Notre Dame Prep - Junior Varsity Cheerleading Coach

Sacred Heart University•Fairfield, CT

About The Position

The Junior Varsity (JV) Cheerleading Coach works collaboratively with the Head Coach of Cheerleading and the coaching staff to support instruction, development, and coaching of student-athletes at Notre Dame Prep. The position helps foster a positive, competitive, and inclusive team environment that promotes academic achievement, physical fitness, and sportsmanship. The coach contributes to skill development, choreography, conditioning, and performances while helping ensure the program reflects Notre Dame Prep’s mission, values, and athletic standards. The successful candidate demonstrates leadership, sound judgment, effective communication, and commitment to student-athlete safety and personal development. The coach assists with practices, training, conditioning, team events, instruction, team strategy, skills, formations, choreography, athlete evaluations, and monitoring progress. The role also supports communications, team activities, equipment and logistics, season planning, and collaboration among coaching staff. The coach promotes respect, inclusion, accountability, discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship; monitors compliance with school and athletic policies and academic eligibility requirements; and addresses concerns professionally. The position includes monitoring student-athlete health and wellness, reinforcing safe techniques and established safety standards, recognizing and responding to injuries or distress, removing injured athletes from participation, and ensuring medical approval before return to participation. Injuries and safety concerns must be reported promptly to the Head Coach and Athletic Director. The coach supports Notre Dame Prep’s mission and performs other duties as assigned by the Head Coach Cheerleading, Athletic Director, or administration.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least 1–2 years of coaching experience, cheerleading experience, or a combination of both; preferably at the high school or collegiate level.
Ability to complete and maintain First Aid certification.
Knowledge of injury prevention, recognition, response, documentation, and reporting procedures.
Commitment to following school and athletic policies, emergency action plans, athletic trainer recommendations, and applicable cheerleading safety guidelines.
Strong knowledge of cheerleading techniques, rules, safety standards, performance expectations, and competition strategies.
Ability to actively participate in routine formation and demonstrate full-body motions, jumps, and choreography.
Ability to safely perform, demonstrate, instruct, and supervise stunting and spotting techniques.
Ability to provide effective instruction and constructive feedback to student-athletes with varying skill levels and abilities.
Strong leadership skills and ability to motivate, encourage, and inspire student-athletes.
Effective verbal and written communication with student-athletes, parents, school administration, and the community.
Ability to work collaboratively with coaching staff, school administration, and officials.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, including coordinating practices, schedules, equipment, and team activities.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle student-athlete concerns professionally.
Commitment to fostering a positive, respectful, inclusive, and supportive team environment.
Strong commitment to the academic and personal development of student-athletes.
Ability to maintain professional conduct and serve as a positive representative of Notre Dame Prep on and off the field.
Satisfactory completion of a fingerprint-supported background check and a DCF/CPS background check as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

Coaching certification.
Coaching or cheerleading experience at the high school or collegiate level.

Responsibilities

Assist in planning, organizing, and conducting practices, training sessions, conditioning activities, and team events.
Instruct, provide constructive feedback to, encourage, and motivate student-athletes during practices, games, and competitions.
Assist in developing and implementing team strategies, skill-building exercises, formations, and choreography.
Demonstrate cheerleading techniques, jumps, motions, tumbling, and stunting within the coach’s qualifications and established safety guidelines.
Assist with evaluating new student-athletes and identifying strengths and development areas.
Monitor student-athlete progress and recommend individual and team performance actions to the Head Coach.
Assist with team communications, including emails, announcements, schedules, and school-approved social media platforms.
Help organize and supervise team-building activities, fundraisers, special events, and other program-related events.
Assist the Head Coach with equipment, uniforms, supplies, and other logistical needs.
Attend coaching staff meetings and contribute to season planning, program evaluation, and team development.
Collaborate with the Head Coach and coaching staff to ensure consistency in instruction, expectations, and team operations.
Promote respect, inclusion, accountability, discipline, teamwork, and good sportsmanship.
Monitor adherence to school and athletic policies, academic eligibility requirements, and conduct standards.
Address student-athlete concerns appropriately and communicate relevant issues to the Head Coach and Athletic Director as needed.
Maintain professional boundaries and serve as a positive role model on and off the field.
Monitor student-athlete health and wellness before, during, and after practices, games, events, and competitions.
Reinforce proper technique, conditioning, spotting practices, and established cheerleading safety standards.
Recognize potential injuries or signs of distress and respond promptly.
Remove injured student-athletes from participation and refer them to designated medical personnel.
Ensure student-athletes are medically approved before returning to participation following a physical injury.
Promptly report injuries, safety concerns, and other relevant incidents to the Head Coach and Athletic Director.
Support the mission, values, and expectations of Notre Dame Prep.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Head Coach Cheerleading, Athletic Director, or administration.