TITLE: Sprint Track & Field Coach
REPORTS TO: Director of Athletics and Physical
Education
SCHEDULE: Seasonal, part-time adjunct position covering two
seasons: indoor track and field in winter and outdoor track and
field in spring. Approximately 20 hours per week, six days per
week. The winter season generally runs from early November through
early March, and the spring season generally runs from March
through late May. Afternoon practices, evening or weekend meets;
Academy-break commitments, championships, and travel may be
required; the schedule may vary according to departmental and
Academy needs.
Pay Group: Salaried, Exempt
Employment Type: Seasonal
Employment Status: Part-Time
Employee Class: Faculty
Work Location: On-site
Salary Range: $3,175 - $3,875 per season based on relevant
education and/or experience
Position Purpose
Support the Phillips Exeter Academy indoor and outdoor track and
field programs by providing specialized sprint and relay
instruction as a part-time adjunct coach. Work with the head
coaches to create an educational, competitive, and student-centered
experience. Teach sound technique, prepare student-athletes for
competition, and support their growth as teammates, leaders, and
community members.
Mission Alignment
The interscholastic athletic program at Phillips Exeter Academy
embodies the school's core value: knowledge and goodness
integrated. Our program, grounded in integrity, promotes character
development and collaboration. We believe that athletic competition
is a powerful teacher. Physical and mental challenges in a team
context offer athletes the opportunity to develop leadership
skills, self-confidence, and a commitment to others that will
inspire them to lead productive and active lives. The sprint coach
brings this mission to life through daily instruction and support
of student-athletes during the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Job Responsibilities
- Plan and conduct purposeful sprint and relay practices in
coordination with the head coaches and the overall team
schedule.
Teach sprint mechanics, starting-block setup and technique,
acceleration, maximum-velocity running, speed endurance, race
execution, and relay exchanges.
Develop progressive training plans for short and long
sprinters, adapting to indoor and outdoor events, facilities,
competition schedules, and athlete development.
Establish and reinforce safety practices for track traffic,
starting blocks, relay exchange zones, equipment setup, progressive
training loads, and changing indoor and outdoor conditions.
Establish clear team standards and cultivate a healthy,
enjoyable, and supportive culture grounded in trust, belonging,
accountability, collaboration, fair play, and no tolerance for
hazing.
Provide instruction, encouragement, and constructive feedback
that supports individual growth, team performance, self-confidence,
and a healthy relationship with competition.
Adjust teaching and coaching methods to meet varied experience
levels, learning needs, identities, and strengths within the
team.
Assess student-athletes’ technique, performance, and progress;
maintain appropriate training and meet information; and communicate
development goals clearly and respectfully.
Promote the physical, social, and emotional well-being of
student-athletes and follow Academy procedures for injury
prevention, emergency response, return-to-play, and student
support.
Coordinate with the head coaches, athletic training, and
strength and conditioning staff to support appropriate training
loads, recovery, injury prevention, and return-to-participation
plans.
Drive and transport students for sponsored events and
practices.
Collaborate with other event-group coaches to coordinate
training and competition for students participating in multiple
events.
Assist the head coaches with sprint and relay entries, relay
selection, meet preparation, timing, equipment, and other assigned
team logistics.
Maintain current knowledge of sprint and relay rules, teaching
methods, safety practices, and applicable Academy, league, and
governing-body expectations.
Model and teach integrity, sportsmanship, respect for
opponents, officials, and the rules of competition, responsible
decision-making, and commitment to others.
Support prospective student-athlete outreach and program
visibility when requested by the head coaches and Athletics, in
coordination with Admissions and consistent with Academy
policies.
Provide sprint and relay performance information and honest
evaluation to support students interested in collegiate
participation, in coordination with the head coaches, Athletics,
and College Counseling.
Supervise student-athletes during practices, competitions,
travel, meals, lodging, training trips, and other team activities
when scheduled.
