Head Coach - Track & Field

Job Details: Job Location: Legal Address - Harrisonburg, VA, Salary Range: Undisclosed, Job Title: Head Coach -  Track & Field

Effective Date: January 1, 2027 or earlier

Department:  Athletics

Schedule: Regular, 12 mo., FT, M-F 8am-5pm

Supervisor: Director of Track & Field, XC, & Women’s Triathlon

Salary Range: $35,000 - $50,000

Job Summary: 

This position is responsible for coaching, directing, recruiting, and administering the EMU Track & Field Sprints and Jumps program and assumes other duties as assigned by the Director for Track & Field, XC and Women’s Triathlon (Program Director). The candidate must demonstrate a strong commitment to academic and athletic excellence and to the philosophy and goals of Eastern Mennonite University.  

Duties/Responsibilities:

Organize, develop and administer all phases of a competitive collegiate Track & Field program with an emphasis on sprints and jumps..

Recruitment - develop a comprehensive recruiting plan including roster targets and needs, and operate within the rules and expectations of EMU & the NCAA with a goal of building a roster of approximately 70 student-athletes.
Budget management - present a preliminary budget annually to the Program Director, and understand and effectively manage the finances of the program.
On-field coaching - demonstrate knowledge of sport specific conditioning needs, strategies and trends, training equipment, practice planning, position specific personnel expectations, and provide student-athlete centered coaching and feedback. 
Team Culture - Create an environment that honors diversity, provides support & accountability, and holds student athletes to high expectations reflecting EMU Athletics mission and vision. 
Facility and equipment care -manage and utilize the athletic facilities as shared spaces and properly maintain equipment associated with the program.
Fundraising & alumni engagement - collaborate with Advancement, the Alumni & Parent Engagement Offices, and outside agencies to connect with alumni and execute effective fundraising activities.
Supervision of an assistant and/or part-time coach(es) - see supervisory responsibilities below

Build a successful, respected program, a department & campus community contributor, and adhere to the policies and guidelines of EMU’s Athletics Department, NCAA, ODAC, & CVC. 
Utilize current educational pedagogy that maximizes holistic student athlete development.
Foster positive working relationships with Athletic Department colleagues including support staff (Athletic Training, Athletics Communications, Administrative Assistants, Assistant Coaches) by meeting deadlines, timely communication, attending required staff & campus meetings, and actively working toward departmental and campus goals. 
Prioritize academic success for student-athletes as well as the importance of good citizenship both on and off the playing field, including monitoring and documentation of academic status, class attendance, player campus community engagement (required convocation points), and student conduct.
Perform additional athletic department duties as assigned, up to 25% of annual load

Required Skills/Abilities: 

Thorough understanding of the fundamentals of the applicable team sport.
Thorough understanding of the rules and regulations associated with student athletes and coaches in the sport.
Thorough understanding of the rules and regulations associated with the NCAA Division III.
Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and managerial skills.
Ability to appropriately communicate with athletes, coaching staff, administrators, and other campus colleagues.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Proficient in Google Drive and associated platforms.

Education and Experience:

Master's degree or higher preferred.
Bachelor's degree required.
Minimum of 3 years of collegiate, competitive high school, or elite club coaching experience, including active involvement in athlete recruitment. 

Expertise in Sprints and Jumps required. 
Experience with recruiting, practice and game planning, skill instruction, team culture building, and competencies in administration and budget management of a team preferred.

First Aid/CPR/AED certification preferred at time of application, and required as a condition of employment.

Physical Requirements: 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and climb or balance, including prolonged periods standing and moving during practices, games, meets, matches, and other competitions. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.  The employee must regularly travel to track and xc meets, meetings and conferences off campus, which includes overnight travel. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

In conjunction with the athletic director and program director assigns and promotes assistant coaches based on experience and performance.
Coordinates the work of assistant coaches.
Manages the work of work-study students as needed.

Why Work at EMU?

  At Eastern Mennonite University, we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to invest in your health, financial security, and future. Eligible full-time employees enjoy robust medical, dental, and vision insurance with an employer-supported Health Savings Account (HSA), as well as employer-paid life, short-term, and long-term disability plans. We support your long-term goals with a 403(b) retirement plan featuring a generous employer match, alongside invaluable work-life balance perks including paid time off and vacation time,  paid holidays, a confidential Employee Assistance Program, and a generous tuition remission benefit. Come join a campus community focused on academic excellence, peace and justice and active faith.

About Eastern Mennonite University

Eastern Mennonite University (http://www.emu.edu) is a private, faith-based, liberal arts university in Harrisonburg, Virginia known for academic excellence and affordability with a focus on service, social justice, and global engagement. With more than 1500 students studying at our main campus in Harrisonburg, Virginia; at our Lancaster, Pennsylvania instructional site; and online, EMU offers rigorous academic study at the undergraduate and graduate level.

EMU is committed to an inclusive and equitable campus community where everyone is treated with dignity and respect and can be their authentic self. Our goal is to remove the barriers that underrepresented and marginalized groups have frequently encountered in our society. We commit to address the structures that produce discrimination, racial injustice, gender inequities and other forms of oppression, and to fully include LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and other members of historically minoritized communities.

EMU encourages students, faculty and staff to live their faith and values through service to others, peacemaking, cross-cultural engagement and sustainability. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, EMU is committed to enhancing our community and encourages applications from qualified individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who would deepen the diversity of the University.

 
Qualifications: