Sprint Track & Field Coach

Phillips Exeter Academy•Exeter, NH

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Sprint Track & Field Coach supports Phillips Exeter Academy’s indoor and outdoor track and field programs by providing specialized sprint and relay instruction as a seasonal, part-time adjunct coach. Working with the head coaches, the coach helps create an educational, competitive, and student-centered experience, teaches sound technique, prepares student-athletes for competition, and supports their development as teammates, leaders, and community members. The position covers indoor track and field in winter and outdoor track and field in spring, approximately 20 hours per week over six days per week. The winter season generally runs from early November through early March, and the spring season from March through late May. Practices are in the afternoon, with evening or weekend meets. Academy breaks, championships, and travel may require additional commitments, and the schedule may vary according to departmental and Academy needs. The role advances the Academy’s educational-athletics mission, which emphasizes integrity, character development, collaboration, leadership, self-confidence, and commitment to others. The coach works under the direction of the head coaches and does not supervise coaching staff. The position is on-site and pays $3,175–$3,875 per season, based on relevant education and/or experience.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Demonstrated experience coaching or teaching sprints and relays, with the ability to develop athletes for indoor and outdoor competition.
At least 21 years old.
Current CPR/AED and first-aid certification, or ability to obtain certification before the season begins.
Valid driver’s license and ability to meet and maintain Academy driving requirements.
Completion of required safeguarding, concussion-awareness, emergency-action-plan, and sport-specific safety training.
Ability to work a flexible seasonal schedule that includes afternoons, evenings, weekends, Academy breaks, and travel during both the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Ability to demonstrate or effectively teach sprint mechanics, starts, and relay exchanges and to move throughout indoor and outdoor track facilities.
Ability to coach and supervise in a busy indoor field house and outdoors in varying weather conditions, including in a loud, chaotic, stressful environment with multiple event groups operating concurrently.
Ability to set up, inspect, use, and move sprint and relay equipment, including starting blocks, relay batons, cones, and timing equipment, to or from storage.
Ability to lift and transport up to 25 pounds without assistance and perform other essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Successful completion of a criminal background check, reviewed every five years.
Clean driving record, reviewed annually.
Compliance with Academy policies and expectations related to student safety, supervision, travel, conduct, confidentiality, and mandated reporting.
Regular and reliable attendance throughout both assigned seasons, including required preseason, postseason, evening, weekend, Academy-break, and travel commitments.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree.
Prior secondary-school, collegiate, club, or comparable sprint-coaching experience.
Experience working with adolescents in an educational, residential-school, camp, or youth-development setting.
Experience using training records, race video, and performance data to support athlete development.

Responsibilities

Plan and conduct purposeful sprint and relay practices in coordination with the head coaches and overall team schedule.
Teach sprint mechanics, starting-block setup and technique, acceleration, maximum-velocity running, speed endurance, race execution, and relay exchanges.
Develop progressive training plans for short and long sprinters, adapting to indoor and outdoor events, facilities, competition schedules, and athlete development.
Establish and reinforce safety practices for track traffic, starting blocks, relay exchange zones, equipment setup, progressive training loads, and changing indoor and outdoor conditions.
Establish clear team standards and cultivate a healthy, enjoyable, and supportive culture grounded in trust, belonging, accountability, collaboration, fair play, and no tolerance for hazing.
Provide instruction, encouragement, and constructive feedback that supports individual growth, team performance, self-confidence, and a healthy relationship with competition.
Adjust teaching and coaching methods to meet varied experience levels, learning needs, identities, and strengths within the team.
Assess student-athletes’ technique, performance, and progress; maintain appropriate training and meet information; and communicate development goals clearly and respectfully.
Promote student-athletes’ physical, social, and emotional well-being and follow Academy procedures for injury prevention, emergency response, return-to-play, and student support.
Coordinate with head coaches, athletic training, and strength and conditioning staff to support appropriate training loads, recovery, injury prevention, and return-to-participation plans.
Drive and transport students for sponsored events and practices.
Collaborate with other event-group coaches to coordinate training and competition for students participating in multiple events.
Assist the head coaches with sprint and relay entries, relay selection, meet preparation, timing, equipment, and other assigned team logistics.
Maintain current knowledge of sprint and relay rules, teaching methods, safety practices, and applicable Academy, league, and governing-body expectations.
Model and teach integrity, sportsmanship, respect for opponents, officials, and competition rules, responsible decision-making, and commitment to others.
Support prospective student-athlete outreach and program visibility when requested by the head coaches and Athletics, in coordination with Admissions and consistent with Academy policies.
Provide sprint and relay performance information and honest evaluation to support students interested in collegiate participation, in coordination with the head coaches, Athletics, and College Counseling.
Supervise student-athletes during scheduled practices, competitions, travel, meals, lodging, training trips, and other team activities.
Participate in departmental meetings, professional learning, program assessment, and other activities that strengthen the Academy’s educational-athletics program.
Perform other duties as assigned.