, demonstrating initiative and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Outstanding listening, analytical skills and strong interpersonal skills.
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Independent School experience and familiarity with Mercersburg Academy’s program.
- Previous experience as a tour guide, student caller, or class volunteer preferred.
- The energy and ability to travel regularly. Flexibility to work weekends, early mornings and evenings at various campus special events.
- Computer literacy (Microsoft Office Suite, internet, e-mail, scheduling, and database software programs.)
- Valid driver’s license
- Ability to drive a 9-passenger van
Physical Demands
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
- Environment: Work is performed in both indoor and outdoor environments with exposure to all weather.
- Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to sit, walk or stand for prolonged periods of time; in some aspects of the job the requirement to balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, may be required; will use repetitive motions on a computer; may frequently lift up 20 lbs. or up to 10 pounds constantly and occasionally up to 50 lbs.; to travel in all modes of transportation; sufficient manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination to grasp, finger, and feel.
- Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction.
- Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
This description is intended to provide a general scope of the position. This job description may include other duties as assigned by the manager.
