Track and Field Distance Coach

Harlem Children's Zone • New York, NY

1d • $25 - $30 • Onsite

About The Position

Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) seeks an enthusiastic, dedicated, and mission-aligned Track & Field Distance Coach to lead the development of scholar-athletes competing in distance events across elementary, middle, and high school programs. The Distance Coach will be responsible for providing high-quality instruction, developing scholar-athletes’ technical, physical, tactical, and mental skills, preparing athletes for competition, and contributing to the overall growth and success of the HCZ Track & Field program. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a passion for HCZ’s mission, an understanding of and respect for the Harlem community, and experience working with youth in a school-based or community-based setting. The successful candidate will use athletics as a platform to promote academic achievement, leadership, accountability, discipline, teamwork, resilience, and personal growth.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required; bachelor’s degree preferred.
• At least three years of experience coaching track and field, cross country, distance running, or a related endurance sport, preferably at the middle school, high school, collegiate, club, or elite competitive level.
• Demonstrated experience coaching distance events, including but not limited to the 800m, 1500m/1600m, 3000m, 3200m, 5K, and cross country.
• Strong knowledge of distance running principles, race strategy, conditioning, training methodology, recovery, injury prevention, and athlete development.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement progressive training programs appropriate for youth and adolescent athletes.
• Experience coaching and supporting youth and adolescent populations.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, mentor, and retain scholar-athletes.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and programs of Harlem Children’s Zone.
• Strong leadership, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accurate records, and meet established deadlines.
• A positive, enthusiastic, collaborative, flexible, and solutions-oriented mindset.
• Ability to work effectively with scholars, families, coaches, school leaders, HCZ colleagues, community organizations, and external partners.
• CPR and First Aid certification, or the ability to obtain certification within the required timeframe.
• Ability to travel to away meets, cross country competitions, tournaments, invitationals, championships, and other athletic events.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours as required by the athletic schedule.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive distance-training program for elementary, middle, and high school scholar-athletes.
• Design age-appropriate, progressive training plans that develop endurance, speed endurance, strength, mobility, running mechanics, race strategy, and overall athletic performance.
• Lead daily practices and distance-specific training sessions.
• Develop individualized training plans based on athlete ability, experience, event specialization, competition schedule, and developmental needs.
• Prepare scholar-athletes for distance events, including the 800m, 1500m/1600m, 3000m, 3200m, 5K, cross country, and other applicable endurance events.
• Teach proper running mechanics, pacing, race strategy, warm-up and cool-down procedures, recovery techniques, and training principles.
• Monitor training volume, intensity, recovery, and athlete readiness to support healthy and sustainable development.
• Incorporate strength, mobility, flexibility, conditioning, and injury-prevention strategies appropriate for distance athletes.
• Collaborate with Strength & Conditioning staff, Athletic Trainers, medical personnel, and other coaches when appropriate to support athlete health and performance.
• Evaluate athlete performance through practices, competitions, time trials, fitness assessments, and other appropriate measures.
• Use performance data to establish goals and adjust training plans.
• Identify and develop scholar-athletes with potential to compete at higher levels of competition.
• Prepare scholar-athletes for league meets, invitationals, championships, cross country competitions, tournaments, and other sanctioned athletic events.
• Develop race strategies and individualized competition plans based on event, athlete strengths, competition level, and meet conditions.
• Attend and actively coach assigned competitions and provide real-time instruction, support, and feedback.
• Maintain accurate records of athlete times, personal records, placements, qualifying standards, and other relevant performance data.
• Help identify opportunities for scholar-athletes to compete in appropriate competitive environments that support their development.
• Support the Head Track & Field Coach with meet entries, athlete selection, relay considerations, event assignments, and competition logistics.
• Promote sportsmanship, professionalism, accountability, and appropriate conduct before, during, and after competitions.
• Recruit, evaluate, develop, and retain scholar-athletes interested in distance running and endurance events.
