Head Coach - Women's Wrestling

Job Description

Job Description

Summary: The Head Women's Wrestling Coach is responsible for building, leading, and administering all aspects of a competitive NAIA Women's Wrestling program. Grounded in the university's values, mission, and commitment to respect for all persons, the Head Coach oversees student-athlete recruitment, player development, match planning, budget management, academic tracking, and community promotion.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Other duties may be assigned.

Recruitment & Roster Management

• Actively recruit qualified student-athletes to establish and maintain a full, highly competitive roster, adhering to NAIA eligibility and amateurism guidelines.
• Evaluate prospective student-athletes at high school, club, and showcase events; build strong relationships with regional high school coaches and athletic directors.
• Coordinate campus visits, tryouts, and athletic financial aid awards in accordance with university and conference regulations.

Program Development & Sport-Specific Leadership

• Freestyle Wrestling Technical Focus: Updated practice and instructional duties to focus explicitly on international freestyle wrestling rules (the standard for women's collegiate wrestling), including neutral stance, takedowns, leg attacks, par terre defense, turns, exposures, and mat positioning.
• Weight Management & Athlete Safety: Added explicit oversight for safe, healthy, and compliant weight management, skin checks, and hydration protocols in according with NAIA and NWCA guidelines, collaborating directly with sports medicine staff.
• Oversee safe, healthy, and compliant athlete weight management, skin checks, and hydration protocols in accordance with NAIA and NWCA rules, collaborating with sports medicine personnel.
• Analyze match film (e.g., TrackWrestling, FloWrestling) to evaluate individual athlete performance, identify opponent tendencies, and refine personal wrestling plans.

Administration, Budgeting & Operations

• Manage and monitor assigned departmental budget within university guidelines, ensuring fiscal responsibility in travel, equipment, gear, and contest officiating.
• Schedule intercollegiate non-conference and conference contests in alignment with NAIA, conference, and university policies.
• Organize all game day logistics, including equipment inventory, mat positioning facility reservations, officials, scorekeepers, and student event staff.
• Arrange team travel, transportation, lodging, and meal accommodations within university travel procedures.

Student-Athlete Experience, Welfare & Academics

• Foster an inclusive environment of respect, character development, and academic success for all female student-athletes.
• Monitor academic progress, class attendance, and study hall compliance, collaborating with academic support services to ensure high graduation and retention rates.
• Promote athlete health, injury prevention, and physical conditioning in coordination with athletic training staff and strength/conditioning coaches.

Promotions, Community Engagement & University Service

• Serve as a primary spokesperson for the Women's Wrestling program, actively promoting the sport and athletic department through media, alumni outreach, and campus events.
• Regular attendance at Athletic Department staff meetings.
• Compliance and cooperation with recruiting strategies and goals.
• Cooperation and engagement with Men’s Wrestling program regarding equipment, facilities, scheduling and camps.
• Assist with athletic fundraising initiatives, summer camps/clinics, and community engagement projects.
• Comply fully with all NAIA, conference, and university rules, regulations, and policies; articulate these standards to student-athletes, recruits, parents, and media.
• Serve on university committees and perform other institutional duties as assigned by the Executive Director of Athletics.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's Degree: Required; Master's Degree preferred in Sports Administration, Exercise Science, Coaching, Education, or related field.
• Coaching Experience: Minimum 2–3 years of successful coaching experience at the collegiate, high school varsity, or elite club level
• NAIA Knowledge: Demonstrated knowledge of NAIA rules, regulations, and recruitment procedures preferred
• Certifications: First Aid / CPR / AED certification required (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire); valid driver's license with clear driving record.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Directly supervises all Assistant Women's Wrestling Coaches, graduate assistants, part-time/volunteer coaching staff, and student managers. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the institution's policies and applicable state/federal laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring recommendations, training employees, planning and assigning work, appraising performance, and resolving operational concerns.

  QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Ability to effectively communicate, instruct, and articulate complex tactical concepts to student-athletes, recruits, parents, media, and institutional leadership. Ability to draft professional email correspondence, scouting briefs, budget reports, and team policy manuals.

TECHNICAL & ANALYTICAL SKILLS: Proficiency in video editing and scouting software (e.g., Hudl), spreadsheet applications for budget tracking (e.g., MS Excel), and digital communication tools. Ability to analyze athletic performance data and opponent strategies.

LEADERSHIP & INTERPERSONAL ABILITIES: Strong interpersonal skills to mentor student-athletes, resolve interpersonal team conflicts, foster sportsmanship, and collaborate with diverse campus constituents.

ORGANIZATIONAL & TACTICAL REASONING: Ability to define tactical problems, synthesize film data, establish game plans, and execute multi-faceted travel and practice schedules under changing conditions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: T he physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.  

• Mat Positioning & Demonstration:  Frequently moves, positions, or traverses across wrestling mats, athletic training facilities, and gymnasium environments during practices and competitions.
• Demonstration & Instruction:  Regularly positions self to demonstrate or instruct proper wrestling techniques, holds, takedowns, turns and drill setups on wrestling mats.
• Communication & Alertness:  Frequently communicates with student-athletes, officials, and coaching staff during high-noise practice and tournament environments; must accurately perceive and exchange audible signals, timer cues and whistles.
• Visual Acuity:  Requires close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception vision to evaluate active wrestling holds, monitor athlete safety on the mat, check skin conditions, and analyze video recordings.
• Equipment Handling & Lifting:  Frequently moves, transports, or positions wrestling mats, scales, training gear, or athletic equipment weighing up to 25–50 pounds across athletic facility spaces.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Indoor Wrestling Facilities:  Work is primarily conducted indoors in wrestling practice rooms, gymnasiums, and athletic arenas. Environment involves physical contact settings requiring strict adherence to hygiene, skin

health, and sanitation protocols.

• Noise & Activity Levels:  The work environment experiences moderate to high noise levels typical of wrestling practice rooms, dual meets, and multi-mat collegiate tournaments
• Travel Demands:  Requires evening, weekend, and multi-day overnight travel via university van, bus, or commercial flight for intercollegiate athletic contests and recruiting events.