Job Description

TITLE: Varsity Head Softball Coach

REPORTS TO: Director of Athletics and Physical Education

SCHEDULE: Part-time position approximately 20 hours per week in spring season and 2-3 hours per week the rest of the year. The spring season generally runs from late February through late May. Interscholastic teams typically meet six days per week in season and may include spring-break training or travel when scheduled. Afternoon practices, evening or weekend contests, holiday commitments, and travel may be required; the schedule may vary according to departmental and Academy needs.

Pay Group: Salaried, Exempt

Employment Type: Regular

Employment Status: Part-Time

Employee Class: Faculty

Work Location: On-site

Salary Range: $5,670 - $6930 annually based on relevant education and/or experience.

Position Purpose

Lead the Phillips Exeter Academy softball program as an educational, competitive, and student-centered experience. Teach individual and team fundamentals, strategy, and safe methods of participation; prepare student-athletes for competition; and foster their growth as teammates, leaders, and community members.

Mission Alignment

The interscholastic athletic program at Phillips Exeter Academy embodies the school's core value: knowledge and goodness integrated. Our program, grounded in integrity, promotes character development and collaboration. We believe that athletic competition is a powerful teacher. Physical and mental challenges in a team context offer athletes the opportunity to develop leadership skills, self-confidence, and a commitment to others that will inspire them to lead productive and active lives. The head coach brings this mission to life through the daily work of the softball program.

Job Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and conduct purposeful practices, meetings, and competitions appropriate to the developmental needs of student-athletes.
• Teach softball fundamentals, including throwing, receiving, fielding, hitting, bunting, baserunning, pitching, catching, and position-specific skills.
• Develop and communicate lineup construction, pitching plans, defensive alignment, offensive signs, substitutions, opponent analysis, and game management.
• Establish and enforce sport-specific safety practices related to bat and ball awareness, protective equipment, pitching workloads, weather and field conditions, batting-cage use, and emergency procedures.
• Establish clear team standards and cultivate a healthy, enjoyable, and supportive culture grounded in trust, belonging, accountability, collaboration, fair play, and no tolerance for hazing.
• Provide instruction, encouragement, and constructive feedback that supports individual growth, team performance, self-confidence, and a healthy relationship with competition.
• Adjust teaching and coaching methods to meet varied experience levels, learning needs, identities, and strengths within the team.
• Evaluate student-athletes' skills and progress; maintain appropriate performance information; and communicate roles and development plans clearly and respectfully.
• Drive and transport students for sponsored events and practices.
• Promote the physical, social, and emotional well-being of student-athletes and follow Academy procedures for injury prevention, emergency response, return-to-play, and student support.
• Collaborate with athletic training, strength and conditioning, equipment, facilities, transportation, communications, admissions, college counseling, and other Academy partners as appropriate.
• Supervise assistant coaches and other program personnel; establish staff responsibilities; support professional growth; and promote consistent, mission-aligned instruction across the program.
• Manage program logistics and resources, including schedules, rosters, travel, facilities, bats, balls, bases, screens, cages, pitching equipment, protective gear, uniforms, field supplies, and video.
• Maintain current knowledge of rules, teaching methods, safety practices, technology, and applicable Academy, league, and governing-body expectations.
• Model and teach integrity, sportsmanship, respect for opponents, officials, and the rules of competition, responsible decision-making, and commitment to others.
• Provide year-round support for prospective student-athlete outreach in coordination with Athletics and Admissions. Build appropriate relationships with school, club, and community programs and support campus visits consistent with Academy and governing-body policies.
• Build and maintain relationships with college softball coaches. Provide year-round guidance and honest evaluations for student-athletes interested in collegiate participation, working with families and the College Counseling athletic liaison, consistent with Academy policies.
• Serve as an on-campus mentor during the season, collaborating with students’ advisors and appropriate campus resources to support their academic, personal, and athletic development.
• Supervise student-athletes during practices, competitions, travel, meals, lodging, training trips, and other team activities when scheduled.
• Participate in departmental meetings, professional learning, program assessment, and other activities that strengthen PEA's educational-athletics program.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of softball fundamentals, position-specific instruction, current rules, age-appropriate development, and effective practice design.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and manage lineup construction, pitching plans, defensive alignment, offensive signs, substitutions, opponent analysis, and game management.
• High level of emotional intelligence and performance under pressure to include
• Remain calm and make sound, objective decisions under pressure, stress, and emotionally charged conditions.
• Demonstrate self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, professionalism, and effective relationship management.
• Prevent and resolve conflicts while responding constructively to adversity, criticism, and competition outcomes.
• Adapt resiliently to changing demands, manage stress, and model appropriate emotional responses for student-athletes.
• Foster psychological safety and mental wellness while maintaining professional boundaries, ethical conduct, and athletics’ educational mission.
• Knowledge of risk management and emergency planning related to bat and ball awareness, protective equipment, pitching workloads, weather and field conditions, batting-cage use, and emergency procedures.
• Student-centered leadership and the ability to build trust, credibility, and healthy developmental relationships with adolescents.
• Commitment to educational athletics and to helping students learn through physical and mental challenge, collaboration, reflection, success, and setback.
• Demonstrated ability to create a safe, welcoming, equitable, and inclusive team environment for students from varied identities, experiences, and skill levels.
• Excellent leadership, organization, communication, conflict-resolution, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to maintain collegial relationships.
• Sound judgment and the ability to recognize hazards, respond appropriately in emergencies, and place student safety and well-being first.
• Ability to supervise and develop assistant coaches while promoting alignment, shared responsibility, and consistent expectations.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and deadlines, and adapt accurately to changing conditions.
• Professional discretion and strict adherence to confidentiality, student-safeguarding, mandated-reporting, and Academy policies.
• Ability to maintain a calm, professional, and respectful demeanor, including during high-pressure or emotionally charged situations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and willingness to learn scheduling, video, communication, statistics, and other applications used by the department.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule that includes extended hours, evenings, weekends, holidays, and travel.

Direct/Indirect Reports

Assistant softball coach(es) and other assigned program personnel.

Position Requirements

Education

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.

Experience

• Demonstrated softball playing, coaching, or instruction experience sufficient to lead a competitive secondary-school program.
• Prior head-coaching, club-coaching, or comparable program-leadership experience preferred.
• Experience working with adolescents in an educational, residential-school, camp, or youth-development setting preferred.
• Experience supporting student-athletes through the college recruitment process preferred.

Licenses and Certifications

• Current CPR/AED and first-aid certification, or ability to obtain before the season begins.
• Valid driver's license and ability to meet Academy driving requirements.
• Completion of required safeguarding, concussion-awareness, emergency-action-plan, and other Academy or governing-body training.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to provide effective instruction and supervise softball activities on dirt, grass, and turf, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to coach and supervise outdoors in variable spring weather.
• Ability to set up, inspect, use, and store sport-specific equipment, including bats, balls, bases, screens, cages, pitching equipment, protective gear, uniforms, field supplies, and video.
• Ability to lift and transport up to 25 pounds without assistance and to perform other essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Additional Requirements

1. Successful completion of a criminal background check in accordance with Academy policy.
2. Driving-record review in accordance with Academy policy when driving responsibilities apply.
3. Compliance with all Academy policies and expectations related to student safety, supervision, travel, conduct, confidentiality, and mandated reporting.
4. Regular and reliable attendance throughout both assigned seasons, including required preseason, postseason, evening, weekend, Academy-break, and travel commitments.