Participate in departmental meetings, professional learning,
program assessment, and other activities that strengthen PEA's
educational-athletics program.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Competencies
- Strong knowledge of sprint mechanics, starts, acceleration,
speed development, speed endurance, relay exchanges, race
preparation, and current indoor and outdoor competition rules.
- Demonstrated ability to design progressive sprint and relay
training for adolescent athletes with varied experience levels and
goals.
- High level of emotional intelligence and performance under
pressure to include
- Remain calm and make sound, objective decisions under pressure,
stress, and emotionally charged conditions.
- Demonstrate self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy,
professionalism, and effective relationship management.
- Prevent and resolve conflicts while responding constructively
to adversity, criticism, and competition outcomes.
- Adapt resiliently to changing demands, manage stress, and model
appropriate emotional responses for student-athletes.
- Foster psychological safety and mental wellness while
maintaining professional boundaries, ethical conduct, and
athletics’ educational mission.
- Knowledge of risk management related to track traffic, sprint
training, starting blocks, relay exchanges, progressive loading,
recovery, and emergency procedures.
- Student-centered coaching and the ability to build trust,
credibility, and healthy developmental relationships with
adolescents.
- Commitment to educational athletics and to helping students
learn through physical and mental challenge, collaboration,
reflection, success, and setback.
- Demonstrated ability to create a safe, welcoming, equitable,
and inclusive team environment for students from varied identities,
experiences, and skill levels.
- Strong organization, communication, conflict-resolution, and
interpersonal skills, with the ability to maintain collegial
relationships.
- Sound judgment and the ability to recognize hazards, respond
appropriately in emergencies, and place student safety and
well-being first.
- Ability to work collaboratively under the direction of the head
coaches and coordinate instruction with other event-group
coaches.
- Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and
deadlines, and adapt accurately to changing conditions.
- Professional discretion and strict adherence to
confidentiality, student-safeguarding, mandated-reporting, and
Academy policies.
- Ability to maintain a calm, professional, and respectful
demeanor, including during high-pressure or emotionally charged
situations.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and willingness to learn
scheduling, video, communication, statistics, and other
applications used by the department.
- Ability to work a flexible seasonal schedule that includes
afternoons, evenings, weekends, Academy breaks, and travel during
both the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Direct/Indirect Reports
None. This position works under the direction of the head coaches
and does not supervise coaching staff.
Position Requirements
Education
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Bachelor's degree preferred.
Experience
- Demonstrated experience coaching or teaching sprints and
relays, with the ability to develop athletes for indoor and outdoor
competition.
- Prior secondary-school, collegiate, club, or comparable
sprint-coaching experience preferred.
- Must be at least 21 years old.
- Experience working with adolescents in an educational,
residential-school, camp, or youth-development setting
preferred.
- Experience using training records, race video, and performance
data to support athlete development preferred.
Licenses and Certifications
- Current CPR/AED and first-aid certification, or ability to
obtain before the season begins.
- Valid driver's license and ability to meet and maintain Academy
driving requirements.
- Completion of required safeguarding, concussion-awareness,
emergency-action-plan, and sport-specific safety training.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to demonstrate or effectively teach sprint mechanics,
starts, and relay exchanges and to move throughout indoor and
outdoor track facilities.
- Ability to coach and supervise in a busy indoor field house and
outdoors in varying weather conditions, with multiple event groups
operating concurrently in a loud, chaotic, and stressful
environment.
- Ability to set up, inspect, use, and move to or from storage,
sprint and relay equipment, including starting blocks, relay
batons, cones, and timing equipment.
- Ability to lift and transport up to 25 pounds without
assistance and to perform other essential functions of the
position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Additional Requirements
- Successful completion of a criminal background check (reviewed
every 5 years).
- Clean driving record (reviewed annually).
- Compliance with all Academy policies and expectations related
to student safety, supervision, travel, conduct, confidentiality,
and mandated reporting.
- Regular and reliable attendance throughout both assigned
seasons, including required preseason, postseason, evening,
weekend, Academy-break, and travel commitments.
