Head Men & Women’s Track & Field Coach

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Position Overview

Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) invites applications from current SUNO employees for the part-time position of Head Men’s and Women’s Track & Field Coach in the Department of Athletics. Reporting to the Director of Athletics, the Head Coach provides leadership and administration for all aspects of SUNO’s intercollegiate track and field program.The Head Coach is responsible for coaching, recruiting, scheduling, budget administration, student-athlete development, academic support, compliance, community engagement, and the overall operation of a competitive NAIA program. The successful candidate must demonstrate integrity and a record of developing and motivating student-athletes to achieve academic, athletic, and personal success while advancing SUNO’s mission and values.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive training plans for men’s and women’s track and field student-athletes, emphasizing event-specific skill development, conditioning, performance enhancement, safety, and injury prevention.
• Plan, schedule, and conduct practices; provide technical instruction, mentoring, motivation, and performance feedback across track and field events.
• Establish a competitive annual schedule aligned with University goals, budget parameters, conference requirements, and NAIA regulations.
• Identify, evaluate, and recruit qualified student-athletes who align with SUNO’s academic standards, values, and program expectations; maintain productive relationships with prospects, families, schools, clubs, coaches, and community organizations.
• Monitor and support student-athletes’ academic progress, retention, eligibility, conduct, and overall welfare in collaboration with academic advisors and other University offices.
• Administer the program budget, including travel, equipment, uniforms, competition, recruiting, and facility needs; maintain appropriate records and fiscal controls.
• Prepare accurate reports concerning team performance, student-athlete eligibility and progress, recruiting, budget expenditures, inventory, and other required measures.
• Coordinate team travel, competition logistics, transportation, facilities, equipment, and related operational needs.
• Foster relationships with alumni, donors, and the community; participate in outreach, fundraising, camps, clinics, and promotional activities that advance the program and University.
• Ensure compliance with University and Southern University System policies and all applicable HBCU Athletic Conference and NAIA rules; promptly report potential violations or student-welfare concerns; remain current on legislation, coaching methods, sport safety, and best practices.
• Provide program leadership and direction to assistant coaches, volunteers, student workers, and other assigned personnel, when applicable, and perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in sports management, physical education, kinesiology, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated collegiate track and field coaching experience as a head coach or assistant coach.
• Demonstrated integrity and success in recruiting, coaching, and developing student-athletes academically and athletically.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to satisfy applicable University requirements for operating a vehicle in University-related activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three to five years of track and field coaching experience at the college, university, or professional level.

Knowledge, Skills, and Professional Attributes

• Demonstrated knowledge of track and field fundamentals, event-specific techniques, training methods, competition strategy, and injury-prevention practices.
• Ability to lead, motivate, mentor, and develop diverse student-athletes academically, athletically, and personally.
• Knowledge of, or ability to learn and comply with, University, conference, and NAIA policies and regulations.
• Effective recruiting, relationship-building, public-speaking, written communication, organizational, budgeting, and recordkeeping skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse populations, the University community, alumni, donors, families, and the public while maintaining confidentiality, exercising sound judgment, and managing competing priorities.
• Ability to travel, recruit student-athletes, operate authorized vehicles, and safely transport student-athletes when assigned and approved.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Work is performed in office settings and at indoor and outdoor athletic facilities, competition venues, recruiting locations, and other University or community sites in varying weather conditions. The position requires prolonged standing and walking during practices and competitions; instructing and demonstrating physical skills; and lifting, moving, or transporting athletic equipment, with or without reasonable accommodation. Evening, weekend, holiday, and irregular work hours are required. Extensive travel, estimated at 50%–100%, is required by automobile, bus, or air for competition, recruiting, professional activities, and other program responsibilities.

SUNO Benefits

SUNO offers eligible employees a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Health insurance: through the Louisiana Office of Group Benefits (OGB). Learn more
• Retirement: through the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL). Learn more
• Dental insurance: offered through UNUM. Learn more
• Vision insurance: offered through UNUM. Learn more
• Paid time off and University holidays: for eligible positions, in accordance with University policy. Learn more

Benefit eligibility, enrollment, employee contributions, coverage, leave accrual, and retirement participation are governed by applicable plan documents, state law, University policy, appointment type, and employment eligibility. Because this is a part-time position, applicants should not assume eligibility for any particular benefit and should confirm eligibility with the Office of Human Resources.

Application Materials

This recruitment is open only to current employees of Southern University at New Orleans. Internal applicants should submit a letter of interest, current résumé, unofficial transcripts for all degrees awarded, and contact information for three professional references. Official transcripts, driving credentials, and additional documentation may be required before appointment. Review of internal applications will continue until the position is filled.