Varsity Head Softball Coach

Phillips Exeter Academy•Exeter, NH

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Varsity Head Softball Coach leads the Phillips Exeter Academy softball program as an educational, competitive, and student-centered experience. The coach teaches individual and team fundamentals, strategy, and safe participation; prepares student-athletes for competition; and supports their development as teammates, leaders, and community members. The program reflects the Academy’s value of integrating knowledge and goodness and uses athletic competition to foster character, collaboration, leadership, self-confidence, and commitment to others. This is a part-time, on-site, salaried exempt faculty position. It requires approximately 20 hours per week during the spring season and 2–3 hours per week during the rest of the year. The spring season generally runs from late February through late May. Teams typically meet six days per week in season. The schedule may include afternoon practices, evening or weekend contests, spring-break training or travel, holidays, and other commitments based on departmental and Academy needs. The salary range is $5,670–$6,930 annually, based on relevant education and/or experience. The coach supervises assistant coaches and other assigned program personnel, manages program operations and resources, and collaborates with Academy colleagues and student-support partners. The role also includes year-round prospective-student outreach, college-coaching relationships and guidance, and on-campus mentorship during the season. The coach is responsible for student-athlete safety, well-being, appropriate supervision, and compliance with Academy and governing-body requirements.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Demonstrated softball playing, coaching, or instruction experience sufficient to lead a competitive secondary-school program.
Current CPR/AED and first-aid certification, or ability to obtain it before the season begins.
Valid driver’s license and ability to meet Academy driving requirements.
Complete required safeguarding, concussion-awareness, emergency-action-plan, and other Academy or governing-body training.
Successfully complete a criminal background check in accordance with Academy policy.
Undergo a driving-record review in accordance with Academy policy when driving responsibilities apply.
Comply with Academy policies and expectations concerning student safety, supervision, travel, conduct, confidentiality, and mandated reporting.
Maintain regular and reliable attendance throughout assigned seasons, including required preseason, postseason, evening, weekend, Academy-break, and travel commitments.
Strong knowledge of softball fundamentals, position-specific instruction, current rules, age-appropriate development, and effective practice design.
Ability to plan and manage lineups, pitching plans, defensive alignment, offensive signs, substitutions, opponent analysis, and game management.
Emotional intelligence and ability to remain calm, self-aware, empathetic, professional, and effective under pressure; manage conflict and adversity constructively; adapt to changing demands; and foster psychological safety while maintaining professional boundaries.
Knowledge of risk management and emergency planning for softball activities and conditions.
Student-centered leadership and ability to build trust, credibility, and healthy developmental relationships with adolescents.
Commitment to educational athletics and helping students learn through challenge, collaboration, reflection, success, and setback.
Ability to create a safe, welcoming, equitable, and inclusive team environment for students with varied identities, experiences, and skill levels.
Excellent leadership, organization, communication, conflict-resolution, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to maintain collegial relationships.
Sound judgment and ability to recognize hazards, respond appropriately in emergencies, and prioritize student safety and well-being.
Ability to supervise and develop assistant coaches while promoting alignment, shared responsibility, and consistent expectations.
Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and deadlines, and adapt accurately to changing conditions.
Professional discretion and strict adherence to confidentiality, student-safeguarding, mandated-reporting, and Academy policies.
Ability to maintain a calm, professional, and respectful demeanor in high-pressure or emotionally charged situations.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and willingness to learn departmental scheduling, video, communication, statistics, and other applications.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including extended hours, evenings, weekends, holidays, and travel.
Ability to provide instruction and supervise softball activities on dirt, grass, and turf, with or without reasonable accommodation; coach outdoors in variable spring weather; and set up, inspect, use, and store sport-specific equipment.
Ability to lift and transport up to 25 pounds without assistance and perform other essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Prior head-coaching, club-coaching, or comparable program-leadership experience preferred.
Experience working with adolescents in an educational, residential-school, camp, or youth-development setting preferred.
Experience supporting student-athletes through the college recruitment process preferred.

Responsibilities

Plan, organize, and conduct purposeful practices, meetings, and competitions suited to student-athletes’ developmental needs.
Teach softball fundamentals, including throwing, receiving, fielding, hitting, bunting, baserunning, pitching, catching, and position-specific skills.
Develop and communicate lineup construction, pitching plans, defensive alignment, offensive signs, substitutions, opponent analysis, and game management.
Establish and enforce sport-specific safety practices concerning bat and ball awareness, protective equipment, pitching workloads, weather and field conditions, batting-cage use, and emergency procedures.
Establish clear team standards and cultivate a supportive culture grounded in trust, belonging, accountability, collaboration, fair play, and zero tolerance for hazing.
Provide instruction, encouragement, and constructive feedback to support individual growth, team performance, self-confidence, and a healthy relationship with competition.
Adapt coaching methods to students’ varied experience levels, learning needs, identities, and strengths.
Evaluate student-athletes’ skills and progress, maintain appropriate performance information, and communicate roles and development plans respectfully and clearly.
Drive and transport students for sponsored events and practices.
Promote student-athletes’ physical, social, and emotional well-being and follow Academy procedures for injury prevention, emergency response, return to play, and student support.
Collaborate with athletic training, strength and conditioning, equipment, facilities, transportation, communications, admissions, college counseling, and other Academy partners as appropriate.
Supervise assistant coaches and other program personnel, set staff responsibilities, support professional growth, and promote consistent, mission-aligned instruction.
Manage program logistics and resources, including schedules, rosters, travel, facilities, equipment, uniforms, field supplies, and video.
Maintain current knowledge of rules, teaching methods, safety practices, technology, 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 year-round prospective-student-athlete outreach in coordination with Athletics and Admissions; build appropriate relationships with school, club, and community programs; and support campus visits consistent with applicable policies.
Build and maintain relationships with college softball coaches and provide year-round guidance and honest evaluations for students interested in collegiate participation, coordinating with families and the College Counseling athletic liaison.
Serve as an on-campus mentor during the season and collaborate with students’ advisors and campus resources to support academic, personal, and athletic development.
Supervise student-athletes during practices, competitions, travel, meals, lodging, training trips, and other scheduled 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.