Head Softball Coach

ACU is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. This position requires the employee to be a professing Christian and to be willing to support the Christian mission of ACU.

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Responsible to the Vice President of Athletics to promote, enhance, and oversee the softball program while maintaining compliance with all ACU, UAC and NCAA Division I rules and guidelines. Promote and support the university's mission and vision within their sports program, coaching staff, and student-athletes. Responsible for the oversight of the academic, athletic and spiritual development of student athletes.

Basic Responsibilities:

A. Recruitment of student-athletes who are athletically, academically and spiritually compatible with the ACU mission.
B. Organization and administration of all aspects of a Division I softball program. Including but not limited to team budget, scheduling, hiring and development of staff, media and public relations, NCAA compliance, and academics.
C. Provide student-athletes with holistic opportunities for athletic, academic, professional and spiritual development.
D. Assist in fundraising and alumni relations.
E. Other duties as assigned per the Vice President for Athletics.

Essential Duties:

Other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

ACU is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. This position requires the employee to be a professing Christian and to be willing to support the Christian mission of ACU.

‌

Responsible to the Vice President of Athletics to promote, enhance, and oversee the softball program while maintaining compliance with all ACU, UAC and NCAA Division I rules and guidelines. Promote and support the university's mission and vision within their sports program, coaching staff, and student-athletes. Responsible for the oversight of the academic, athletic and spiritual development of student athletes.

Basic Responsibilities:

A. Recruitment of student-athletes who are athletically, academically and spiritually compatible with the ACU mission.
B. Organization and administration of all aspects of a Division I softball program. Including but not limited to team budget, scheduling, hiring and development of staff, media and public relations, NCAA compliance, and academics.
C. Provide student-athletes with holistic opportunities for athletic, academic, professional and spiritual development.
D. Assist in fundraising and alumni relations.
E. Other duties as assigned per the Vice President for Athletics.

Essential Duties:

Other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

A. Recruitment of student-athletes who are athletically, academically, and spiritually compatible with the ACU mission.
1. Recruit student-athletes who have the athletic ability to compete at the NCAA Division I level. Evaluate prospect’s fundamental skills and athletic talent.
2. Personally interview each prospective student-athlete in order to evaluate character, personal motivation, work ethic, etc. Prospects must have morals compatible with ACU’s mission. Interview coaches, family members, and friends of prospective student-athletes.
3. Evaluate academic success of prospective student-athletes by reviewing grades and national test scores.

B. Organization and administration of all aspects of a Division I softball program. Including but not limited to team budget, scheduling, hiring and development of staff, media and public relations, NCAA compliance, and academics.
1. Prepare and maintain a budget for the program, i.e. staffing, scholarships, equipment, travel, recruiting, etc.
2. Evaluate potential candidates for assistant coach and staff positions who align with the university’s mission and vision.
3. Maintain understanding and compliance of NCAA, UAC, and university rules, regulations, and policy.

C. Provide student-athletes with holistic opportunities for athletic, academic, professional and spiritual development.
1. Develop a comprehensive plan to ensure our student-athletes are able to compete at the highest Division I level. Including but not limited to strength and conditioning, position-specific instruction, game planning, strategy, etc.
2. Monitor academic progress of student-athletes to ensure eligibility, APR, and graduation standards are being met.
3. Encourage open communication between student-athletes and coaches. Provide many opportunities for spiritual growth, i.e. devotionals, mentoring programs, application of biblical principles in midst of competition (life principles).

D. Assist in fundraising and alumni relations.
1. Help identify individuals interested in softball and/or have a relationship with the coach and a willingness to provide funds for the program.
2. Establish relationships with key donors and maintain contact with donors through regular updates and information about the program.
3. Responsible for promoting ACU Athletics and program via media relations requests, i.e. interviews, public relations opportunities, etc.

E. Other duties as assigned per Vice President for Athletics.

Professional Development Requirements:

Skills
1. Extensive knowledge of softball and the ability to teach and motivate student-athletes to perform at the highest level with integrity and ethics.
2. Communication skills: ability to effectively communicate with a diverse group of people
3. Organization skills: ability to handle specific details of each event, budget, trip, meeting, etc.
4. Proper time management: ability to meet deadlines.

Training Modules Required
1. Attend sport-related clinics, coaching clinics, and workshops.
2. View film on coaching fundamentals and practice organization.
3. Study materials on improving communication skills, motivational skills, and coaching techniques.
4. Attend promotional and administrator seminars.

Qualifications:

Professional
1. Bachelor’s degree required/Master’s degree preferred.
2. Softball mastery, motivational skills, and communication skills.
3. Ethics and integrity to work within rules of the NCAA and UAC.

Personal
1. Morals, ethics, and loyalty to the University and ACU Mission.
2. Be a positive role model in daily life and actions.
C. Physical Demands
1. Demonstrate physical skills of softball fundamentals.
2. Be in good cardiovascular condition to endure long hours of the work day as well as outdoor elements during practice and competition.
3. Maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Physical Demands:
A. Ability to endure long periods of walking, demonstrating, and running.

B. Be able to endure periods of peak times, where additional work is required to get jobs done.
C. Ability to do manual labor of all kinds.

ACU does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, disability, genetic information, national or ethnic origin in employment opportunities, in keeping with applicable state and federal law.

ACU is committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment and protecting the university's financial and physical assets. Therefore, Abilene Christian University conducts background checks on all candidates for employment in security sensitive positions. As a current employee, it will be determined if you need an additional background check upon your hire.

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