The Assistant Coach, Women’s Softball supports the Head Coach in leading the varsity women’s softball program, helping to foster athletic excellence, academic achievement, and alignment with the Catholic Benedictine values of the university. The Assistant Coach assists with coaching strategy, recruiting, scouting, game-day operations, and program administration, including scheduling, team travel, equipment inventory, camp operations, and game film review, while helping cultivate a positive, competitive team culture.
Saint Martin’s University is more than just a place of learning—it’s a welcoming community where students, faculty, and staff come together with purpose and heart. Founded in 1895 by the Benedictine monks of Saint Martin’s Abbey, we are grounded in the timeless Benedictine values of community, hospitality, and balance. These values, combined with a Saint Martin’s liberal arts education, shape our approach to education and daily life, encouraging students to think deeply, act with compassion, and serve with purpose.
As part of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, we honor the integration of faith and reason, the dignity of every person, and a shared responsibility for the common good. Our mission is to form graduates who are not only intellectually curious and ethically grounded, but also deeply committed to building a more just and equitable world. At Saint Martin’s, we care about the whole person.
Our supportive campus culture is built to help students thrive—academically, personally, and professionally. We pay special attention to the needs of those who have been historically underserved, and we work intentionally to create an inclusive, respectful, and compassionate environment for all.
We warmly invite mission-driven individuals to join our community—not just to work here, but to be part of something meaningful. Together, we educate students who go on to make a positive difference in their lives, their communities, and the world.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential Functions & Responsibilities - Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this position. Employees are required to be in attendance and prepared to begin work at their assigned work location on the specified days and hours. Factors such as regular attendance at the job are not routinely listed in job descriptions but are an essential function. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following.
Coaching
- Assist the Head Coach in developing the daily, weekly, and seasonal coaching plan, including practice schedules and training sessions, to optimize team performance.
- Conduct practice sessions, in whole or in part, consistent with the program’s master plan.
- Coach during competitions and communicate game strategy and real-time adjustments with staff and student-athletes to optimize team performance.
- Analyze game film and performance metrics to provide player feedback and inform scouting of future opponents.
- Reinforce a culture of discipline, respect, and accountability by ensuring student-athletes understand their roles within the team’s strategy.
Prepare and organize the field, equipment, and facilities for practices and competitions.
Team Administration
- Prepare team travel itineraries, including flights, hotel accommodations, rental cars, and bus transportation, in coordination with the Head Coach and athletic department.
- Develop and distribute weekly schedules for student-athletes during the season, including training, competition, and travel information.
- Communicate regularly with athletic department staff — including compliance, sports information, the program specialist, social media, and athletic training — on matters related to the softball program.
- Assist the Head Coach in preparing practice plans and game-day strategies.
- Maintain accurate inventory of team equipment and uniforms, and assist with camp operations as assigned.
Upload and organize game film for coaching staff and player review.
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Academic Support and Student-Athlete Success
- Assist student-athletes with course scheduling and navigating academic resources and support services.
- Support student-athletes in meeting NCAA progress-toward-degree requirements, working toward academic success and eventual graduation from the University.
Support student-athlete health and safety by coordinating with athletic trainers on injury prevention, recovery, and adherence to safety protocols during training, practices, and competitions.
Recruitment and Retention
- Evaluate prospective student-athletes for recruitment to the University, including scouting talent at the high school, club, and travel levels.
- Maintain regular communication with prospective student-athletes throughout the recruiting process.
- Review recruiting video of prospective signees and potential recruits.
- Meet with prospective student-athletes and families on campus to discuss academic expectations, program goals, and NCAA compliance requirements.
- Communicate regularly with the Office of Admissions regarding the status of prospective student-athletes.
Maintain accurate and current recruiting records in the NCAA-mandated Compliance Assistant software.
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Community Engagement
- Support community engagement efforts, including camps, clinics, and youth outreach initiatives that promote the softball program and strengthen ties with local organizations.
- Represent the softball program positively in interactions with alumni, donors, and the campus community.
Assist with department fundraisers, camps, and community involvement projects as assigned by the Head Coach.
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COMPETENCIES
- Demonstrates a broad range of coaching and teaching methods to support the goals and objectives of a comprehensive women’s softball program.
- Assists in developing, planning, explaining, and adapting practice sessions for the team and individual players, focusing on their growth and skill development.
- Effectively plans, coordinates, analyzes, and communicates tactical strategies during competitive games, supporting optimal team performance.
- Communicates clearly and tactfully, both orally and in writing, specific performance objectives for student-athletes’ improvement.
- Proficient in using Microsoft Office Suite to complete tasks and produce high-quality work, both independently and collaboratively.
- Skilled in conveying both straightforward and sensitive information with clarity and professionalism, in oral and written formats.
- Ensures effective follow-through with the department, university, and external parties, delivering appropriate messages regarding issues affecting the women’s softball program at SMU.
Demonstrates commitment to the department and university’s initiatives, embracing and supporting Catholic and Benedictine values in all aspects of coaching.
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REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Prior college coaching experience or graduate assistant coaching experience preferred.
- Proficient in working with word processing and electronic spreadsheets (preferably Microsoft Office Suite).
- Must pass the annual NCAA D-II Coaches Certification Education Modules.
- Must possess and maintain current CPR/First Aid certification
- Must clear background check, pass sexual harassment test, and have a valid driver’s license. Provide a copy of a three-year driver’s abstract indicating no major moving violations on file.
Must pass a driving test (driving school vehicles).
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PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed indoors, outdoors, or in an office environment. Physical demands include:
- Move heavy objects (more than 20 pounds) long distances (more than 20 feet).
- Ability to be mobile campus wide and for game traveling for appropriate athletic needs.
- Operates a variety of standard office equipment requiring continuous or repetitive arm-hand movements.
- Reading, writing, speaking, hearing, standing, bending, sitting.
- Ability to walk, run, kneel, stoop or crawl.
- Hitting softballs, throwing softballs, catching softballs, and demonstrating softball drills.
- Requires visual concentration on detail.
- Manual dexterity and precision required for performing stress and special tests, demonstrating rehabilitation exercises.
- May often be required to deal with distraught student-athletes.
- Must be able to concentrate on details and process complex information while experiencing frequent interruptions.
- This position requires extensive travel and availability to work evenings and weekends as necessary to accommodate team practices, competitions, and events.