• Provide individualized instruction and feedback to support each scholar-athlete’s athletic development.
• Establish a positive, disciplined, inclusive, and competitive training environment.
• Promote sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, resilience, accountability, discipline, and respect.
• Establish and communicate clear expectations regarding attendance, participation, behavior, academic performance, training standards, and team responsibilities.
• Hold scholar-athletes accountable for meeting HCZ academic, school attendance, and after-school programming standards.
• Collaborate with school staff, CCLR, Zone site staff, families, and other HCZ colleagues to identify and support scholars experiencing academic, attendance, behavioral, or engagement challenges.
• Reinforce the expectation that academic responsibilities and required school or after-school programming take priority over athletic participation.
• Teach scholar-athletes the importance of goal setting, consistency, time management, nutrition, hydration, recovery, discipline, and responsible decision-making.
• Recognize and celebrate academic achievement, leadership, positive behavior, personal growth, and athletic accomplishments.
• Prioritize the health and safety of all scholar-athletes during practices and competitions.
• Implement appropriate warm-up, cool-down, recovery, hydration, and environmental safety practices.
• Monitor athletes for signs of excessive fatigue, overtraining, injury, dehydration, heat-related illness, or other health concerns.
• Follow all HCZ, school, league, and athletic safety policies and procedures.
• Immediately report injuries, incidents, behavioral concerns, and other relevant matters through established protocols.
• Collaborate with Athletic Trainers, school nurses, Strength & Conditioning staff, and other appropriate professionals regarding scholar-athlete health and readiness.
• Promote healthy training habits and educate scholar-athletes on the importance of recovery, nutrition, hydration, sleep, and injury prevention.
• Support the Head Track & Field Coach with the day-to-day operation of the Track & Field program.
• Maintain accurate records related to athlete participation, attendance, performance, eligibility, competition results, and program outcomes.
• Support the management and maintenance of Track & Field equipment, uniforms, supplies, and program resources.
• Ensure equipment is properly maintained and returned following practices and competitions.
• Assist with scheduling practices, competitions, transportation, facilities, and other program logistics.
• Support the planning and execution of Track & Field events, clinics, showcases, camps, community events, and other program activities.
• Maintain a clean, organized, safe, and professional training environment.
• Provide timely updates regarding program needs, athlete concerns, equipment, facilities, competitions, and other operational matters.
• Collaborate closely with the Head Track & Field Coach, Assistant Athletic Director, Director of Athletics, school leaders, and other coaches to ensure program alignment.
• Support the implementation of HCZ policies, procedures, organizational initiatives, and strategic priorities.
• Participate in required meetings, professional development sessions, trainings, family engagement activities, and organizational events.
• Maintain consistent and professional communication with scholars, families, coaches, school leaders, and external partners.
• Collaborate with CCLR to integrate college, career, leadership, and readiness opportunities into the scholar-athlete experience.
• Collaborate with Wealth Builds to support financial literacy, long-term planning, and economic empowerment opportunities for scholar-athletes and families.
• Build relationships with local running organizations, clubs, colleges, athletic programs, leagues, and other community partners to expand opportunities for scholar-athletes.
• Support a strong, inclusive, collaborative, and mission-aligned Track & Field culture across HCZ.
• Ensure all coaching activities comply with HCZ policies, school requirements, league regulations, and applicable athletic governing-body standards.
• Maintain accurate records of scholar participation, attendance, academic eligibility, performance, competition results, and development.
• Use performance data to inform training plans, event assignments, athlete development, competition preparation, and program improvements.
• Monitor scholar-athletes’ academic eligibility and readiness for collegiate athletic opportunities.
• Research and identify appropriate distance-running competitions, invitationals, showcases, camps, clinics, and collegiate exposure opportunities.
• Support scholar-athletes who demonstrate the potential and interest to pursue collegiate athletics.
• Ensure scholar participation in external competitions and opportunities aligns with applicable school, league, organizational, and NCAA requirements.

Benefits

• Career Advancement
• Paid sick leave
• Employee referral bonus
• Physical wellness discounts
• Commuter benefits
• Additional Benefits (Discounts on flights, hotels, theme parks, concert tickets, and more.)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED