Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach

Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach

Company: Oakton College

Job Location: Des Plaines

Category: Athletics - Coaching

Type: Adjunct/Part-Time

Company Description:

Educate. Empower. Transform

At Oakton College, we know education changes lives - and that starts with the people who make it happen. For more than 50 years, we've built a welcoming and inclusive community where students from all backgrounds and experiences thrive.

We're looking for passionate educators, professionals and leaders to join our team. Whether in the classroom, student support, or behind the scenes, your talents and expertise will make a difference and shape the future.

We provide dynamic learning environments that empower students and employees alike with campuses in Des Plaines and Skokie and a Health Careers Education Center in Evanston.

As a proud institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Oakton is more than a college - it's a place where innovation, equity and lifelong learning drive everything we do. We value diverse perspectives and embrace new ideas and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and student-centered culture.

Job Description:

Basic Function and Responsibility:
Under general supervision, provide direction for the Men's and Women's Cross Country program through meet and practice coaching, player and team skill development and recruitment and retention of academically and athletically prepared students. Support activities of the cross-country program within the rules and guidelines of the NJCAA, the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference and the college. Demonstrate a sound and committed educational philosophy for holistic student development including academic, athletic and personal. Support the mission and philosophy of the college.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Plan and conduct in-season and off-season team practice and conditioning programs.
2. Assist individual active players in cross-country skill development through skills training and strength and conditioning training.
3. Direct the identification and recruitment of runners to the program. This may include traveling to regional high school and club cross-country events and cross-country showcases.
4. Schedule and plan cross country practices and meets, including transportation, driving a team vehicle, securing funds for travel, making travel arrangements, etc.
5. Secure and monitor all practice/competition facilities and equipment and report any/all problems to the Athletic Office.
6. Report in-season game/match results and statistics to both internal and external media sources and recommend news stories and features to support the program.
7. Report end of season scores and team and individual statistics to appropriate groups. Recommend and advocate for student honors within conference, region, and other athletic governing bodies.
8. Represent the Athletic Department and the Men's and Women's program at Skyway Conference and NJCAA Region IV meetings, on college committees or task forces and at college events and/or other public meetings.
9. Communicate as necessary with the other Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference and NJCAA Region IV Cross Country Coaches.
10. Participate in corresponding professional development including annual training in NJCAA Regulations, CPR, AED usage, Blood Born Pathogen, Exercise Induced Asthma and use of an Epi-Pen.
11. Assist the Athletic Department in the academic support of student athletes as well as the facilitation of academic support activities including the collection of academic progress reports.
12. Secure and maintain certification in First Aid and CPR/AED required.
13. Plan and coordinate fund raising activities to support programs activities and events as necessary.
14. Plan and coordinate sport camps and workshops for the district community including camps for children.
15. Assist the Athletic Department with the development and implementation of annual department budget through researching and recommending equipment and supply purchases.
16. Assist the Athletic Department in the academic support of student athletes as well as the facilitation of academic support activities including the collection of academic progress reports.
17. Perform other job related duties as assigned.

Supervision Received: Administrative Supervision received from the Athletic Director.

Supervision Exercised: Functional supervision exercised over the team members, manager and student employees.

Requirements:

• An associate degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable skills and abilities can be obtained is required. A bachelor's degree is preferred.
• Two years of cross-country coaching experience as a head or assistant coach at the college, high school, club, travel, or AAU level required. Collegiate experience is preferred.
• Collegiate level running experience preferred.
• Knowledge of NJCAA/NCAA/NAIA rules and regulations preferred
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, planning and leadership skills and a positive role model for young adults is expected.
• Ability to work independently in an unstable and chaotic environment desired.
• Valid Class "D" driver's license required.
• Work performed in different environments including interior/office work areas, gymnasiums and outdoor areas.
• Work will require significant physical effort associated with coaching and teaching cross-country skills and techniques. The work will also require the lifting and movement of equipment up to 50 pounds.
• Limited exposure to physical risk.
• Regional travel required with occasional extended out-of-state travel for post-season competition.

Additional Information:

Part-time faculty are paid on a lecture hour equivalents (LHE) basis. For most courses, the LHE is the same as a credit hour. For others, the LHE represents additional work for teaching the class, such as grading papers for Composition classes or teaching a class with a laboratory section (computers, languages, and the sciences); in those cases, the LHE represents a figure higher than the credit hour. All part-time faculty start at the beginning pay rates, regardless of the level and type of experience obtained elsewhere. For the 2025-26 academic year rates are $1221/LHE for faculty without doctorates and $1294/LHE for faculty with doctorates.

Part-time faculty advance one step within the salary schedule with the successful completion of 2 fall & spring semesters where 3+ LHEs are taught in each semester.

Part-time faculty are hired on a semester-by-semester basis. A reasonable effort is made to assure the assignment of courses to more senior part-time faculty who are fully qualified by virtue of their education, training, work experience as related to current technology and pedagogical techniques, and who have had a history of successful performance at Oakton College.

All assignments are conditioned on sufficient enrollment. Once a course starts, the part time faculty member is expected to complete the course.

Requirements:

Applicants must be strong communicators and effective classroom facilitators who enjoy teaching in a student-centered environment.

Oakton especially values candidates committed to working in a culturally competent environment. Cultural competence integrates and transforms knowledge about individuals and groups of people into specific standards, policies, practices, and attitudes used in appropriate cultural settings to increase the quality of services.

Applicants should be current and skilled in their use of evolving technologies, active in promoting critical thinking, and committed to challenging our students to be knowledgeable, ethical, and capable global citizens. Oakton seeks enthusiastic faculty who are committed to innovation in college-level teaching and learning and interested in non-traditional delivery of instruction. The College expects faculty to be professionally competent, have strong leadership qualities, participate in professional development activities, and engage in institutional and departmental service.

Part-time faculty are hired on a semester-by-semester basis. A reasonable effort is made to assure the assignment of courses to more senior part-time faculty who are fully qualified by virtue of their education, training, work experience as related to current technology and pedagogical techniques, and who have had a history of successful performance at Oakton College.

For information regarding employment eligibility, please visit our employment at Oakton web page.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Application Instructions:

Please be sure to have a current resume, cover letter, and list of, at least, three (3) professional references with contact information prepared to submit with your application.

Oakton College conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment. Convictions are not a bar to employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with state and federal law and in accordance with the Illinois Department of Human Rights Conviction Record Protection Act of March 2021.

Posted positions may be removed from the Oakton website without notice when it is determined that no additional applicants are required.

Oakton College does not utilize E-Verify for employment eligibility verification.

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