Head Cross Country Coach

Salem Academy and College invites applications for Head Cross Country Coach.

About Salem College:

Salem Academy and College is the oldest continuously operating educational institution for girls and women in the country. Since 1772, the institution has engaged in transformational change to innovate women’s education. Founded with the mission of making education accessible to all, Salem has a rich 252-year-old history and a long-standing track record of educating students who are prepared to make a bold impact locally, nationally and globally through liberal arts education. Our graduates are committed to making the world a better, healthier and more equitable place. Salem College is the nation’s only liberal arts college exclusively dedicated to developing the next generation of health leaders.

Salem College has more than 40 full-time faculty and over 150 staff members who support approximately 500 students including full-time undergraduates, part-time students and graduate students. In 2023, Salem received a second $5M anonymous philanthropic gift equaling its largest in history focused on enabling our health leadership transformation.

Salem Academy and College invites applications for Head Cross Country Coach.

About Salem College:

Salem Academy and College is the oldest continuously operating educational institution for girls and women in the country. Since 1772, the institution has engaged in transformational change to innovate women’s education. Founded with the mission of making education accessible to all, Salem has a rich 252-year-old history and a long-standing track record of educating students who are prepared to make a bold impact locally, nationally and globally through liberal arts education. Our graduates are committed to making the world a better, healthier and more equitable place. Salem College is the nation’s only liberal arts college exclusively dedicated to developing the next generation of health leaders.

Salem College has more than 40 full-time faculty and over 150 staff members who support approximately 500 students including full-time undergraduates, part-time students and graduate students. In 2023, Salem received a second $5M anonymous philanthropic gift equaling its largest in history focused on enabling our health leadership transformation.

Recognized by the U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, and the New York Times Magazine as a top liberal arts college in the nation, Salem College continues to lead among liberal arts colleges in social mobility and economic diversity. In 2023, U.S. News & World Report ranked Salem College #2 among all national liberal arts colleges in America as a top performer for social mobility. Salem performed as one of the best liberal arts colleges with the highest percentage of Pell-eligible students graduating in four years. Out of 286 colleges in the country, the New York Times Magazine ranked Salem College as #2 for economic diversity – enrolling more economically disadvantaged students than its peers. This ranking is a reflection of Salem’s commitment to making education accessible and affordable for all students. In another 2023 national ranking, Washington Monthly ranked Salem College as #4 in the nation for Pell-eligible graduation rate, #8 in the country for earning performance, #14 best bang for your buck college in the southeast, and #24 best liberal arts college in the U.S.

Salem College is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a vibrant college town known as the “City of Arts and Innovation”. Winston-Salem is a lively academic community, home to six institutions of higher education and more than 26,000 students. Winston Salem has a collaborative and engaged academic community with strong private and public schools, excellent healthcare systems, and affordable housing. The Winston-Salem area also offers a rich variety of cultural opportunities and has a vibrant art and restaurant scene. Within a few hours of campus are mountains for skiing, camping, or hiking; rivers for whitewater rafting; and the beautiful ports and beaches of North and South Carolina.

Position Summary:

The Head Coach will develop, implement and manage the overall day-to-day operations of the women’s Cross Country program, including teaching skills and strategies for the specific sport during practice and games in the traditional and non-traditional seasons. Additionally, this role will also assist the Director of Athletic Communications/Marketing at Salem College with promoting and publicizing the Department of Athletics. This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position that reports to the Director of Athletics.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively within the College to plan, organize, implement, and follow up on an extensive ongoing recruiting effort through written, verbal, and personal contact with student-athletes and their families.
• Oversee the appointments and supervision of the cross-country programs’ assistant coaches and support staff.
• Coordinate athletic planning, program development, and assessment that focus on student-athlete’s performances, personal and leadership development:
• Build a competitive program with strong recruiting both regionally and nationally.
• Strategically plan and execute scheduling and travel arrangements of conference and non-conference meets to advance the cross-country program and maximize the use of financial resources.
• Oversee budget and resource management for the cross-country program.
• Coordinate athletic events and programs intentionally to enhance campus community and school pride.
• Ensure proper safety precautions are followed at all times.
• Work with the Director of Athletics, other coaches, and staff to support and achieve overall goals established by the athletics department.
• Work with other students, faculty, and staff to support student-athlete retention, promote teamwork, set high standards, and support the academic, personal, and leadership development of its students.

Duties as Assistant Sports Information/ Communication Director:

• Will assist the Director of Athletic Communications/Marketing at Salem College with promoting and publicizing the Department of Athletics.
• Work hand-in-hand in developing social media posts, pregame and post-game digital content, and writing press releases while discerning statistics and results.
• Write and edit press releases, game notes, and feature releases; Maintain and update history and record books; Manage team rosters, statistics, records, and photo archives.
• Work with the Director of Athletic Communications/Marketing to create visual content for the athletic website and social media accounts. This includes graphic design, videography, and visual storytelling elements to engage an audience through digital media.
• Experience with programs similar to or including Adobe Premiere Pro, InDesign, Photoshop, Boxout Sports, Davinci, or iMovie is preferable.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Significant success in recruiting student-athletes for cross country and coaching experience with a proven track record of developing an athletic program.
• Demonstrated organizational and management ability
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations
• Strong ethical character
• Must be available to travel, have some overnight possibilities, and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Physical Functions:

While performing the responsibilities of the Head Cross Country Coach , the employee is required to sit for varying lengths of time; bend, reach, lift, push, and pull up to 25 pounds; occasionally stand, walk, and kneel and regularly ascend/descend stairs; use hands and fingers to handle or feel and manipulate keys on a keyboard; perform extended periods of work at a computer workstation, view a computer monitor; perceive sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and receive detailed information through oral communication; express and exchange ideas by means of spoken word; and work in an office setting.

Application Process:

To apply, please send a letter of interest addressing your qualifications for the position along with a resume and contact information for three professional references to Michael.williwams@salem.edu. The letter of interest may be addressed to Michael Williams, Director of Athletics. The review of applications will begin immediately and will be ongoing until the position is filled.

Salem College is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law.