Assistant Track and Field Coach - Throws/Strength and Conditioning

Role:

Assists the Head Track & Field Coach in the overall administration, development, and operation of the College’s track and field program. This position has primary coaching responsibility for the throwing events and provides leadership in the development and implementation of the program’s strength and conditioning activities.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

Throws Coaching

• Serve as the primary coach for track and field throwing events, including shot put, discus, hammer/weight throw, and javelin, as applicable to the program and competition season.
• Plan, organize, and conduct practices for throwers in coordination with the Head Track & Field Coach.
• Teach proper throwing techniques, fundamentals, event-specific skills, and competition strategies.
• Assist student-athletes with preparation for regular-season competition, conference championships, regional competition, and national competition.
• Promote proper warm-up, recovery, mobility, and injury-prevention practices.

Strength & Conditioning

• Assist with the development and implementation of comprehensive strength and conditioning programs for track and field student-athletes.
• Develop training programs that support strength, power, speed, mobility, flexibility, injury prevention, and overall athletic performance.
• Provide instruction on proper weightlifting and exercise techniques, including Olympic and traditional strength-training movements when appropriate.
• Develop training programs appropriate to the demands of individual track and field event groups.

Recruiting

• Assist with the identification and recruitment of qualified prospective student-athletes, with particular emphasis on throwing events.
• Evaluate prospective student-athletes through competition results, video, recruiting platforms, high school contacts, camps, combines, and other appropriate recruiting resources.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with high school coaches, club coaches, prospective student-athletes, and families.
• Communicate with prospective student-athletes throughout the recruiting process.
• Assist with campus visits, recruiting events, and other recruitment activities.

Student-Athlete Success/Program Operations

• Support the academic progress, retention, and graduation of student-athletes.
• Reinforce expectations regarding class attendance, academic performance, conduct, sportsmanship, and team participation.
• Promote a team environment that emphasizes accountability, discipline, respect, integrity, and personal development.
• Communicate student-athlete concerns to the Head Coach and appropriate College personnel when necessary.
• Assist the Head Coach with the day-to-day operation of the track and field program.
• Assist with practice preparation, competition preparation, equipment management, inventory, and facility needs.
• Assist with the setup and operation of home track and field meets, including throwing-event areas.
• Assist with team travel, transportation, lodging, meals, and competition logistics as assigned.
• Attend Athletics Department, coaching staff, and College meetings as required.
• Perform additional duties related to the track and field program as assigned by the Head Track & Field Coach or Athletics administration.

Performance Measurements:

1. To maintain knowledge of and comply with all applicable NJCAA, KJCCC, GCCC, and Athletics Department rules, policies, and procedures.
2. To promote sportsmanship and professional conduct among student-athletes and staff.
3. To represent GCCC professionally when interacting with student-athletes, prospective students, families, employees, officials, opposing institutions, and members of the community.
4. To maintain appropriate professional boundaries with student-athletes.

Knowledge and Skills:

Experience: Two to five years of similar or related experience.

Education: A Bachelor's Degree

Interpersonal Skills: The ability to motivate or influence including a significant level of diplomacy and trust. High level of interpersonal skill. Work frequently involves contacts requiring considerable discussion of issues, material presentations, and resolutions/solutions impacting departments or divisions.

Other Skills: Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Physical Education, Sports Management, or a related field.
Collegiate coaching experience, particularly at the two-year or NJCAA level.
Collegiate competitive experience in throwing events.
Experience recruiting student-athletes.
Experience developing and administering strength and conditioning programs.
Strength and conditioning certification such as CSCS, SCCC, or USA Weightlifting certification.
USATF or USTFCCCA coaching certification or specialized throws training.
Current CPR/AED and First Aid certification.

Physical Requirements: Work requires moderate physical exertion and long periods of standing, walking, riding in bus or vehicle, some recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching or similar activities. Job may require occasional lifting of heavy objects (over 50 pounds). Job requires above-average agility and dexterity.

Work Environment: Occasional exposure to objectionable conditions or variations such as those found in variable weather conditions.