MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL ATHLETIC COACH (HEAD OR ASSISTANT) | part-time

Wilberforce Coaches are responsible for building strong athletic programs that compete with local area public and private schools. Middle School sports help to establish the athletic culture of our school and serve as the foundation for future Upper School athletes. Upper School sports compete with local area varsity and JV teams and US teams/athletes are often afforded opportunities to compete in local, state, and even national competitions. All Wilberforce coaches are asked to place special emphasis on training athletes who compete for the glory of Christ, encourage their teammates, demonstrate commitment to their team, and show respect to their coaches, officials and opponents. The Wilberforce School is eager to partner with coaches who believe they are wholeheartedly aligned with the mission of our school and who desire to work with students towards living out virtuous character qualities.

The Wilberforce School was founded to provide a distinctively Christian education characterized by academic excellence and joyful discovery within a classical framework. Physical training of our bodies is foundational to a classical education, and athletics offers students (and coaches) the opportunity to grow in strength and fitness physically, of course, but also spiritually and mentally. Coaches are tasked with training young athletes in the technical skill of their sport while modeling good work ethic, eagerness to grow through challenge, and a commitment to training and competing to win.

Teams:

Middle School (6th-8th grade) boys and girls:

• Soccer (fall)
• Cross Country (fall)
• Swim (winter) 
• Basketball (winter)
• Lacrosse (spring)
• Track (spring)

Upper School (9th-12th grade) boys and girls:

• Soccer (fall)
• Cross Country (fall)
• Swim (winter) 
• Basketball (winter)
• Lacrosse (spring)
• Track (spring); includes distance, sprint, and throwing field events
• Strength & Conditioning class (all seasons)

Ministry Purpose:

In accordance with Titus 2:7-8 and 1 Peter 2:11-17, the Coach is responsible to model the integration of faith and learning, and affirm the spiritual truths that our students learn at home and at church.

Titus 2:7-8
Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

1 Peter 2:11-17
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Responsibilities:

• Through coaching, mentor and disciple young athletes to know Christ, his calling to work at all things (including sport) wholeheartedly, and his command to love God and others above ourselves.
• Plan and execute practices from 3:15-4:45 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of each week. The Wilberforce School does not hold athletic practices on Tuesdays, and Middle School teams have no (or very limited) weekend competitions. US teams do compete on weekends and during some break periods.
• Plan for and conduct practices that are congruent with our school’s mission.
• Effectively build and lead athletic teams with a program growth mindset. Communicate effectively with the Athletics Director, athletes, and parents.
• Work ~10 hours/week, which includes planning, practices, and competition.
• Complete, prior to the athletic season start date, all New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) requirements for coaches, as promulgated by the Athletics Director.
• Be prepared for medical emergencies (e.g., checks that prescribed athletes have inhaler/epinephrine)
• Model the Christ-like personal qualities listed above both in and out of the athletic arena.

Reporting Relationship:

• All Wilberforce coaches report directly to the Athletics Director, who reports directly to the Head of School.

Work Hours:

• Approximately 10 hours/week, which includes planning, practices, and competition.
• Practice times are from 3:15 to 4:45 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wilberforce does not practice or compete on Tuesdays.
• Middle School (6-8) athletic teams do not compete on Saturdays.
• Weekday competitions for MS and US teams generally fall between 4 pm and 6 pm.
• Competitions are not scheduled during school breaks or weekends, with some exceptions for Upper School teams.

Education:

• High School Diploma required
• College degree preferred

Experience:

• Experience as an athlete in the sport for which a coach is applying is desired.
• Experience as a coach in any sport is desired.
• A sense of high calling to train and develop young student athletes is valued above experience in a specific sport.

Personal Qualities:

• Be committed to furthering our school’s Christian mission and philosophy of faith-based education.
• Agree to uphold our school’s Statement of Faith.
• Be willing to submit to and honor the standards outlined in the Employee Handbook and/or Code of Conduct.
• Credible profession of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
• Godly character (pastoral and other character references may be required).
• Regular in-person attendee in good standing (i.e., not under church discipline) at a local Christian church (and a member, if membership is offered). The church’s beliefs are consistent with the Nicene Creed.
• Positive approach to interactions with students, parents, officials, and the coaches and players of opposing teams.
• Models high standards of work ethic, conduct, and speech and expects these standards from student-athletes.