Head Esports Coach (NAIA) (Head Coach (NAIA))

Indiana University East values a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and intellectual perspectives among its faculty, staff, and students. The campus is dedicated to being a strong partner in enhancing the educational, cultural, and economic development of the region it serves through community and civic engagement. Learn more about IU East.

Job Summary

Indiana University East is seeking an experienced and innovative Esports Head Coach to provide strategic leadership and direction for its competitive Esports program. The Head Coach will foster a positive and competitive environment that supports student-athlete academic success, personal development, and well-being while building a strong and sustainable Esports program. A person in this role should bring a combination of Esports expertise, technical knowledge, leadership experience, and a commitment to student success.

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Oversees all aspects of the program, including team development, recruitment, competition, budget and operations, technology, broadcasting, and external partnerships.
• Establishes the overarching strategic roadmap for the growth, title selection, and long-term sustainability of the IU East Esports program.
• Oversees the hiring, training, and professional development of the Assistant Coach and student workers.
• Represents Indiana University East in collegiate Esports conferences (National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) , National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC), or Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC)).
• Manages the total program budget, including scholarship allocations, equipment procurement, travel expenses, and operational costs.
• Maintains a strict inventory of all university-owned equipment, peripherals, and team-issued apparel.
• Oversees the technical maintenance of the arena, including hardware troubleshooting and software updates.
• Leads the final roster selection process and team registration within the conference.
• Facilitates post-match debriefs to manage team morale and identifies immediate areas for strategic improvement.
• Analyzes game patch notes and professional circuit trends to ensure team strategies remain current with the shifting "meta".
• Oversees the program's digital brand identity, ensuring consistency across social media, web presence, and broadcast aesthetics.
• Supervises student broadcast crews for Twitch and YouTube streams, including casters and production technicians.
• Participates in conference-wide meetings to stay informed on evolving collegiate Esports regulations and industry standards.
• Advocates for technological needs and negotiate hardware refresh cycles with the University IT department.
• External Relations and Recruitment
• Designs and executes a comprehensive recruitment pipeline, including scouting high school talent and reviewing prospect video on demand (VODs).
• Creates and maintains recruitment database.
• Directs the scholarship awarding process, strategically distributing funds to meet recruitment needs.
• Organizes and manages community engagement and revenue-generating initiatives such as summer camps and high school invitationals.
• Represents Red Wolves Esports at open houses, orientations, and community gaming events to drive student engagement and enrollment.
• Participates in recruit visits and meetings to explain the program's academic and competitive value to the parents of prospective recruits.
• Secures external revenue through the procurement of corporate sponsorships and community partnerships.
• Coordinates with University Advancement to identify and cultivate donors for program endowments and facility upgrades.
• Student-Athlete Success and Compliance
• Enforces IU East Student-Athlete Handbook, ensuring strict adherence to the IU East Code of Conduct and sportsmanship standards.
• Complies with academic policies, standards, and requirements of the university, including monitoring and encouraging regular progress toward an academic degree.
• Partners with the School of Education to nurture and grow the Esports Coaching Minor, including teaching and recruitment when appropriate.
• Implements sports psychology techniques to manage team "tilt," communication clarity, and high-pressure performance.
• Monitors player physical health by conducting ergonomic audits and promoting wrist, eye, and back health best practices.
• Acts as a mentor for student-athletes, assisting with career placement and internship opportunities.
• Manages conflict resolution and disciplinary actions involving players or staff members.
• Makes good-faith efforts, in cooperation with the university's faculty and administration, to meet all student-athlete academic requirements and to integrate sports into the whole spectrum of academic life for all student-athletes.
• Instills and demands respect and sportsmanship towards officials, opponents, teammates, and oneself. Demonstrates correct techniques and skills to compete the sport safely and to help student-athletes avoid injury.

General Responsibilities

• Complies fully with all National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), applicable athletic conference, and Indiana University rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
• Provides leadership and instruction in the personal and athletic development of student athletes by counseling team members in academic, disciplinary, sportsmanship, and personal matters, as appropriate.
• Develops a competitively successful team to represent Indiana University positively and responsibly. Provides student athletes the opportunity for a positive experience and climate in which to achieve their academic, athletic, and personal goals.
• Performs recruiting duties by formulating a plan to incorporate coverage of all prospective student athletes and recruiting high-quality student-athletes that meet or exceed university qualifications.
• Represents the team, department, and university in a positive, professional, and ethical manner; responds appropriately to media, marketing, fund-raising, and community service requests, as assigned. Exhibits professionalism in a manner consistent with the missions and goals of Indiana University, applicable athletic conference, and the NAIA.
• Directs coaching staff, when applicable.
• Maintains program budget.

Qualifications

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• 2 years of coaching experience.
• 1 year of management experience.

SKILLS

Required

• Proficient written and verbal communication skills.
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism.
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills.
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent collaboration and team building skills.
• Effectively coaches and delivers constructive feedback.
• Instills commitment to organizational goals.
• Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision-making skills.
• Effective conflict management skills.
• Builds and manages effective teams

Working Conditions / Demands

This position requires both sedentary work and long durations of movement about the workspace. It requires the ability to move and transport objects and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential tasks with or without an accommodation.

Work Location

IU East Campus

Richmond, Indiana

This is an in-person position.

Advertised Salary

$40,000-$45,000 per year.

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.

Job Classification

Career Level: Sr. Operational

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Athletic Affairs

Job Family: Coaching

Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

Contact Us

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Telephone: 812-856-1234