Position Description
The Head Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track and Field Coach provides leadership for Eastern University's men's and women's cross country programs and supports all areas of the men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field programs. The coach will recruit, develop, retain, and mentor student-athletes in a manner consistent with Eastern University's Christ centered mission and NCAA Division III philosophy.
This position is central to the University's strategic use of athletics to support undergraduate enrollment growth. The successful candidate will build sustainable roster size, strengthen student-athlete retention, and create a competitive culture capable of contending at the top of the Middle Atlantic Conference and the NCAA Metro Region in cross country and track and field.
Position Responsibilities
- Cross Country Program Leadership: Direct all operations for men’s and women’s cross country, including meet scheduling, budget management, travel logistics, equipment, and administrative compliance.
- Recruiting & Roster Management: Lead year-round recruiting strategy across cross country and track—identifying, evaluating, and yielding prospective student-athletes while partnering with Admissions to hit enrollment and roster goals.
- Distance Coaching & Athletic Development: Design and execute progressive training philosophies for cross country and track distance/middle-distance event groups, focusing on long-term development, competitive ambition, and injury prevention.
- Track & Field Program Support: Assist the Director of Track & Field with indoor/outdoor program administration, meet entries, staff integration, and overall championship preparation.
- Student-Athlete Mentorship & Formation: Guide student-athletes in academic success, leadership, Christian formation, and personal accountability to ensure strong retention and character development.
- Administrative & Compliance Standards: Maintain full compliance with NCAA, Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC), Title IX, and institutional policies while submitting accurate expense, recruiting, and team records on time.
- Campus Collaboration & Advancement: Partner across campus with Athletic Training, Sports Performance, and Student Development, while assisting with alumni relations, team fundraising, and community service.
Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Distance Coaching & Physiology: Deep mastery of multi-season periodization, training design (800m to 10k), pace tactics, and injury prevention to peak athletes for MAC and NCAA championships.
- Recruiting & Roster Development: Proven ability to build a robust pipeline, evaluate talent, and guide prospects through the admissions/financial aid process to hit university enrollment and roster goals.
- Program Operations & Compliance: Strong organizational skills in managing team budgets, complex travel logistics, meet entries, and strict adherence to NCAA Division III regulations.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
- Collegiate coaching experience in cross country and/or track and field, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Demonstrated ability to recruit, coach, mentor, and retain student-athletes.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree.
- Successful head coaching, recruiting coordination, or program-building experience at the collegiate level.
- Demonstrated success in increasing roster size while maintaining strong retention, academic performance, and competitive results.
- Experience coaching distance and middle-distance events across cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track.
- Evidence of competitive success at the conference, regional, or national level.
- Experience with recruiting software, meet management systems, budgeting, fundraising, and alumni engagement.