Cross Country/Track and Field Head Coach

Title: Cross Country/Track and Field Head Coach

Date: June 2026

Status: Exempt

Reports to: Director of Athletics, Vice President for Student Life and Enrollment

Job Summary

Under the general direction of the director of athletics, the head coach performs a wide range of difficulty-to-complex coaching and administrative activities related to the development and implementation of a competitive cross country/track and field program. This includes, but is not limited to, all phases of the program in compliance with the mission of the College, the American Midwest Conference (AMC), and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) rules and regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for the organization, development, and leadership of a varsity intercollegiate athletic program in support of the mission and core values of Cottey College and the athletic department.
• Direct the entire recruiting process, which includes the identification, evaluation, and recruitment of prospective students and retention of current student-athletes.
• Ensure roster size expectations are met with consistency for the cross-country and track and field programs.
• Coordinate the athletic grant-in-aid process by interacting with College-wide department members.
• Establish a competitive schedule, coordinate team travel, and maintain compliance with College guidelines per class attendance policies.
• Respond to media requests and maintain access/availability of coaching staff and student-athletes; provide information to the media about the team, the program, upcoming competitions, etc.
• Collaborate with marketing and communications staff, events staff, and the facility manager to promote the team and increase attendance at home events.
• Coordinate practice planning, skill development, and design coaching strategies that prepare the team for competition; determine the starting

line-up, substitution patterns, and game day strategies and tactics.

• Establish and adhere to the rules of conduct, as well as mentor

student-athletes to foster athletic, academic, emotional, and social growth.

• Determine and implement disciplinary sanctions if student-athletes fail to comply with team, athletic department, and/or Cottey College rules and regulations.
• Collaborate with Cottey College staff from the offices of enrollment management, Health Services, athletic training services, academics, judicial affairs, student-athlete services, international programs, and the faculty athletic representative.
• Collaborate with athletic department personnel and the institutional advancement office staff to identify, cultivate, and steward fundraising opportunities for the sport and intercollegiate athletics.
• Manage the cross-country and track and field operational budget while demonstrating fiscal responsibility and support for cost containment initiatives.
• Oversee the purchase and inventory of uniforms and equipment.
• May schedule, plan, organize, and conduct summer sport camps.
• Coordinate efforts to ensure adequate staffing, medical support, and facility availability for home events.
• Support Cottey community service efforts by involving the coaching staff as well as the student-athletes.
• Adhere to Cottey College, AMC, and NAIA rules and regulations.
• Oversee activities of student-athletes to verify compliance with a clear mandate to self-report any violations.
• Support the mission and core values of the campus athletic department.
• Complete other duties as assigned by the director of athletics.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Understanding of NAIA rules and regulations.
• Familiarity with specific skills and strategies for the sport.
• Possess strong leadership skills to motivate and develop student-athletes.
• Focus on playing fair and adhering to the NAIA’s Champions of Character pillars.
• Facilitating dispute resolution within the team structure to improve teamwork.
• Communicating with other coaches, players, parents, and organization members.
• Ability to help all players improve through practice and individual coaching.
• Creating a safe environment designed to keep student-athletes healthy and injury-free.
• Possess or the ability to obtain a valid Missouri motor vehicle operator’s license (Class E) and willingness to use a personal vehicle in the course of employment if a College vehicle is unavailable.

Credentials and Experience

• Two years of previous coaching experience
• Possession of a bachelor’s degree