Sprint Track & Field Coach

TITLE:                                Sprint Track & Field Coach

REPORTS TO:                   Director of Athletics and Physical Education

SCHEDULE:                       Seasonal, part-time adjunct position covering two seasons: indoor track and field in winter and outdoor track and field in spring. Approximately 20 hours per week, six days per week. The winter season generally runs from early November through early March, and the spring season generally runs from March through late May. Afternoon practices, evening or weekend meets; Academy-break commitments, championships, and travel may be required; the schedule may vary according to departmental and Academy needs.

Pay Group:                        Salaried, Exempt

Employment Type:          Seasonal

Employment Status:        Part-Time

Employee Class:               Faculty

Work Location:                On-site

Salary Range:                   $3,175 - $3,875 per season based on relevant education and/or experience

Position Purpose

Support the Phillips Exeter Academy indoor and outdoor track and field programs by providing specialized sprint and relay instruction as a part-time adjunct coach. Work with the head coaches to create an educational, competitive, and student-centered experience. Teach sound technique, prepare student-athletes for competition, and support their growth as teammates, leaders, and community members.

Mission Alignment

The interscholastic athletic program at Phillips Exeter Academy embodies the school's core value: knowledge and goodness integrated. Our program, grounded in integrity, promotes character development and collaboration. We believe that athletic competition is a powerful teacher. Physical and mental challenges in a team context offer athletes the opportunity to develop leadership skills, self-confidence, and a commitment to others that will inspire them to lead productive and active lives. The sprint coach brings this mission to life through daily instruction and support of student-athletes during the indoor and outdoor seasons.

Job Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct purposeful sprint and relay practices in coordination with the head coaches and the overall team schedule.
• Teach sprint mechanics, starting-block setup and technique, acceleration, maximum-velocity running, speed endurance, race execution, and relay exchanges.
• Develop progressive training plans for short and long sprinters, adapting to indoor and outdoor events, facilities, competition schedules, and athlete development.
• Establish and reinforce safety practices for track traffic, starting blocks, relay exchange zones, equipment setup, progressive training loads, and changing indoor and outdoor conditions.
• Establish clear team standards and cultivate a healthy, enjoyable, and supportive culture grounded in trust, belonging, accountability, collaboration, fair play, and no tolerance for hazing.
• Provide instruction, encouragement, and constructive feedback that supports individual growth, team performance, self-confidence, and a healthy relationship with competition.
• Adjust teaching and coaching methods to meet varied experience levels, learning needs, identities, and strengths within the team.
• Assess student-athletes’ technique, performance, and progress; maintain appropriate training and meet information; and communicate development goals clearly and respectfully.
• Promote the physical, social, and emotional well-being of student-athletes and follow Academy procedures for injury prevention, emergency response, return-to-play, and student support.
• Coordinate with the head coaches, athletic training, and strength and conditioning staff to support appropriate training loads, recovery, injury prevention, and return-to-participation plans.
• Drive and transport students for sponsored events and practices.
• Collaborate with other event-group coaches to coordinate training and competition for students participating in multiple events.
• Assist the head coaches with sprint and relay entries, relay selection, meet preparation, timing, equipment, and other assigned team logistics.
• Maintain current knowledge of sprint and relay rules, teaching methods, safety practices, and applicable Academy, league, and governing-body expectations.
• Model and teach integrity, sportsmanship, respect for opponents, officials, and the rules of competition, responsible decision-making, and commitment to others.
• Support prospective student-athlete outreach and program visibility when requested by the head coaches and Athletics, in coordination with Admissions and consistent with Academy policies.
• Provide sprint and relay performance information and honest evaluation to support students interested in collegiate participation, in coordination with the head coaches, Athletics, and College Counseling.
• Supervise student-athletes during practices, competitions, travel, meals, lodging, training trips, and other team activities when scheduled.
• Participate in departmental meetings, professional learning, program assessment, and other activities that strengthen PEA's educational-athletics program.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of sprint mechanics, starts, acceleration, speed development, speed endurance, relay exchanges, race preparation, and current indoor and outdoor competition rules.
• Demonstrated ability to design progressive sprint and relay training for adolescent athletes with varied experience levels and goals.
• High level of emotional intelligence and performance under pressure to include
  • Remain calm and make sound, objective decisions under pressure, stress, and emotionally charged conditions.
  • Demonstrate self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, professionalism, and effective relationship management.
  • Prevent and resolve conflicts while responding constructively to adversity, criticism, and competition outcomes.
  • Adapt resiliently to changing demands, manage stress, and model appropriate emotional responses for student-athletes.
  • Foster psychological safety and mental wellness while maintaining professional boundaries, ethical conduct, and athletics’ educational mission.
• Knowledge of risk management related to track traffic, sprint training, starting blocks, relay exchanges, progressive loading, recovery, and emergency procedures.
• Student-centered coaching and the ability to build trust, credibility, and healthy developmental relationships with adolescents.
• Commitment to educational athletics and to helping students learn through physical and mental challenge, collaboration, reflection, success, and setback.
• Demonstrated ability to create a safe, welcoming, equitable, and inclusive team environment for students from varied identities, experiences, and skill levels.
• Strong organization, communication, conflict-resolution, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to maintain collegial relationships.
• Sound judgment and the ability to recognize hazards, respond appropriately in emergencies, and place student safety and well-being first.
• Ability to work collaboratively under the direction of the head coaches and coordinate instruction with other event-group coaches.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and deadlines, and adapt accurately to changing conditions.
• Professional discretion and strict adherence to confidentiality, student-safeguarding, mandated-reporting, and Academy policies.
• Ability to maintain a calm, professional, and respectful demeanor, including during high-pressure or emotionally charged situations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and willingness to learn scheduling, video, communication, statistics, and other applications used by the department.
• Ability to work a flexible seasonal schedule that includes afternoons, evenings, weekends, Academy breaks, and travel during both the indoor and outdoor seasons.

Direct/Indirect Reports

None. This position works under the direction of the head coaches and does not supervise coaching staff.

Position Requirements

Education

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.

Experience

• Demonstrated experience coaching or teaching sprints and relays, with the ability to develop athletes for indoor and outdoor competition.
• Prior secondary-school, collegiate, club, or comparable sprint-coaching experience preferred.
• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Experience working with adolescents in an educational, residential-school, camp, or youth-development setting preferred.
• Experience using training records, race video, and performance data to support athlete development preferred.

Licenses and Certifications

• Current CPR/AED and first-aid certification, or ability to obtain before the season begins.
• Valid driver's license and ability to meet and maintain Academy driving requirements.
• Completion of required safeguarding, concussion-awareness, emergency-action-plan, and sport-specific safety training.

Physical Requirements

1. Ability to demonstrate or effectively teach sprint mechanics, starts, and relay exchanges and to move throughout indoor and outdoor track facilities.
2. Ability to coach and supervise in a busy indoor field house and outdoors in varying weather conditions, with multiple event groups operating concurrently in a loud, chaotic, and stressful environment.
3. Ability to set up, inspect, use, and move to or from storage, sprint and relay equipment, including starting blocks, relay batons, cones, and timing equipment.
4. Ability to lift and transport up to 25 pounds without assistance and to perform other essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Additional Requirements

1. Successful completion of a criminal background check (reviewed every 5 years).
2. Clean driving record (reviewed annually).
3. Compliance with all Academy policies and expectations related to student safety, supervision, travel, conduct, confidentiality, and mandated reporting.
4. Regular and reliable attendance throughout both assigned seasons, including required preseason, postseason, evening, weekend, Academy-break, and travel commitments.