About the position
Grand Canyon University is seeking a Head Coach for the Cross Country team, a role that is pivotal in shaping the athletic and personal development of student-athletes. The Head Coach will provide coaching in both team and individual settings, focusing on improving sport-specific skills. This position requires the ability to effectively coach, advise, and motivate student-athletes, ensuring they reach their highest level of excellence. The Head Coach will be responsible for creating practice plans, assisting in game preparation, advising on game strategy, and providing direct coaching during games. Additionally, the Head Coach will lead and designate practice responsibilities to Assistant Coaches, supervise and mentor student-athletes and coaching staff, and be a strong leader who can motivate staff to deliver performance results. The role also involves researching, evaluating, contacting, and recruiting players of high character, scholarship, and athletic ability to compete for the designated sport program. The Head Coach will market the sports program to prospective recruits, community members, and club members both domestically and internationally. Certification in NCAA off-campus recruiting or the ability to pass the testing requirements is essential. Extensive travel is expected to evaluate talent and market the GCU designated sports program to potential recruits. The Head Coach will manage competition scheduling, plan, market, and operate sports camps, and ensure compliance with University standards and conference and national affiliation rules and regulations. Promoting good sportsmanship behavior and enforcing discipline is crucial, as is establishing and overseeing penalties for breaches of standards by team members. The Head Coach must possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build effective working relationships with student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty, alumni, and community representatives. A strong understanding of the fundamentals of the sport, including game rules, regulations, and officiating, is required, along with advanced knowledge of game development strategy. Other duties may be assigned by the Athletic Director or designee.
Responsibilities
- Provide coaching in both team and individual settings to improve sport specific skills.
- Effectively coach, advise, and motivate student-athletes.
- Create practice plans and assist in game preparation.
- Advise on game strategy and provide direct coaching during games.
- Lead and designate practice responsibilities to Assistant Coaches.
- Responsible for hiring sport staff.
- Supervise, develop, and mentor student-athletes and coaches/support staff.
- Research, evaluate, contact, and recruit players of high character, scholarship, and athletic ability.
- Market the sports program to prospective recruits and community members.
- Travel extensively to evaluate talent and market the sports program.
- Manage competition scheduling and the planning of sports camps.
- Ensure compliance with University standards and conference rules.
- Promote good sportsmanship behavior and enforce discipline.
- Establish and oversee penalties for breaches of standards by team members.
- Build effective working relationships with various stakeholders.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree required.
- At least one year of intercollegiate and/or elite level sport specific coaching and/or playing and training experience.
- Valid driver's license and clean driving record.
- CPR, First Aid, and AED certifications required.
- Proficiency with computers and MS suite of software applications.
- Ability to pass a background check.
- Must be able to lawfully accept employment in the U.S.
Nice-to-haves
- Master's Degree.
- Experience Head Coaching at a NCAA institution.
- Knowledge and understanding of Division 1 sport specific program and NCAA rules.
- Familiarity with team, game, meet management software preferred.
Benefits
- Free parking
- Disability insurance
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
- Employee discount
- Volunteer time off
