Applications due 07/31/25
Job Description:
Date posted: June 5, 2025
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Title: Associate Head Coach
Department: Competitive Swimming
Reporting To: Richard Hunter, Head Coach
General Job Description
The Associate Head Coach plays a pivotal role in advancing the club’s mission and competitive success. Working collaboratively with the Head Coach, this leadership position is instrumental in executing the strategic vision and the competitive swimming program. The Associate Head Coach is expected to exemplify and promote the club’s core values, fostering a culture of excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement. This role involves leading the Age Group 12 and Under Program, mentoring coaching staff and contributing to the holistic development of athletes.
This position is responsible for helping design and refine seasonal training plans, establish measurable performance benchmarks, and define clear swimmer progressions across the Age Group Program – with an emphasis on 12 and Under. A key part of the role is integrating real-time data collection and analysis to inform coaching decisions and long-term planning cycles. The Associate Head Coach will work closely with Directors and group coaches to ensure that insights from practice and competitions translate into actionable strategy – creating a feedback loop that prioritizes swimmer development, reduces ambiguity, directs training methods, and strengthens Tide’s competitive pipeline from developmental to senior levels.
Major Responsibilities
Planning (Strategy and Alignment)
Partner with Head Coach to design and refine the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) framework and ensure alignment with team goals and performance expectations
Lead the development, training, and dissemination of monthly training objectives across the age group program
Provide structured feedback on seasonal plans – particularly for 12 and Under – to ensure consistency and progression
Develop and maintain systems to measure, track, and analyze practice and meet metrics, using data to inform planning cycles and guide athlete development
Assist in establishing and sustaining a strategic staff growth and development plan tied to both program outcomes and individual performance
Coaching (Execution and Athlete Development)
Directly coach swimmers delivering high-quality, technically sound, and engaging practices
Foster a positive, challenging, and developmentally appropriate environment that supports swimmer growth, well-being, and competitive performance
Communicate regularly with parents on swimmer progress, training focus, meet prep, expectations, upcoming events – fostering a strong coach-parent relationship
Staff Leadership (People Development and Accountability)
Directly manage, mentor, and evaluate assigned coaching staff, ensuring consistent execution of team strategy and standards
Conduct monthly 1:1 meetings with direct reports, providing individualized feedback, developmental guidance, and accountability
Oversee and support the mentorship and performance management of Lead Coaches within the Age Group 12 and Under division, ensuring they are effectively guiding their own groups
Lead regular staff meetings focused on training objectives, program alignment, and professional development needs
Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Deep understanding of long-term athlete development (LTAD) principles and the ability to apply them in progressive training environments
Demonstrated ability to design and execute training plans aligned with seasonal objectives and measurable performance outcomes
Proven experience using data and performance metrics to evaluate athlete development and inform coaching decisions
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with athletes, parents, and staff
Ability to mentor and develop coaches through ongoing feedback, support, and accountability structures
Knowledge of USA Swimming Safe Sport policies, athlete protection standards, and team code of conduct expectations
Start Date: August 2025
Experience: Minimum of 5 years of lead coaching experience within a USA Swimming club or collegiate (NCAA) swimming program, with demonstrated success in developing athletes.
Work Schedule: In general, this position is scheduled to work at facilities in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. As a nonprofit USA Swimming organization, the work schedule requires flexibility to allow for weekend and evening events, meetings, and other responsibilities.
Benefits
401(k) Retirement: Eligible after 30 days of full-time employment. Tide matches up to 3% with immediate vesting
Insurance – Eligible after 30 days of full-time employment:
- Tide covers 50% of highest deductible health insurance plan for employee
- Tide covers 100% of Dental & Vision for employee
- Tide covers 100% for $50,000 Life insurance for employee
Dues waved for the children of full- time employees who wish to swim for Tide
The above information is intended to describe the general job description and requirements for the performance of this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Specific tasks and deadlines may vary and will be provided to the employee by their supervisor.
How to Apply
To Apply: Email resume, with cover letter, to [email protected]
Contact Information
phone: (949) 338-0466
