Department: Athletic Department
Assignment: Coach
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Reports To: Athletic Director, Assistant Athletic Director
Location: Highland Park High School
Salary: Stipend as outlined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the District 113 BOE and DEA (Appendix F)
Position Summary
The Head Coach is responsible for leading and managing the Baseball program at Highland Park High School. This includes planning and running practices, developing game strategies, mentoring student-athletes, overseeing program logistics, and reinforcing the school's mission of academic achievement, character development, and athletic excellence in alignment with District 113's vision of inspiring excellence for everyone, everywhere.
General Coaching Qualifications
- Meet IHSA coaching requirements, including all mandatory trainings, prior to hire
- Current CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain)
- Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills
Ability to work effectively with student-athletes, parents/guardians, and school staff
- Additional certifications in coaching education or sports safety, preferred
Sport-Specific Qualifications (Baseball - Specific)
- Prior baseball coaching experience at the high school or collegiate level (head coaching experience preferred)
- Demonstrated knowledge of baseball specific skills such as hitting, pitching, defense, and baserunning.
- Ability to design and implement drills for those skills.
- Understanding of IHSA baseball rules and regulations.
- Experience in developing competitive lineups and managing team/individual match play
- Ability to promote and grow participation in baseball across multiple levels (Varsity, JV< Frosh-Soph, Freshman, etc.)
- Ability to connect with the youth baseball programs and other stakeholders to grow the participation in baseball at the youth and high school levels. Plan and lead daily practices focused on skill development, footwork, conditioning, and match preparation
General Coach Expectations (Athletics)
Essential Functions
- Develop and implement baseball strategies tailored to opponents and program goals
- Provide direct instruction in technical and tactical aspects of baseball
- Oversee and evaluate assistant coaches to ensure program alignment and continuity across levels
- Support student-athletes' holistic development in athletics, academics, and character
- Coordinate match schedules, transportation, and program logistics with the athletic office
- Prepare athletes for CSL conference play, and the IHSA state series.
- Promote program culture anchored in teamwork, equity, and inclusion
Serve as a visible leader and positive ambassador for Highland Park High School athletics
Work Schedule
- Baseball activities are six days per week once the season starts and lasts 13 weeks plus any additional weeks for the IHSA state series.
- Baseball activities range in time during the first two weeks of the season at minimum and practice times can be prior to school through late in the evening.
- Traditionally, baseball games require a 5 hour time commitment beginning after school at 3:10pm and ending around 8pm.
- Saturday games are traditionally doubleheaders lasting approximately 7-8 hours in duration.
- Baseball practices are traditionally 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- Traditionally, 1 hour is spent planning a baseball practice.
- The head coach is responsible for a 3 hour roster meeting on the first Thursday of the season.
- The head coach is responsible for an Individual roster meetings of 5 minute durations totaling approximately 3 hours on the first Friday of the season.
- The head coach is responsible for establishing a process for open gyms in the months of January and February. Traditionally there are 8 open gym dates that are 2 hours in duration. No coaching can be done at these open gyms.
The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.