Director of Cross Country & Track and Field

POSITION SUMMARY

The Head Coach for Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track and Field is a full-time position responsible for the leadership, organization, and development of highly competitive cross country and track and field programs that support the mission and core values of Alma College. The programs are members of the Athletics Department and compete in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and NCAA Division III. The Head Coach serves as a mentor, educator, and role model who upholds the high standards of academic achievement, personal development, and sportsmanship expected of Alma College student athletes. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience building meaningful relationships that support enrollment growth, competitive excellence, student retention, and overall student success. The successful candidate will also demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, gender equity, and equal opportunity while fostering a positive and supportive environment for all student athletes. This position reports directly to the Director of Athletics Supervises: Assistant Coaches, interns.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide leadership and oversight for all aspects of the Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track and Field programs, including practice planning, competition preparation, travel, scheduling, and the achievement of program goals and competitive benchmarks.

• Recruit, enroll, and retain academically qualified and competitively successful student athletes in support of departmental and institutional enrollment goals.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive recruiting strategy in collaboration with the Director of Athletics and Admissions staff, including establishing and achieving annual recruiting targets.

• Coach and mentor student athletes to support their athletic, academic, personal, and leadership development. Monitor the academic progress, eligibility, and overall well being of student athletes and connect them with appropriate campus resources when needed.

• Manage all program operations, including scheduling, team travel, equipment, uniforms, supplies, camps, and other program related activities.

• Prepare and manage the annual operating budget, including recruiting, equipment, travel, and program expenses, in collaboration with the Director of Athletics.

• Recruit, hire, supervise, develop, and evaluate assistant coaches and other program staff and guide, and mentor assistant coaches while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Develop and execute fundraising initiatives in collaboration with the Director of Athletics that support departmental fundraising goals and align with the College's advancement strategy.

• Collaborate with Student Services, Residence Life, Admissions, Advancement, and other campus partners to support student success and enhance the student athlete experience.

• Represent Alma College and the Athletics Department in a professional and positive manner at all times. Foster an environment that prioritizes student athlete health, safety, well being, and sportsmanship.

• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging while creating a positive and supportive team culture.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Head Coach for Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track and Field is a full-time position responsible for the leadership, organization, and development of highly competitive cross country and track and field programs that support the mission and core values of Alma College. The programs are members of the Athletics Department and compete in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and NCAA Division III. The Head Coach serves as a mentor, educator, and role model who upholds the high standards of academic achievement, personal development, and sportsmanship expected of Alma College student athletes. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience building meaningful relationships that support enrollment growth, competitive excellence, student retention, and overall student success. The successful candidate will also demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, gender equity, and equal opportunity while fostering a positive and supportive environment for all student athletes. This position reports directly to the Director of Athletics Supervises: Assistant Coaches, interns.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide leadership and oversight for all aspects of the Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track and Field programs, including practice planning, competition preparation, travel, scheduling, and the achievement of program goals and competitive benchmarks.

• Recruit, enroll, and retain academically qualified and competitively successful student athletes in support of departmental and institutional enrollment goals.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive recruiting strategy in collaboration with the Director of Athletics and Admissions staff, including establishing and achieving annual recruiting targets.

• Coach and mentor student athletes to support their athletic, academic, personal, and leadership development. Monitor the academic progress, eligibility, and overall well being of student athletes and connect them with appropriate campus resources when needed.

• Manage all program operations, including scheduling, team travel, equipment, uniforms, supplies, camps, and other program related activities.

• Prepare and manage the annual operating budget, including recruiting, equipment, travel, and program expenses, in collaboration with the Director of Athletics.

• Recruit, hire, supervise, develop, and evaluate assistant coaches and other program staff and guide, and mentor assistant coaches while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Develop and execute fundraising initiatives in collaboration with the Director of Athletics that support departmental fundraising goals and align with the College's advancement strategy.

• Collaborate with Student Services, Residence Life, Admissions, Advancement, and other campus partners to support student success and enhance the student athlete experience.

• Represent Alma College and the Athletics Department in a professional and positive manner at all times. Foster an environment that prioritizes student athlete health, safety, well being, and sportsmanship.

• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging while creating a positive and supportive team culture.

• Maintain knowledge of and comply with all policies, rules, and regulations of Alma College, the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), and NCAA Division III, and ensure program compliance with the highest level of integrity.

• Attend departmental meetings, professional development opportunities, and campus events as required.

• Perform secondary duties and other responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Athletics.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum 4 years coaching experience at the collegiate level or demonstrated successful head coaching experience on the high school level as well as the educational background and expertise to teach college level courses.
• Knowledge of NCAA and MIAA conference rules.
• Knowledge of computer applications, organizational abilities, event planning and camps, fund raising, financial management and recruiting ability and demonstrated commitment or experience working with diverse populations.
• Must be willing to actively participate in practices.
• Ability to work weekends/evenings and travel.
• A valid driver's license and good driving record

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to fulfill essential functions of the position.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree
• Previous experience at NCAA Division III collegiate institution
• Experience working with underrepresented, first-generation, Pell-eligible, and diverse populations.

Alma College is classified as a selective Baccalaureate College: Diverse Fields by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Alma is committed to academic excellence and the development of responsible leaders; our students thrive on challenging academic programs in a supportive, small-college environment emphasizing active, collaborative learning and close student-faculty interaction. Alma is a private Phi Beta Kappa institution located in the center of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

Alma College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff, and student body.

Alma College recognizes that we are all transformed when we celebrate and value the varied identities, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives in our campus community. We are committed to recognizing and removing barriers to success and providing equitable access to opportunities through education and advocacy. In our increasingly diverse campus and world, we pledge to create a climate where everyone is safe and free to grow intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally.

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