Auburn Ski Club Seeks Head Coach for Nordic Development Program

Fasterskier; California; Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) match

Job summary

Auburn Ski Club (ASC) seeks a Head Coach to lead the Nordic Development Program (Devo 1 & Devo 2) for U10–U14 athletes, guiding them from learning to train and preparing graduates for the Competition Team.

The role combines on-snow coaching, session planning, and mentorship of assistants and parent volunteers, with emphasis on mentorship, safety, and long-term participation.

Qualifications

• Experience coaching youth skiers.
• Ability to plan season schedules and sessions.
• Strong communication with families and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Lead Devo 1 and Devo 2 year-round, on snow and dryland.
• Plan and deliver weekly training across the Devo schedule.
• Build age-appropriate technical progressions and safety practices.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and support assistant coaches and parent volunteers.
• Coordinate with Competition Team coaching to ensure seamless progression.

Skills

Coaching

Athlete development

Program leadership

Communication

Volunteer management

Job description

Auburn Ski Club (ASC) is a historic non-profit organization dedicated to providing snow sports opportunities to the greater Northern California region since 1928. Today, ASC operates a snow sports Training Center on Donner Summit that provides athletic programs, USSS/FIS competition and training venues, and youth snow sports teams ranging from entry-level to elite for Alpine, Snowboard, Nordic, and Biathlon. The Training Center’s cross-country venue also operates as a 25-kilometer Nordic Center open to the public.

ASC is now hiring a Head Coach for its Nordic Development Program.

Position Overview

The Head Coach of the Nordic Development Program leads the Devo 1 and Devo 2 teams, where U10 through U14 athletes move from learning to ski toward learning to train. This is the stage of the pipeline that determines whether a young skier stays in the sport. ASC is looking for a coach who understands that skill, confidence, and enjoyment at this age build better racers than early specialization does.

The Head Coach takes graduates of the Super Sliders program and prepares them, technically and personally, for the Competition Team. The role covers session planning and on-snow coaching, technical progression across both Devo groups, support and training of assistant coaches and parent volunteers, and steady communication with families. It suits a coach who wants ownership of a program rather than a set of practices, and who is comfortable being the person a nine-year-old remembers as the reason they kept skiing.

The Details

• Annual salary based on experience
• Salary structure includes coaching hours, administrative responsibilities, and flex time off
• Health insurance offered
• ASC 401(k) program with annual 3% salary match

Key Responsibilities

Coaching & Athlete Development

• Lead the Devo 1 and Devo 2 programs year-round, on snow and in dryland
• Plan and deliver weekly training across the Devo schedule, including weekday afternoon sessions under the Nordic Center lights and Saturday mornings
• Build technical progressions appropriate to the age group: classic stride with coordinated pole use, skate skiing with and without poles, V1, step turns, hockey stops, terrain reading, pacing over varied distances, and smooth transitions between techniques
• Run Devo 1 as a train-to-learn environment and Devo 2 as a learn-to-train environment, with a clear and deliberate step between them
• Teach athletes to take care of their own equipment as they approach the Competition Team, including ski selection, basic tuning, and hot waxing
• Introduce racing as something athletes look forward to, supporting Devo skiers at local and Far West Nordic events without making competition the price of admission
• Identify athletes ready to move up, and prepare both the athlete and the family for that step
• Keep retention and long-term participation as measures of the program’s success alongside results
• Work with Super Sliders staff so athletes arriving in Devo 1 meet a familiar teaching language and a consistent standard
• Coordinate with Competition Team coaching staff to keep one continuous progression across the Nordic pipeline
• Recruit, train, schedule, and support assistant coaches and parent volunteers, including the volunteer sessions Devo families are asked to fill
• Support ASC-hosted racing, including Far West Nordic qualifying events held on the Training Center trails
• Contribute to registration, retention, and program growth planning with Nordic program leadership
• Build a culture of mentorship and sportsmanship across the ASC Nordic community

Community & Regional Engagement

• Serve as a visible and positive presence in the Far West Nordic community
• Work with regional programs on development events, clinics, and youth racing opportunities
• Support initiatives that create access and opportunity for athletes at every level, including needs-based scholarship efforts
• Potential leadership role representing ASC at the FW Junior Committee or FW Board

Communication & Family Engagement

• Maintain consistent, proactive communication with athletes and families
• Lead parent education on what development looks like at this age, and on what it does not need to look like
• Guide families through equipment decisions, including fall meetings ahead of the season
• Help families understand the pathway ahead while keeping expectations honest and athlete-centered

What ASC Offers

Leadership & Professional Growth

ASC is committed to investing in coaching development and leadership growth. The Head Coach will receive:

• Support identifying and attending regional and national camps
• Increased investment in coaching certifications and continuing education
• Opportunities for leadership development within a growing organization

Athlete Support Philosophy

• Needs-based scholarships
• Offseason camp and training support opportunities
• Use of the CA Gold pass
• Opportunity to shape the foundation of Nordic skiing in the Far West region
• Support for professional growth and development opportunities

Email subject line: ASC Nordic Devo Head Coach