What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Football Coach and Defensive Coordinator position at Virginia Episcopal School?
Position Summary:
Virginia Episcopal School is seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Assistant Football Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the 2026 academic year to help cultivate a competitive and character-driven football program. The Defensive Coordinator will work closely with the Head Football Coach to develop and implement all aspects of the defensive program. The successful candidate will be a passionate teacher of the game who values player development, strong relationships, and creating a positive, disciplined team culture. Candidates should possess excellent communication skills, strong organizational abilities, and a commitment to mentoring student-athletes in a boarding school environment.
The ideal candidate will serve as a mentor and role model for student-athletes, uphold the mission and values of the school, and contribute to building an inclusive team culture rooted in the school's guiding principle of "Toward Full Stature."
Primary Responsibilities:
Coaching Duties:
- Coordinate all aspects of the varsity defensive unit.
- Develop and install defensive schemes and game plans.
- Analyze opponents through film breakdown and scouting reports.
Lead defensive meetings and position-specific instruction.
Call defensive plays during games.
Evaluate defensive performance and adjust strategies throughout the season.
Collaborate with the Head Coach to establish overall team philosophy and standards
Program Responsibilities:
- Assist with all aspects of practice planning and game-day operations.
- Support equipment management, travel logistics, and program organization.
Help supervise assistant coaches and student managers.
Build positive relationships with parents, alumni, and the VES community.
Represent Virginia Episcopal School with professionalism and integrity.
Promote a disciplined, competitive, and positive team culture.
Ensure compliance with VISAA, BRAC, and Virginia Episcopal School policies.
Player Development Responsibilities:
- Teach sound fundamentals and football techniques.
- Develop position-specific skills through progressive practice planning.
- Support strength and conditioning initiatives throughout the year.
- Utilize film review to enhance football IQ and individual improvement.
- Promote multi-sport participation and long-term athletic development.
- Foster leadership, accountability, resilience, and discipline.
Recruiting & Admissions Partnership:
- Support the Admissions Office by identifying and evaluating prospective student-athletes.
- Assist with recruiting visits and admissions events.
- Serve as an ambassador for the VES football program within the regional football community.
- Build relationships with youth, middle school, and club football organizations.
Student Life Responsibilities:
As members of the VES community, coaches are expected to support the broader educational mission of the school. Depending on the successful candidate's background, this position may include opportunities in:
- Strength & Conditioning
Residential Life (Dorm Parent)
- Student activities
- Teaching (In positions are available)
- Academic advising
- Other school responsibilities
Preferred Education & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
- Previous coaching experience at the high school, or collegiate level strongly preferred.
- Experience working in an independent school or residential setting is a plus.
- Ability to teach in an academic department (e.g., English, Math, History, Science, PE).
- Strong communication, organization, and interpersonal skills.
- A commitment to building a positive and inclusive team culture.
- Willingness to engage fully in the academic and residential life of the school.
Compensation: Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
Benefits:
- On-campus housing (if available).
Free meals in the dining hall when school is in session.
Access to school facilities and professional development opportunities.
Health and retirement benefit available for full-time faculty.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to Christina Miller, Director of Human Resources, at cmiller@ves.org.
Benefits
Your Wellbeing
Effectively guiding students Toward Full Stature begins with fostering a healthy work environment for you—our faculty and staff. And we know that to perform your best, you have to feel your best. VES offers a variety of benefits and programs designed to help support the way you live and work.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Our relationship with All Points EAP offers you 24/7, 365 days a year access online, via a mobile app and by phone. You’ll find a wide breadth of free services and resources including wellness and mental health tips, resources and counseling, legal and financial services, childcare and elder care resources and life coaching.
Mental Health
You may access EAP for confidential assessment, short-term counseling—providing four free sessions with an EAP provider, and referral to community counseling services or other resources when needed. Depending on the provider, you may be able to utilize your medical benefits for in-person therapy visits.
Fitness & Exercise
You have access to our state-of-the-art Van Every Athletic Center, featuring athletic courts, cardiovascular training equipment, free weights and strength training machines. Enjoy our outdoor pool, athletic fields and tennis courts, run the track or nearby cross-country course, hike and bike the miles of trails on campus and in Lynchburg, and join in our regularly scheduled faculty fun events focused on wellness.
