Head Football Coach

Job Summary

Central Washington University is recruiting a Head Football Coach to join our Athletics team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a salary, depending on experience, from $110,000 - $130,000 annually plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.  

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~8,300 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year.  In addition, for seven out of eight years, CWU was a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. RentCafe has also named CWU #13 of the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. in 2025. 

Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

Job Summary

Central Washington University is recruiting a Head Football Coach to join our Athletics team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a salary, depending on experience, from $110,000 - $130,000 annually plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.  

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~8,300 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year.  In addition, for seven out of eight years, CWU was a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. RentCafe has also named CWU #13 of the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. in 2025. 

Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave and Total Rewards Calculator. 

The Role:

The Head Football Coach will be responsible for the overall management of the CWU Football program. Depending on qualifications and areas of expertise, incumbent will serve as the position coach for specific areas but will be responsible for the overall program success. The Head Coach is responsible for creating an overall positive and championship environment for all student-athletes of the football program.

These duties include but are not limited to coaching; recruitment and retention of student athletes; facilitation and management of home games; competition scheduling; travel arrangements; equipment management; fiscal planning and budget management; public relations; hiring, supervising and evaluating assistants; and maintaining a positive and professional relationship with students, athletes, alumni, donors, media, and fans.

The Head Coach must conduct a football program in compliance with all applicable NCAA, Lone Star Conference, State, National, and Institutional rules and regulations. It is also critical that the program works in the best interest of the university mission and goals, in which student-athletes both graduate and achieve competitive success.

All employees are expected to uphold and contribute to CWU's vision, mission, and values, fostering a culture of student success and institutional excellence. Coaches directly impact the vision, mission, and values of Central Washington University by creating and promoting a culture of welcoming and belonging. They practice inclusivity and engage their employees in meaningful work that fosters strong relationships, stewardship of resources, and the integration of diverse perspectives. 

Job Duties

Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Football program including those duties outlined below:

Coaching and Retention
- Responsible for creating an overall positive and championship environment for the student-athletes of the Football program.
- Provide group and individual coaching and teaching in a manner that engages the athletes and builds commitment to the program.
- Provide oversight and evaluation of individuals academic, personal, and athletic development for both short-term and long-term growth.
- Seek out best practices and innovative approaches; provide a positive performance impact to enhance individual and team player development.

Program Oversight
- Plan and evaluate practice activities for Football team members. Review practice plans with assistant coaches to coordinate workloads and periodization.
- Work collaboratively with other members of the CWU staff to integrate efforts and maximize holistic development of student-athletes.
- Supervise and hire staff, establish job performance standards, evaluate job performance, take corrective action, assign and schedule work, and act upon leave requests.

Recruitment
- Develop and execute a plan to recruit student-athletes of high character who have the athletic talent to compete at the collegiate varsity level with the academic aptitude to earn a degree.
- Meet with prospective students and their family members both on- and off-campus. 
- Foster and nurture relationships with scholastic and non-scholastic programs to ensure successful recruiting.

Budget Management:
- Plan yearly budgets; make recommendations to administration.
- Coordinate all program travel in line with university and department policies.
- Account for all expenditures and monitor spending including travel, equipment, recruiting, and office expenses. 
- Utilize scholarship awards effectively and stay within established scholarship award limits.

Lead Duties**  **
- Assigns and checks work and provides training. May provide feedback to supervisor to assist with work assignments and job performance.  

