PRIMARY PURPOSE:

The Head Men’s Soccer Coach is responsible for teaching, training, and developing the skills of student-athletes in the sport of soccer while integrating the Catholic faith through mentorship and virtue development. This position also involves managing and overseeing all aspects of the men’s soccer program, providing leadership, and serving as a positive role model. The Head Coach will encourage virtue development, foster a positive environment, and ensure the program aligns with Ave Maria University’s mission.

Additionally, the Head Coach will implement a virtue-based development program, handle sports administration duties, including recruitment and retention of mission-aligned student-athletes, manage scheduling, travel, budgeting, academic monitoring, fundraising, equipment, court maintenance, and overall program operations.

The Head Coach is expected to adhere to all guidelines and regulations set by Ave Maria University, The Sun Conference, and the NAIA.

PRIMARY DUTIES:

Student-Athlete Development:
The Head Coach is responsible for planning and conducting training, coaching, and skill development to prepare the team for competition.

• Provide technical instruction to help men’s soccer student-athletes improve their skills during practice.
• Conduct individual training sessions focused on developing each athlete's specific skills.
• Design and implement practice plans that prepare the team both physically and mentally for competition.
• Plan and execute camps and clinics for skill development and recruitment.
• Monitor the academic, social, and personal development of the student-athletes.
• Mentor student-athletes in their virtue development, fostering their growth as individuals both on and off the court.
• Design and implement programming that integrates Catholic values into the collegiate soccer experience.

SECONDARY DUTIES:

Program Administration and Fiscal Management:

• Responsible for overseeing the administrative and financial aspects of the program, including scheduling, travel coordination, budget management, ordering equipment, and overseeing facility maintenance.

• Ensure the completion of necessary expense reports and other administrative tasks.
• Manage fundraising efforts for the program in alignment with university and departmental policies.

NAIA Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with NAIA, Sun Conference, and Ave Maria University rules and regulations.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of all necessary compliance documents (e.g., 24-week declaration, eligibility certifications).
• Attend Sun Conference meetings as required.
• Monitor the academic progress of student-athletes to ensure they meet NAIA eligibility and University standards.

Recruiting:

• Identify, recruit, and retain academically qualified, mission-aligned, and athletically talented student-athletes.
• Plan and organize recruiting events and competitions to evaluate prospective athletes.
• Coordinate official and unofficial campus visits for potential recruits, adhering to university and NAIA policies.
• Manage and award athletic scholarships for the men’s soccer program.

Academics, Service, Marketing, and Development:

• Continuously monitor the academic progress of student-athletes to ensure they meet eligibility standards and make progress toward their degrees.
• Promote the men’s soccer program by building and maintaining relationships with alumni, donors, and community members.
• Organize and manage fundraising events in alignment with university and departmental guidelines.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree required

EXPERIENCE: Minimum of 3-5 years of soccer coaching experience, preferably at the college level.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the sport of soccer, including collegiate rules & regulations. Must possess excellent teaching, organizational and communication skills, as well as the ability to pay close attention to details, interact effectively and appropriately with student athletes and evaluate prospects. Must support the University’s Catholic mission. The head coach is responsible for supporting the university in the formation of student athletes in the intellectual and moral virtues of the Catholic faith.

PHYSICAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Requires ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to teach the fundamentals of the sport, coach practices, games; and the ability to stand, walk and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10 - 50 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a telephone, computer keyboard, operate equipment and read technical information.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Work is performed indoors and outdoors with potential for outdoor exposure to high temperatures, and safety and health hazards related to sport.