Head Coach - HS Softball

Position Purpose

To advance the purpose of Hill Country Christian School, execute the school’s  Mission, and uphold our Core Values by discipling athletes  through  the sport of Softball.  

Accountability

Reports to the Athletic Director and/or Assistant Athletic Director

FlSA Status

Exempt, Stipend, Seasonal 

Overview

The Head Softball Coach serves as the chief architect and leader of the Softball program, responsible for spiritual formation, competitive performance, athlete development, staff leadership, and program culture. This role requires a strategic, disciplined, and values‑driven coach who can elevate the athletic excellence of the program while ensuring full commitment to discipling the student athlete and their families. 

Skills

Ideal candidates bring conviction and demonstrated fruit of evangelism and discipleship through athletic programs, sport specific mastery of the skills, planning, preparation and execution of the game.  

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage effectively with coaches, administrators, parents, and students.
• Strong conflict resolution and problem-solving abilities
• Knowledge of best practices in athlete spiritual, physical and mental development
• Knowledge of sport specific training models

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of similar or related experience
• Must be a Christ-follower who upholds, in word and deed, the Hill Country Christian School of Austin’s Core Values and Statement of Faith.
• Must faithfully attend a church whose fundamental beliefs are in agreement with the Statement of Faith of this school.
• Proven experience leading spiritual formation programs and events and possess sufficient biblical knowledge to integrate Scripture in the athletic experience thus imparting a biblical worldview to the student athlete.
• Must be qualified to coach the sport at the appropriate level. Certification in the content area is preferred though not required.
• Must understand and skillfully apply the principles of the sport they are coaching.
• Participation in high school sports required and college sports preferred.
• Experience in coaching multiple sports and managing athletics events, schedules, and game day operations.

Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Culture

• Assist the AD in building a culture within the Softball program that is authentically prioritizing the whole person formation as a priority emphasizing christ-like character formation.
• Serve as a visible leader and ambassador for athletics within the school and broader community.
• Assist in the development and execution of program philosophy, standards, and expectations for athletes, parents, coaches, and community

Compliance & Risk Management

• Governing Authority Rules: Ensure full compliance of the Softball program to the Governing Authority(i.e. TAPPS, CAPPS) and HCCSA Policies, Procedures, and Handbooks.
• Safety Protocols: Oversee and implement the Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) for your program 
• Risk Mitigation: Conduct regular safety assessments to ensure coach and player safety guidelines are adhered to and address potential hazards.
• Maintain Softball communications (e.g. website, socials, print, player communications, parent communications) in compliance with school policies and Governing Body policies
• Ensure strict adherence to standards as set forth by the HCCSA Handbook(s)
• Notify the administration and maintain appropriate documentation regarding significant discipline issues such as violence, vandalism, and significant moral failure. 
• Notify the head of school, principal, and the nurse immediately, along with any appropriate agencies, when there is evidence of substance abuse, child abuse, child neglect, severe medical or social conditions, talk or threats of suicide, or students appearing to be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.
• Notify school officials and administration immediately when any behavior that is a physical risk to other staff, faculty, or students is observed or discovered either directly or indirectly.

Student Athlete Development

• Regularly participates in and often leads devotions for players
• Assists AD in developing and implementing character formation, spiritual formation and gospel awareness programs, events, resources and systems
• Implements player development programs/systems (physical/mental skills and abilities) that serve the team at large and individuals maximizing their God given gifts.
• Design and implement off season programming (skills, strength & conditioning), in season practice plans, and in season game strategies/plans to prepare the athlete for optimal performance.
• Leads Softball college recruiting through player assessments, players promotion and building relationships with college coaches and recruiters

Coaching and Program Development

• Assists with recruiting, developing, appreciating and evaluating coaching staff
• Develop and implement training programs and standards for coaching staff (e.g. certifications, techniques)
• Leads coaches discipleship and spiritual formation initiatives for coaching staff
• Assists AD in evaluating Softball Programs for missional effectiveness, athletic competitiveness, athletic interests, while maintaining mastery over the sport, its rules and regulations, and emerging trends

Facilities and Operations

• Assist with planning, setup, and execution of sport specific practices, contests and events
• Ensure all logistics within the program are organized and executed.
• Game Day Operations & Management
• Coordinate with AD to ensure all Event Execution protocols are accounted for and backfill any openings with coaching staff, players or volunteers as needed..
• Coordinate with AD to ensure proper Game Staffing: ticket takers, ushers, clock operators, PA announcers, and ball boys.
• Coordinate with AD to ensure Visiting Team & Officials Liaison duties are accounted for backfilling any openings with coaching staff, players or volunteers as needed .
• Ensure team and individual travel plans within the Softball program are coordinated.

Facility Scheduling & Maintenance

• Collaborate with AD to ensure all scheduling of facilities, transportation is done well in advance and in accordance with scheduling procedures.
• Collaborate with AD to ensure Facility Readiness for practices and competitions.
• Ensure the proper care and maintenance of athletic facilities and report facility incidents and maintenance requests in a timely fashion

Equipment Management

• Create systems to inventory, maintain, and refresh all Softball equipment
• Ensure conformity to safety regulations and posted recalls, warnings, etc.

Marketing & External Relations

• Ensures Softball program communications reflects our values and are aligned with HCCSA Communications policies and procedures
• Supports AD with external relations with sponsors and supporters

Technology and Data

• Responsible to enter all athletic data, forms and metrics for Softball program

Special Initiatives

• Other duties as assigned

Physical Requirements

• Frequently move about inside campus buildings and outside on the grounds.
• Frequently communicate with co-workers and others. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations whether in person, via email or telephone.
• Possess the physical stamina required to fulfill the professional obligations of the coaching profession and specific coaching assignment.
• Regularly be able to lift between 5 to 50 pounds.
• Must be flexible and adapt to various coaching settings, schedules, and changes.
• Must be willing to travel with athletes to away contests and possible overnight stays.
• Possible exposure to a variety of childhood and adult diseases and illnesses