Middle School Cheer Coach

Position Overview

The Middle School Cheerleading Coach is responsible for leading a high-energy, disciplined, and unified squad. We are seeking a leader who is supportive but demanding—someone who fosters a positive athlete experience while maintaining elite standards for performance and conduct. A primary goal for this position is the elimination of "drama" through clear expectations, transparent processes, and professional communication.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Program Leadership & "No-Drama" Culture

• Expectation Setting: Establish a clear Code of Conduct for athletes and parents that prioritizes sportsmanship, mutual respect, and team unity.
• Conflict Resolution: Address interpersonal issues immediately and professionally, ensuring the focus remains on athleticism and school spirit.
• Supportive Coaching: Provide mentorship that builds student confidence and character while holding them to a high standard of physical and technical excellence.

2. Tryouts & Selection

• Organization: Plan and execute a multi-day tryout clinic and final evaluation.
• Rubric-Based Evaluation: Utilize a formal tryout rubric (including categories such as motions, jumps, spirit/projection, tumbling, and teacher recommendations) to ensure the selection process is objective, fair, and defensible.
• Communication: Clearly communicate the results of tryouts to all candidates in a timely and professional manner.

3. Performance & Game Day Duties

• Athletic Schedule: Lead the squad in cheering for all home Football games and all home Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball games.
• Skill Development: Teach and spot safe stunting techniques, motions, and cheers appropriate for the middle school level.
• Spirit Leadership: Coordinate pep rallies and school-wide spirit initiatives to boost student morale.

4. Administrative & Financial Management

• Fundraising: Organize and oversee seasonal fundraising to cover costs for uniforms, camp, and equipment, adhering to all district financial "Redbook" policies.
• Communication: Maintain a consistent and professional line of communication with families regarding practice schedules, game times, and financial obligations.
• Materials: Manage the inventory of uniforms, pom-poms, and mats.

Required Qualifications

• Certification: Completion of (or willingness to complete) KHSAA/KMEA safety certifications and district-required background checks.
• Interpersonal Skills: The ability to command a room of middle schoolers with "calm authority" and interact effectively with a diverse parent body.
• Organizational Skills: A high level of proficiency in scheduling and logistics.

Schedule Expectations

• Weekly practices (after school).
• Attendance at all home football and basketball games.
• Attendance at summer cheer camp (if applicable).

The Ideal Candidate: You are a mentor first and a coach second. You understand that middle school is a formative time, and you use cheerleading as a tool to teach accountability, hard work, and resilience—all while keeping the "sideline drama" to zero.