Academy Director of Coaching

The Academy Director of Coaching is a leadership, people management, and project management role. The ideal candidate will have experience managing and leading people toward the achievement of organizational objectives and performance goals, especially in the areas of player and coach development to achieve player, team and club success.

• Will be innovative and can envision, develop, and implement modern ideas for establishing a Game Model (style of play), accompanying curriculum and training methodology, and coaching education to create an optimal player development environment for player, team and club success in a full-service club setting.
• Will be able to create an environment where serious players will want to play to maximize their potential; recruit and retain players such that our competitive programs are full and the experience that players and families have is positive and appreciated.
• Will possess strong leadership skills, excellent organizational and time management skills, decision- making skills; be able to create processes, delegate, implement initiatives and manage people.

Essential Job Functions

Methodology and Philosophy: Establishes and implements a Game Model (philosophy/style of play) for the club that is rooted in attacking, possession-with-a-purpose and positional play style of soccer as a core competency/theme and that is fun and educational to play, aesthetically pleasing for parents to watch and is documented and clearly articulated throughout the club in internal and external forms.

The game modelshould providea“how-to”guide interms of how we willplayand train our teams: it s our 'style of play' or DNA and it determines what our player development methodology, syllabus, seasonal curriculum, and session plans look like.

The game model,training curriculumandmethodology sha llbe plannedandprogressively implemented in an age-appropriate manner throughout the club from the youngest to the oldest ages with a specific focus on U7-U12 Academy

• Player Development: Adopt/create a player-centric educational framework and process that is supported by a written player development curriculum and training methodology to achieve club-wide goals and a consistent game model (playing style) or DNA.

Create a relevant and engaging player ,coach,and team training environment where players can maximize their potential in all key pillars of the game (technical, tactical, physical, and psychological).

Creates an dimplements a playerevaluation,team placement and playermovement process that is clearly articulated in both internal and external forms.

Creates andimplementsapersonalPlayerDevelopmentPlan(PDP)foreachplayerinthe Academy and Competitive program that includes periodic player and parent feedback.

Abilitytopositivelybalancethevalueofcompetition(thedrivetocompeteateveryage)withthe perspective of long-term learning and development for the players, coaches, and parents.

Plan,organize,promoteandimplementevaluations/tryouts,teamformationandrosters,and training schedules for Academy and Competitive teams.

Attend club training sessions a minimumof 3-4days per week(inseason),monitoring, mentoring coaches, training sessions, to ensure they are consistent with the clubs training methodologies.

Attend club games and assist in thecoaching of teams on gamedays,monitors teamplay,in- game coaching and educates, mentors as needed to ensure they are consistent with the club playing style.

Staff Development: Builds and maintains a strong and qualified coaching staff for the club at all levels by creating an environment where coaches are challenged, developed, and recognized for their abilities, dedication, and commitment to the club’s vision, culture, goals, and player development philosophy.

Have a strong soccer background andcoaching education expertise to lead our coachingstaff.

Develops a coaching organizational structure that includes leaders andspecialists in key
focus areas i.e. Grassroots (Recreational), Foundation (U7-U10 Academy), Formation (U11-U14)

Provide semi-annual written evaluations to the professiona lcoaching staff •

Requirements & Qualifications

• USSF “A/B” license or above (UEFA or NSCAA Advanced National Diploma or equivalent) is preferred or on track to acquire them in the near term.
• Professional or collegiate (4-year) playing experience is preferred or extensive coaching experience and a desire to achieve a UEFA or USSF “C” or “B” license in the next 1-3 years may also be considered
• 5-10-years coaching experience; willingness to continue coaching education through both federations licensing such as US Soccer, UEFA, USC and/or supplemental methodology courses such as TOVO Academy, MBP School, MLS Academy or similar.
• Experience managing people, including in a coaching environment

We believe that a strong and healthy culture leads to positive results during the course of aseason and throughout a player's tenure with the club. Individual and collective team behaviors, values,standards, and expectations are the foundation of maintaining a healthy club culture.

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience is required.
• Strong public speaking skills; ability to speak to coaches, parents, or community groups to helppromote the clubs vision and goals
• An ability to set goals and attain them in the time set forth by yourself and the club
• Expected to complete 15-20 office hours per week in season and 30-40 hours in winter and summeroff-seasons.
• Must be willing to interact with parents, board members and the community about the club, our playerdevelopment philosophy and methodology and how they will benefit.
• Proficient use of email, social media, MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.
• Excellent parent management skills, relationship-centered, able to maintain positive collaborative relationships with all parents, staff, board and surrounding community.
• Strong listening, written and verbal communication skills; able to resolve conflict in a professional manner; is able to conceptualize ideas and communicate them to players, coaches and parents.
• Have a growth mindset, able to work as part of a team and on their own initiative; strong teaching, and motivational skills, and dedicated to continuously improve themselves and those around them
• He/she is able to collaborate with and manage others and lead them to the achievement of common goals; work collaboratively with different constituents to build excitement and gain buy-in; is passionate about the sport for both male and female soccer development.
• Ability, and comfortable with, working with multiple supervisory and/or collaborative bodies including the Board of Directors, Club Committees, US Club and association, and league management personnel.