Supervisor Duties**  **
- Actively engages in recruitment and hiring new employees; 
- Clearly defines performance expectations, ensure accountability, and provides ongoing informal feedback, coaching, and mentoring. Conducts formal performance evaluations; 
- Ensures employees have necessary resources; 
- Oversees and directs the work of staff; serves as mentor, coach and leader, and resolves complaints or issues;
- Promotes professional development opportunities; 
- Develops and fosters supportive working relationships, motivation and engagement; 
- Communicates information to staff on an ongoing basis to influence staff engagement and to be a part of a larger community; 
- Takes corrective action in a timely manner;
- Recognizes and rewards employees for good performance; 
- Schedules employee work hours/shifts; monitor hours worked; approve payable time and absence requests; 
- Adjusts leadership style as needed to achieve results;
- Recognizes value of and promotes diverse workforce. Values and encourages diverse perspectives, creativity and teamwork

• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 5 years of professional or collegiate coaching 
• Understanding of and commitment to academic improvement and excellence.
• Knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations.
• Experience managing budgets.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong computer competency skills (MS Word, Excel, email, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability and/or experience working collaboratively with students and/or colleagues to foster a supportive and effective learning and work environment.
• OR an equivalent combination of experience, training, and/or education which clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the job. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of all applicable individual association rules and regulations. 
• Previous coaching experience on the collegiate level.
• Experience recruiting high performing student-athletes.
• Experience fundraising for various athletic programs.
• Previous experience creating and managing budgets. 
• Master¿s Degree.
• Demonstrated participation in programs designed to promote inclusion.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for students through teaching and/or mentoring activities. 

Competencies

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines, and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Belonging: Values the uniqueness of every individual and fosters an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to thrive.

Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU, we're committed to creating a welcoming and genuine workplace. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. This could be the opportunity you're looking for!

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule

Annual Salary : $110,000 - $130,000, based on a full-time eleven-month appointment spread over 12 months.
In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Appointment : Full-time, 11-month appointment, spread over 12 months.

Benefits : CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance. CWU Benefits, Perks & Discounts Overview. 

Additional Information:   For additional information about the University, visit: http://www.cwu.edu
For additional information about Ellensburg, visit: http://www.myellensburg.com 
OR  http://www.kittitascountychamber.com

How To Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the on-line application and attach:

• A detailed cover letter clearly demonstrating how your education and experience: (a) meet the required (and, as applicable, preferred) qualifications, and (b) demonstrate the ability to perform the responsibilities as described by the posting; 
   
• Resume including work history, education, training and contact information for three professional references;
   
• Copies transcripts for the highest degree held

Screening Begins: December 26, 2025

**Priority will be given to applications received by the screening date. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Contact Information

Name: Dennis Francois
Title: Director of Athletics
Email: dennis.francois@cwu.edu 
Phone: 509-963-2021
Website: Central Washington University Athletics - Official Athletics Website 

Please contact Human Resources at hr@cwu.edu or 509-963-1202 if you require technical assistance with the on-line application process. 

Conditions of Employment

Background Check/Reference Check Process:

Prior to employment, final candidate(s) will be required to sign a Sexual Misconduct disclosure in pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080 and submit to a background check. All information obtained through background investigations will be strictly confidential and revealed only to those required to have access.

The conditions of employment with Central Washington University are set forth in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Central Washington University and United Faculty of Central, University policies and procedures, and applicable state and federal laws.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement may be found here: CWU Faculty Relations.

Notice to Prospective Employees:

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Statement

Central Washington University is an EEO/AA/Title IX Institution. Central Washington University's policies and practices affirm and actively promote the rights of all individuals to equal opportunity in education and employment. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, disability, or status as a protected veteran is prohibited. The university provides an internal procedure for reporting discrimination and affords protection against retaliation for participating in the complaint process. Central Washington University complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and executive orders including when soliciting bids and in the fulfillment of all contracts with governmental agencies. Direct related inquiries to Civil Rights Compliance, 202 Barge Hall, Ellensburg, WA 98926-7501; Telephone 509-963-2050; or email crc@cwu.edu.

Reasonable Accommodations

Central Washington University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact Human Resources at HR@cwu.edu or call 509-963-1202. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

For the Central Washington University Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (i.e. Clery Report) which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, available online here or call CWU Police and Parking Services at 509-963-2959 for a paper copy.

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