Head Coach, Women’s Flag Football

The Athletics Department at Whittier College is seeking a founding head coach for women’s flag football. 

This is a rare chance to build a college program from the ground up. Women's flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country: the NCAA added it to its Emerging Sports for Women program in January 2026, and it makes its Olympic debut at the LA28 Games, right here in Southern California. Whittier College is looking for a coach who sees that opportunity and is ready to lead it.

As our first head women's flag football coach, you will organize and direct every aspect of a new NCAA Division III program: recruiting the first classes, setting the culture, building the schedule, and defining what Whittier flag football stands for. You will report to the Director of Athletics and work closely with Admissions, faculty, administration, and staff to help advance Whittier College athletics. You will create an environment where student-athletes thrive socially, academically, and in competition. The program will compete in NCAA Division III and will join the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) when conference sponsorship begins. Your work recruiting and retaining students will be instrumental to the College and will set the foundation and direction of the program for years to come.

Why This Job

• Build it your way. Shape the program's identity, culture, and style of play from day one, and leave a lasting mark as the coach who started it all.
• Get in early on a sport on the rise. Lead a program in a sport with real momentum at the high school, college, and Olympic levels.
• Recruit in a deep talent pool. Southern California is home to a large and growing number of high school girls' flag football players, many within driving distance of campus.
• Coach at a college that puts students first. Whittier's small size, small classes, and close-knit community mean you will know your players as students and people, not just athletes.
• Work in a great location. Whittier sits in the scenic hills 18 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, with the whole region on your doorstep.

Hours: Varies
Exempt Status: Exempt

The Athletics Department at Whittier College is seeking a founding head coach for women’s flag football. 

This is a rare chance to build a college program from the ground up. Women's flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country: the NCAA added it to its Emerging Sports for Women program in January 2026, and it makes its Olympic debut at the LA28 Games, right here in Southern California. Whittier College is looking for a coach who sees that opportunity and is ready to lead it.

As our first head women's flag football coach, you will organize and direct every aspect of a new NCAA Division III program: recruiting the first classes, setting the culture, building the schedule, and defining what Whittier flag football stands for. You will report to the Director of Athletics and work closely with Admissions, faculty, administration, and staff to help advance Whittier College athletics. You will create an environment where student-athletes thrive socially, academically, and in competition. The program will compete in NCAA Division III and will join the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) when conference sponsorship begins. Your work recruiting and retaining students will be instrumental to the College and will set the foundation and direction of the program for years to come.

Why This Job

• Build it your way. Shape the program's identity, culture, and style of play from day one, and leave a lasting mark as the coach who started it all.
• Get in early on a sport on the rise. Lead a program in a sport with real momentum at the high school, college, and Olympic levels.
• Recruit in a deep talent pool. Southern California is home to a large and growing number of high school girls' flag football players, many within driving distance of campus.
• Coach at a college that puts students first. Whittier's small size, small classes, and close-knit community mean you will know your players as students and people, not just athletes.
• Work in a great location. Whittier sits in the scenic hills 18 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, with the whole region on your doorstep.

Hours: Varies
Exempt Status: Exempt
Full Time/Part Time status: Full Time 
Salary Range: $70,305 - $73,000 annually; salary will commensurate with experience, skills, and knowledge. 
 
Reports to: Director of Athletics
Location/Department: Whittier College Campus / Athletics 

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions of the Job

• Identifies and recruits academically qualified and eligible prospective student-athletes (PSAs), including marketing to PSAs, phone outreach, electronic communications, on- and off-campus visits, guiding PSAs through the application process and its key dates and requirements, and supporting onboarding after the tuition deposit so that registration, scheduling, housing, and all New Student Checklist items are completed institutionally and athletically.
• Manages the program budget, including equipment purchasing, facility maintenance and upgrades, practice and competition uniforms, meals, travel, officials, and recruiting costs.
• Builds and attends a yearly competition schedule that meets NCAA requirements and gives the program the best opportunity for conference and institutional representation at the NCAA level.
• Organizes and attends traditional and non-traditional season practices and competitions within departmental guidelines, scheduled so the greatest number of student-athletes can take part.
• Maintains NCAA, conference, and institutional compliance in budgeting, scheduling, recruiting, and all matters of student-athlete health and safety.
• Supplements the yearly budget through planned fundraising efforts.
• Builds and strengthens relationships with alumni, supporters, and donors through events, mailers, campaigns, and other outreach.
• Arranges all team travel, including transportation to and from player development events, practices, workouts, competitions, and scrimmages, and meal advances or reimbursements when institutional meals are missed.
• Leads all areas of off-field player development, including personal and leadership development and scouting reports for opponent preparation.
• Connects student-athletes with the full range of campus health and wellness support, including Accessibility Services, Counseling Services, the Dean of Students Office, the Registrar, faculty representatives, the Office of Student Engagement, and CARE teams.
• Manages the roster with good judgment to ensure a healthy student-athlete experience and a safe roster size.
• Leads student-athlete retention efforts, monitors academic progress, and strengthens academic support within the program.
• Represents the College and the conference in voting and committee work with the NCAA, coaching associations, and the SCIAC once the sport is sponsored, including ranking officials, conference standings, all-conference and coaching association nominations, rules and association changes, regional and national coaching organizations, and any other committee work that supports the student-athlete experience.
• Provides complete documentation in a timely and organized manner as required by the department.
• Supports the philosophy, goals, and mission of the Athletics Department and the College, and follows departmental, College, and NCAA policies and procedures.
• Maintains an office presence on business days and keeps the Director of Athletics informed about the program.
• Works effectively with Whittier's students, faculty, staff, alumni, and administration.
• Commits to irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, to attend competitions, practices, and College events. During the season, work often runs seven or more consecutive days. Office hours will be set in consultation with the Director of Athletics.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Athletics.

Additional Expectations

• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to teach, motivate, and develop student-athletes.
• Capacity to serve as event day manager for athletic contests as assigned.
• Interest in participating actively in campus events and on College committees, providing a leadership presence in the College community.
• A record of integrity and high educational standards, with strict adherence to NCAA, conference, College, and department rules and regulations, and a solid commitment to academics, student-athlete welfare, ethnic diversity, and gender equity.
• Capacity to market, manage, and instruct youth camps and clinics, and to engage the community in the summer and throughout the academic year.

Position Specifications and Requirements

• Knowledge and Education: Bachelor’s degree required; master’s preferred
• Machines, Tools, Equipment, Electronic Devices and Software: Ability to learn and operate the College’s systems for tracking student recruitment and eligibility. 
• License(s) and Certificate(s): First Aid and CPR certification

Application Deadline

Open until the position is filled; preferred start date by February 1, 2027. 
 
The position is based in Whittier, California. To be considered for this position, please submit your cover letter and resume to: whittierjobs@whittier.edu and rcarter@whittier.edu, or mail to Whittier College, Attn: Human Resources Manager, 13406 E Philadelphia Street Whittier, CA  90608. AA/EOE.

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