Assistant Men's Volleyball Coach
The Assistant Men's Volleyball Coach assists the Head Men's Volleyball Coach in all aspects of administering and operating a highly competitive NCAA Division III men's volleyball program. This position plays a significant role in student-athlete recruitment, retention, development, welfare, and safety while supporting the University's mission and strategic priorities related to student success and engagement.
The Assistant Coach provides daily instruction and mentorship to men's volleyball student-athletes and contributes to all facets of the program, including recruiting, practice and competition preparation, technical and tactical player development, academic support, video and statistical analysis, team operations, and administrative responsibilities. The position provides important supervision and instruction during practices, competitions, team travel, and other program activities while helping maintain appropriate risk management and student-athlete safety standards.
The Assistant Coach contributes to a competitive, positive, and student-centered program culture that emphasizes academic achievement, athletic excellence, character, personal development, and an exceptional student-athlete experience.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Student-Athlete Development and Support
- Assist in the planning and implementation of practices, training sessions, competitive strategies, and individual player development.
- Provide individual, positional, and small-group instruction in volleyball fundamentals, techniques, systems, and tactics.
- Provide technical instruction in areas such as serving, passing, setting, attacking, blocking, defense, transition play, serve-receive, and offensive and defensive systems based on the needs of individual student-athletes and the team.
- Assist student-athletes in developing tactical awareness, decision-making, positional responsibilities, and understanding of team systems.
- Foster a positive, structured, competitive, and supportive team culture that promotes student-athlete success and retention.
- Support the academic progress, personal development, and overall well-being of student-athletes.
- Serve as a mentor and resource for student-athletes regarding their personal, academic, and athletic goals.
- Monitor and reinforce expectations related to sportsmanship, conduct, accountability, team standards, and appropriate representation of the University.
Recruiting and Retention
- Assist in identifying, evaluating, and recruiting prospective student-athletes who align with the University's academic and athletic standards.
- Evaluate prospective student-athletes based on volleyball ability, positional needs, athletic potential, academic fit, character, and potential contribution to the program.
- Build and maintain relationships with prospective student-athletes, families, high school coaches, club coaches, and other recruiting contacts.
- Attend club tournaments, high school competitions, showcases, and other appropriate recruiting events as assigned.
- Assist with recruiting communications, prospect evaluations, recruiting records, and other aspects of the recruiting process.
- Support campus visits and other recruiting initiatives that showcase the academic, athletic, and student experience at the University.
- Contribute to student-athlete retention through regular engagement, mentorship, relationship building, and program support.
Practice, Competition, and Performance Analysis
- Assist with practice planning, competition preparation, opponent scouting, match planning, and competitive strategy.
- Assist in designing and implementing training activities that develop individual volleyball skills and support the team's offensive, defensive, serving, blocking, transition, and serve-receive systems.
- Conduct video breakdown and analysis of practices, opponents, and competitions.
- Utilize video, statistics, and other performance information to assist with opponent scouting, player evaluation, and team development.
- Prepare or assist in preparing scouting reports and tactical plans for upcoming opponents.
- Assist in evaluating rotations, lineups, matchups, serving strategies, blocking assignments, serve-receive formations, and offensive and defensive tendencies.
- Provide appropriate technical and tactical feedback to student-athletes before, during, and after practices and competitions.
- Support match-day operations, team travel, and competition logistics.
Student-Athlete Safety and Risk Management
- Maintain a safe training and competition environment through appropriate supervision, instruction, preparation, and communication.
- Support injury prevention efforts and reinforce appropriate practices related to student-athlete safety, recovery, health, and wellness.
- Work collaboratively with athletic training, strength and conditioning, and other student-athlete support personnel regarding student-athlete health and participation within the scope of the coaching role.
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