The Pacifica Sea Lions seek Head Swim Coach

Job Description:

Date posted: January 24, 2025

Location: Oceana High School, Paloma Avenue, Pacifica, CA, USA

The Pacifica Sea Lions Aquatic Club (PSL) seeks a highly qualified individual for the position of Head Swim Team Coach. 

PSL is a local, community-focused club with 160 USA Swimming registered swimmers training and competing under the Pacifica Sea Lions name as one of Northern San Mateo County’s most successful and established competitive swim teams with over 60 years of tradition and history. PSL is a year-round competitive program that offers opportunities for all levels of swimmers. The team supports a broad range of swimmers, from the 6-year-old beginner to the 18-year-old National Qualifier. Our mission at the Pacifica Sea Lions is to inspire our members to achieve their maximum swimming potential through high-quality coaching and self-motivation with the goal of team unity in a safe and supportive environment for all.

Our highly-trained and qualified coaching professionals guide each swimmer’s career from entry-level to National competition. We focus on training the whole athlete, including mental and emotional health, dryland exercise (which includes injury prevention routines and strength & conditioning circuits), training and racing strategies, and a strong emphasis on technical proficiency in the water. A primary focus is teamwork and building a strong sense of community in a safe environment.  

Our team trains in the Jean E. Brink Pool, a 10-lane, 25-yard short-course indoor aquatics facility located at Oceana High School in Pacifica, California. PSL hosts multiple competitions per year with the support of its family volunteers. The head coach must be dedicated to sustaining and strengthening our high-performance and comprehensive swim program by cultivating excellence in athletes in the pool and in their lives.

BASIC FUNCTIONS – HEAD COACH

• Promotes and encourages a positive, progressive, inclusive, supportive, and winning culture while being a pervasive leader, serving as the Head Coach for the entire team.
• Staffs and assigns assistant coaching staff as appropriate to all practices, team events, and competitions.
• Serves as the primary PSL coaching point of contact for team coaches, the PSL member community, Zone 1 North, Pacific Swimming, and USA Swimming.
• Reports to the PSL Board of Directors and collaborates closely to establish and implement the vision of PSL’s competitive team.
• Works with the PSL Board on the swim team program’s annual budget and day-to-day finances.
• Collaborates with the PSL Board on strategic planning, marketing, vision, communication, fundraising, scholarship program, and other key initiatives.
• Collaborates with the PSL Board to ensure that the team website, www.PacificaSeaLions.org, hosted on TeamUnify, is up-to-date and functioning smoothly.
• Maintains a healthy professional relationship with the City of Pacifica Parks, Beaches, and Recreation and the City leadership team, collaborating on planning and communication.
• Recruits, retains, supervises, and mentors productive and effective coaching and instructional staff; conducts goal-setting meetings; observes and provides feedback to staff regularly; plans and fosters continuing education opportunities.
• Creates and ensures implementation of a hiring orientation program for all coaches; complies and ensures club compliance with USA Swimming and Pacific Swimming policies (background checks, membership, etc.).
• Communicates the Pacific Swimming vision and administrative details to competitive team members and families.
• Oversees the maintenance of the updated team roster and all meet results.
• Ensures all athletes are registered with USA Swimming and that PSL complies with all Pacific Swimming and USA Swimming policies and procedures.
• Collaborates with the Aquatics Director to ensure adequate pool space and practice time to run the team practice sessions, clinics, camps, events, and meets; coordinates with vendors and partners where necessary.
• Communicates regularly to club membership about current and upcoming program operations, including competitions, social and fundraising events, and schedule changes.
• Oversees, with the support of the assistant coaching staff and Board, retention of members, recruitment of new members, and processes of onboarding new swimmers and their families.
• Provides a safe environment for PSL members, families, volunteers, and guests at all PSL programs, practices, clinics, camps, events, and meetings.
• Achieves and maintains USA Swimming Safe Sport Club recognition in concert with the Board

REQUIREMENTS:

• American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) – Certification Level 4 or equivalent experience
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Current USA Swimming membership
• Current American Red Cross CPR, First Aid, Safety Training for Swim Coaches, and Concussion Protocol Training
• Passion for swimming with a proven record as a coach with 4+ years of top-level experience with a strong preference for USA Swimming National level
• Sound technical understanding of swimming and documented high-performance results verified by performance; recognized in the swimming field as an exceptional coach; believes in a process for swimmer development, committed to curriculum development
• Knowledge and management of hosting, bidding for, and pursuing meets annually
• High level of integrity paired with a favorable reputation in the swimming community
• Demonstrated self-awareness – recognizing emotions, strengths, challenges, drive, values, and goals with an empathetic and highly relational skill set. Head coach for all
• Self-motivated, holds self and others to high standards and fosters a culture of accountability that rewards success and mentors for improvement
• Highly collaborative and committed to a team atmosphere rather than individual achievement
• Innovative and brings new ideas to transform and grow the club
• Experience managing and mentoring/developing coaching staff; committed to hiring and developing excellent coaches with recognition for their achievements; values the success of others
• Build strong relationships with Pacific Swimming, USA Swimming, and the other Zone 1 North swim clubs
• Provide guidance and support to athletes during the college recruiting and/or decision process
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with local high school swim programs while supporting PSL members participating in HS athletics
• Participation in clinics and other continuing education opportunities for learning new instruction techniques and best practices regarding swim team management
• Strong written and oral communication skills, ability to work with a diverse staff, and autonomous organizational skills

Key Performance/Evaluation Factors

• Growth of the team based on revenue and total team members, due to athlete recruitment and retention year-to-year
• Performance of team based on USA Swimming Club Excellence Rankings
• Performance of team on the Age Group Level (state-based) and Senior Level (Sectional and National-based)

Direct Supervisor:  Pacifica Sea Lions Board of Directors

Key relationships: City of Pacifica Parks, Beaches, and Recreation department leadership, especially the Aquatics Coordinator

Compensation: Competitive salary based on experience plus negotiated incentives

Work Schedule: Full-time position. The schedule varies based on season and business needs.  The Head Coach position requires split shift hours, including coverage of morning practices and afternoon practices, remote and flexible hours Monday through Friday, plus weekends and travel.

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

How to Apply

Email cover letter and résumé to [email protected]

Contact Information

phone: 415-937-7522