Assistant Coach - Football, Defensive Coordinator

Staff Posting Details

 

Appointment: Regular, full-time (1.0 FTE) position. 

Work Location: 
This position is based in Tacoma, WA, and is an on-campus role only. 

Please note that we generally do not sponsor applicants for work visas for staff positions. Therefore, we generally require applicants for staff positions to be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Position Summary:  

Reporting directly to the Head Football Coach, the Defensive Coordinator is expected to support the mission of the University of Puget Sound and contribute to a collaborative, student-centered, values aligned athletics environment. Essential function is to assist the Head Coach in leading all aspects of the intercollegiate football program, with primary responsibility for coordinating and executing the defensive strategy as well as all facets of developing Puget Sound scholar-athletes. 

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities: 

Promote the academic success, personal development, leadership growth, and holistic well-being of scholar athletes consistent with the university's liberal arts mission and commitment to excellence.

View Full Description

Staff Posting Details

 

Appointment: Regular, full-time (1.0 FTE) position. 

Work Location: 
This position is based in Tacoma, WA, and is an on-campus role only. 

Please note that we generally do not sponsor applicants for work visas for staff positions. Therefore, we generally require applicants for staff positions to be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Position Summary:  

Reporting directly to the Head Football Coach, the Defensive Coordinator is expected to support the mission of the University of Puget Sound and contribute to a collaborative, student-centered, values aligned athletics environment. Essential function is to assist the Head Coach in leading all aspects of the intercollegiate football program, with primary responsibility for coordinating and executing the defensive strategy as well as all facets of developing Puget Sound scholar-athletes. 

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities: 

Promote the academic success, personal development, leadership growth, and holistic well-being of scholar athletes consistent with the university's liberal arts mission and commitment to excellence.

• Maintain strict adherence to all NCAA Division III, Northwest Conference, and Puget Sound rules, policies, and regulations to ensure integrity and compliance.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the defensive unit, including defensive philosophy, scheme installation, weekly game planning, staff collaboration, and player development to ensure a competitive and resilient NCAA Division III program.
• Design and implements all defensive game and practice planning, including opponent scouting, practice scripting, personnel evaluation, and tactical adjustments.
• Utilize film analysis, data analytics, and performance metrics to inform strategic decisions, in-game responses, and personnel management.
• Coach a designated defensive position group and contributes to the development of all defensive personnel through structured instruction, fundamental skill development, and individualized teaching.
• Lead and manage the recruitment, evaluation, and retention of qualified prospective scholar-athletes, emphasizing academic alignment, institutional mission-fit, diversity and inclusion values, and regional/national recruiting strategies.

• Support daily football operations, including:

  • Equipment and facility planning
  • Budget tracking and administrative reporting
  • Compliance, eligibility documentation, and risk-management processes

• Build and sustain positive, team-oriented working relationships with athletics staff, faculty, campus partners, alumni, and external constituents to advance program goals and improve the student-athlete experience.

• Contribute to departmental needs, which may include teaching physical education activity courses and/or performing administrative responsibilities within the Athletics and PE department.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Head Football Coach or Director of Athletics.

Qualifications: 

Candidates must be able to explain and/or demonstrate that they possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of three (3) years of relevant collegiate or equivalent football coaching experience, preferably with demonstrated responsibility for defensive coordination. A master's degree may substitute for up to one year of experience.
• Proficiency in defensive football strategy and tactics, with demonstrated experience leading a position group or unit within a competitive intercollegiate program.
• Commitment to ethical conduct, professional integrity, and adherence to NCAA Division III, Northwest Conference, and institutional compliance expectations.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage with diverse student populations, campus stakeholders, and external partners.
• Demonstrated leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities in high-performance team settings.
• Experience with football technology systems, including video analysis platforms (e.g., HUDL), data analytics, and game planning tools.
• Ability to support and enhance the academic and personal development of student-athletes in a liberal arts environment that prioritizes holistic education and excellence.
• Ability to meet physical demands associated with on-field instruction, travel, and occasional lifting (up to 50 pounds).
• Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community

Compensation and Benefits : 
The anticipated salary for this position is $52,849. Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations. 

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package for eligible staff employees, including: 

• Medical, dental, and vision 
• Life insurance and long-term disability 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Retirement plan options and 403(b) contributions 
• Paid vacation, sick leave, floating holiday, campus holidays and bonus holidays 
• Education benefits, such as full tuition for eligible employees and their families 
• Access to university facilities and entertainment (fitness center, pool, library, concerts, lectures and more!) 

Please note :  
-Positions that work less than .75 FTE (1,560 hours per year) do not qualify for long-term disability or education benefits.
-Positions that work less than .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will accrue paid sick leave but are not eligible for additional benefits.
-Temporary positions that work at least .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will be eligible for benefits. 

This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

For more information on Puget Sound's exempt staff benefits package, visit: Summary of 2026 Benefits for Staff Members in Exempt Positions.pdf

For the Campus Holiday and Bonus Day Schedule, visit: https://www.pugetsound.edu/human-resources

Application Deadline: 
Review of applications will begin immediately. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified. 

Required Documents:  

• Resume
• Letter of Interest 

Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered. 

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of all required background checks. 

University Diversity Statement

We Acknowledge:

• The richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community.
• The intrinsic worth of all who work and study here.
• The investigation and reflection enhance that education upon multiple perspectives.

We Aspire:

• To create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community.
• To increase the diversity of all parts of our university community through a commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts.
• To foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.

We Act:

• To achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity.
• To ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here.
• To prepare citizen-leaders effectively for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: https://pugetsound.edu/about-puget-sound-0/mission-core-values/institutional-equity-diversity 

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.

Apply Now

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