Head men's soccer coach

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

POSITION SUMMARY:  
A head coach provides overall direction to men’s soccer which competes in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, and NCAA Division III. The head coach is responsible for program building including but not limited to planning, coaching, recruiting, retention, managing and directing the men’s soccer program. The head coach is responsible for fielding competitive teams and this will be assessed over a three to four year period. The head coach will have other responsibilities, based on experience, which may include but are not limited to: game management, intramurals; and/or teaching pending qualification review. Work is performed under general supervision and performance evaluation is based upon completion of assignments and results obtained. The opportunity to make this a faculty appointment could be an option going forward.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Coaching:

  • Maintains up-do-date knowledge of, and compliance with, Bluffton University, NCAA Division III, HCAC and NCAA rules and regulations.
  • Acts as chief spokesperson for assigned sport.
  • Schedules pre-season and in-season contests in consultation with the director of athletics.
  • Organizes and conducts practices and conditioning sessions.
  • Demonstrates concern for the academic, physical and emotional well-being of each team member. 
    • Actively encourages and supports the academic success of team members, including encouraging or ensuring regular class attendance, monitoring grades and working to minimize conflicts between athletic and academic responsibilities.
    • Actively encourages and supports the physical well-being of team members by working with the training staff and other appropriate medical personnel to assure that the student-athletes are physically ready to participate, which includes looking for signs of eating disorders or the use of illegal and/or unhealthful drugs and supplements and taking appropriate preventive measures and establishing healthy workout and practice schedules.
    • Actively encourages and supports the psychological and emotional well-being of team members, provides appropriate mentoring and life guidance, and seeks professional assistance when circumstances warrant.
  • Coordinates the distribution, collection, and storage of athletic equipment, uniforms and supplies (during the season and at its conclusion) and the collection of fees for lost equipment and uniforms by student-athletes.
  • Hires and supervises staff according to established Bluffton University and Athletic Department procedures.

Recruitment:

  • Manage all aspects of the recruiting process from prospect ID to deposit and enrollment.
  • Recruits student-athletes in line with university policy and NCAA Division III regulations. Works closely with the admissions department to this end.  
  • In consultation with the director of athletics and the registrar’s office, assures that student-athletes are eligible to participate in athletics according to university and NCAA Division III regulations

Financial management:

  • Adheres to budget guidelines and keeps records and writes reports.
  • Works with the director of athletics, the university’s purchasing office, buildings and grounds, and other offices as appropriate to purchase necessary sport-specific athletic equipment and supplies.
  • Ensures safe and cost-effective travel to and from contests.
  • Directs the process of raising additional funds for assigned sport with approval of the director of athletics.

Other duties:

  • The Bluffton University athletics department has identified existing programming models and identified common habits and virtues that frame the unique Bluffton University student-athlete experience. These “habits of excellence” emphasize practice and align with Aristotelian virtues to form our virtue-driven athletics program
  • Actively participates in athletic department functions and meetings, and in university committees as assigned.
  • Maintains effective working relationships with administrative staff, coaches, student-athletes and other staff.
  • Performs related duties. 

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To be determined based on qualifications and skill set, but may include teaching, event management, intramurals, facility operations and other duties as assigned by the VP of Student Life and Athletics, or the Deputy Director of Athletics.


QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

  • Minimum qualifications:
    • Education/Certification: Bachelor’s degree in physical education or related field
    • Experience: Two years coaching at high school (head coach) and/or two years coaching at collegiate level 
    • Skills/Abilities:
      • Valid driver’s license.  
      • Willingness to travel, including overnight and weekends.  Ability to work evenings and weekends.
      • As a frequent representative of Bluffton University to the public and corporate community, employees must have high ethical standards and excellent communication and interpersonal skills.  
      • Be highly motivated with strong organizational skills, technology skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks are vital.  
      • Integrity and honesty is essential.
      • Candidate must be friendly, outgoing, self-motivated, and able to delegate, and have excellent written and verbal skills.
      • Candidate must also be computer literate in Microsoft Office, Excel and Word.
    • Diversity & Faith Commitment:  Bluffton University expects all employees to show respect in the workplace and not to base business decisions on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other status protected by law. As a religious institution, Bluffton University welcomes its faculty and staff and encourages respectful consideration of the Christian faith which is consistent with the Mennonite/Anabaptist beliefs of the university’s founding and supporting church.
  • Preferred: 
    • Education/Certification: Master’s degree or equivalent in the field of physical education
    • Experience: Three to five years coaching at the collegiate level

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:  
The physical demands and/or work environment encountered by the employee while performing the essential responsibilities of this job must be met with or without reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations will be considered and implemented when possible to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities of this position. Secondary responsibilities may be removed when needed as an accommodation strategy.

APPLICATION MATERIALS:

Applications are considered complete when the following materials are received at the email indicated below:

Please submit your cover letter, resume and employment application by email to hr@bluffton.edu 

Review of applications will begin immediately.

Employment decisions are based on merit and university needs, and not on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other status protected by law. As a religious institution, Bluffton University expressly reserves its rights to appoint faculty and staff who share a commitment to the Christian faith which is consistent with the Mennonite/Anabaptist beliefs of the university’s founding and supporting church. EOE.
Top