Assistant Rowing Coach

Merrimack College Federal Cu; Andover, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Merrimack College in Andover, MA is seeking an Assistant Rowing Coach to assist the Director of Rowing in developing training plans, practices and competition strategies for a NCAA Division I program.

The role requires coaching student-athletes, aiding in academics and athletic development, and ensuring compliance with NCAA and institutional policies. This is a full-time, on-campus position reporting to the Director of Rowing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Demonstrated knowledge of rowing skills development and student-athlete performance.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; able to work with coaches, staff, and student-athletes.

Responsibilities

• Assist in supervision and administration of all aspects of the rowing program.
• Organize and conduct rowing practices including water sessions and ergometer training.
• Prepare student-athletes and crews for intercollegiate competition.
• Evaluate performance using rowing-specific statistics to inform coaching and boat selection.
• Foster a positive, disciplined team environment and support academic progress of student-athletes.
• Assist with recruiting prospective student-athletes in accordance with NCAA rules.
• Coordinate team travel, regatta logistics, and equipment management.
• Provide leadership to coaching staff and ensure compliance with policies.

Skills

Rowing instruction

Interpersonal skills

Administrative skills

Communication skills

Coaching experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Position Description: The Assistant Rowing Coach is responsible for assisting the Director of Rowing in all aspects of running a NCAA Division I rowing program by developing and implementing training sessions, practices and competition plans, educating and coaching student-athletes, and supporting student-athletes in their personal, academic and athletic development at Merrimack College.

This full-time position reports directly to the Director of Rowing and is responsible for assisting in all phases of the rowing program in accordance with NCAA Division I, Metro Conference, and Merrimack College rules, regulations and policies.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assist in the supervision and administration of all aspects of the rowing program under the direction of the Director of Rowing, including team organization, training, recruiting, equipment, travel, and regatta preparation.
• Assist in organizing, planning, and conducting effective and efficient rowing practices, including water sessions, ergometer and team training sessions. Demonstrate the ability to teach and instruct the technical and tactical aspects of rowing.
• Help prepare individual student-athletes and crews for intercollegiate competition.
• Assist with evaluating and analyzing individual and crew performance, by utilizing rowing specific statistics and other performance metrics to inform coaching, technique development, training and boat selection.
• Participate in the personal, academic, and athletic development of student-athletes by fostering a positive, disciplined, and team-oriented rowing environment while promoting sportsmanship, leadership, accountability, and personal growth.
• Help monitor and support the academic progress of student-athletes, including maintaining awareness of academic requirements, encouraging effective time management, and collaborating with appropriate institutional resources to support student-athlete academic success.
• Assist the Director of Rowing with recruiting prospective student-athletes, including identification and evaluation of prospects, communication with recruits and families, campus visits and other recruiting activities in accordance with NCAA and institutional rules.
• Assist with team travel, tournament logistics, scheduling, equipment, facilities and other administrative responsibilities associated with the operation of the rowing program.
• Provide leadership to additional coaching staff, volunteer coaches and auxiliary staff members, if applicable.
• Represent Merrimack College and the rowing program with the highest level of professionalism, sportsmanship and integrity. Foster and maintain a culture that demonstrates a commitment to NCAA rules compliance, Metro Conference requirements and Merrimack College policies.
• Foster and maintain a team culture that promotes trust, mutual respect, inclusion, belonging and a positive student-athlete experience.
• Participate in departmental activities including staff meetings, compliance education, professional development, guest speaker presentations and other departmental events and meetings.
• Assist with alumni engagement, fundraising, community outreach and other activities that support the continued development of the Merrimack College rowing program.
• Fulfill other specific areas of responsibility as assigned by the Director of Rowing and/or sport administrator.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and success in the development of rowing skills and student athlete performance.
• Strong knowledge of rowing instruction, course management, regatta preparation and competitive collegiate rowing. Commitment to supporting the academic success, personal development and overall well-being of student-athletes.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize responsibilities and complete tasks by established deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with student-athletes, coaches, administrators, alumni, donors and other members of the Merrimack College community.
• Collegiate rowing and/or coaching experience preferred.
• NCAA Division I playing and/or coaching experience preferred.

Application Materials Should Include:

• Resume or CV
• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.

Work Location

This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our mission.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50 doctoral students from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features more than 160 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has six schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, the Girard school of business and the graduate school of counseling and social work. The College’s suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in the Regional Universities North category in 2026. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.