Nutritious Meals
Our community enjoys delicious and nutritious meals with a commitment to farm-to-table selections and meeting a breadth of dietary needs. Every employee is eligible for complimentary lunches in the dining hall, and employees-in-residence and their families are typically eligible for free breakfast, lunch and dinner daily when school is in session.
Health Insurance
We offer medical, dental and vision insurance to help you stay healthy, support you when you need care and manage healthcare costs.
Medical Insurance
If you elect employee coverage, VES pays 100% of the basic school group health insurance plan for you. You may elect additional coverage beyond the basic plan, such as a reduced-deductible plan, family coverage or additional available services. And you can tap into support from knowledgeable advisors with our insurance broker who help to ensure you select the best insurance option for your anticipated needs.
Dental Insurance
We offer dental coverage through Delta Dental on a voluntary basis in which the employee pays the premium. The plan available covers two annual preventive care visits per person and, at varying levels of coverage, routine dental treatments, replacement work, endodontic and periodontic services, and oral surgery. Orthodontics are not covered.
Vision Insurance
This voluntary plan that you may purchase is offered through EyeMed and covers exams with a small co-pay, and provides allowances toward and discounts on frames, contacts, laser vision correction, hearing exams and hearing aids.
Your Financial Security
We want to help you save money, protect your income, and grow assets for your retirement.
We offer several tax-advantaged programs that will help you save on expenses.
Dependent Care Reimbursement
You may choose to have the school deduct an amount you determine from your paycheck on a pre-tax basis for dependent-care expenses.
Health Savings Account (HSA)
You may set up an HSA—a triple-tax-advantaged account—to pay for qualified healthcare, dental and vision expenses not covered by insurance, including copays and deductibles, that you may incur now or in the future. You can contribute funds to the account on a pre-tax basis through payroll deductions.
Pre-tax Premium Deductions
Employees enrolled in our medical and dental plans as well as optional life insurance may opt to participate in VES’ Section 125 Plan, in which premiums are deducted from employees’ paychecks on a pre-tax basis.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) allow you to set aside pre-tax money to pay for eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses.You decide how much to contribute to your FSA(s) each year during Open Enrollment based on your unique needs.
It’s not easy thinking about accidents and death, but if they happen, VES provides benefits to protect your financial resources.
Life Insurance
We offer full-time employees—at no cost to you—a life insurance policy in an amount equal to twice your annual wages.
Income Protection in the Event of Disability
- Short-term disability is partial income replacement for a period of time if you are unable to work due to illness, injury or childbirth. Participation in this plan is optional and premiums are paid by the employee. Currently, the plan pays 60% of your salary or wages for up to six months after two weeks of leave for a qualified reason. We strongly urge employees to make the small investment in this important benefit.
- Long-term disability (LTD) starts when your short-term disability benefits end. LTD pays a percentage of your monthly earnings until you return to work or reach age 65. Your LTD is currently paid 100% by VES. The plan provides up to 60% of your base pay after a 180-day elimination period.
Paid Time Off and Leave
We've designed benefits and policies that give you time to recharge, attend to personal matters, heal, and focus on your family.
Holidays
Each year, 12- month staff typically receive 15 holiday days off per year. Holidays for faculty and 10-month Student Support Services staff are determined by the school schedule.
Vacation
Faculty and 10-month Student Support Services staff typically take vacations when school is not in session (for some, administrative time may be required when school is not in session). Administrative 12-month employees receive paid time off as follows:
3 weeks during the first 5 years
4 weeks beginning with the 5-year anniversary
5 weeks beginning with the 10-year anniversary
Sick Leave
Faculty and other 10-month staff receive 4 days per year of paid sick leave, and 12-month staff receive 6 days per year.
Family and Medical Leave
VES will grant unpaid medical leave in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and/or applicable law. Generally, the FMLA entitles eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for specified family or medical reasons.
Salary : $45,472 - $69,264