PRIMARY PURPOSE:

The primary duty of the Head Competitive Dance Coach is to teach, train, and develop the skills of student athletes in the sport of dance while integrating the Catholic faith through mentorship and virtue development.

The head coach will manage the planning and administration of the dance program and will provide leadership and oversight to student athletes, serve as a positive mentor, encourage virtue development, and create a positive image within the Ave Maria University mission for the program.

The head coach will also be responsible for the sport’s administration including, but not limited to, recruitment and retention of mission-fit student athletes, scheduling, travel, budget management, academic monitoring, fundraising, equipment and overall program management.

The head coach will adhere to all guidelines and regulations set forth by the Sun Conference, NAIA, and Ave Maria University.

PRIMARY DUTIES:

Student Athlete Development – Plan and conduct the teaching, coaching, training, and individual student athlete skill development to prepare the team for performances and competition.

• Provide technical skill instruction to the dance team to aid in the skill development of student athletes at practices.
• Conduct individual training sessions with student athletes geared at technique and skill development.
• Prepare and oversee the implementation of practice plans that will prepare the team physically and mentally for performances and competition.
• Prepare and oversee the planning and implementation of camps and clinics.
• Monitor the academic, social, and personal development of dance student-athletes.
• Mentor student athletes through virtue development.
• Design and implement programming that promotes integration of the Catholic faith.

SECONDARY DUTIES:

Program Administrative and Fiscal Management – Responsible for overseeing scheduling, travel coordination, budget management, ordering equipment, and administrative paperwork for the program.

NAIA Compliance -

• Responsible for complying with NAIA, Sun Conference, and Ave Maria University rules and regulations.

• Responsible for performing all duties within the framework of NAIA rules and regulations.
• Oversee the coordination, preparation, and submission of all the necessary NAIA compliance forms for dance program (i.e., 24-week declaration, eligibility certification, etc.).
• Required to attend departmental and Sun Conference meetings.

Recruitment and Retention–

• Responsible for identifying, recruiting and the retention of academically prepared, mission fit, and athletically talented student athletes for the dance programs.
• Responsible for planning recruiting events and auditions to evaluate prospective student-athletes.
• Responsible for coordinating on-campus official and unofficial visits of prospective student-athletes per University and NAIA policies.
• Award athletic scholarships and manage scholarship budget per departmental guidelines.

Academics, Service, Marketing, and Development -

• Ongoing monitoring of student athlete academic success in conjunction with the academic student support team. Ensure student-athletes progress in degree advancement and meet NAIA eligibility and University standards.
• Ongoing promotion and development of the dance program by creating and maintaining effective relationships with alumni, donors, and community members.
• Manage fundraising events for the program within the framework of the university and departmental guidelines.