Esports Varsity Head Coach

Esports Varsity Head Coach – School District U‑46

• Position /
  
  Title:
  
  Spring Esports Head Coach
• Bargaining Unit: NAC
• Department/
  
  Location:
  
  High School Activities
• Calendar Days: IHSA Calendar
• Reports To: Building Athletics/Activities Director
• JD Revision Date: 09/17/2024
• Supervises: N/A

To build and maintain a high‑quality school Esports team, focusing on best‑practice, student‑focused activities, building involvement, and competitive gaming.

• Communicate effectively with parents, students, administrators, teacher colleagues, district personnel, and community leaders.
• Collaborate with the U‑46 Information Services Department at the district and school level for hardware and network assistance.
• Coordinate pre‑season parent meetings to review scholastic eligibility requirements, athletic code of conduct, team rules, scheduling, etc.
• Maintain high expectations for student achievement and behavior and motivate students to work to their highest potential.
• Plan, organize, and implement safe and effective daily practices and other planned events.
• Direct and lead the coaching staff. Monitor assignments and duties of assistant and/or lower level coaches and work with administration to annually evaluate the coaches.
• Work with the assistant coach in developing game schedules, practice schedules, facilities use, transportation needs, and the program budget.
• Communicate and plan with the assistant coach to develop practice sessions and competition strategies which ensure the health and physical well‑being of the student participants.
• Maintain good public relations with media, boosters, parents, officials, players, fans, other coaches, etc.
• Work effectively with students of varying abilities, socio‑economic, and cultural backgrounds to instill commitment, discipline, teamwork; and to promote physical, social, and emotional development.
• Cultivate a positive, harassment‑free, instructional culture which motivates students through the use of effective communication and constructive feedback.
• Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities.
• Apply and enforce student discipline in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and appropriate student handbook.
• Maintain equipment inventory.
• Minimum of 30 hours of in‑person meetings/practice.
• Minimum of 2 District, Conference, or Regional Contests/Events.
• Participate in IHSEA events/series and/or IHSA state series, as applicable.
• Attendance at UEC Activities Summit.
• Coordinate Fundraiser Opportunities.
• Attendance at Freshman Orientation and incoming 8th Grade Night, as applicable.
• Manage Finances and Administrative Paperwork for the Organization.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education preferred.
• Appropriate Professional Educator’s License (PEL) preferred.

-OR-

• High School Diploma required.
• Related coursework and/or previous related experience required.

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form using a variety of communication techniques and tools to ensure the appropriate flow of information, collaborative efforts, and feedback, and to conduct conferences as needed with parents, students, administrators, or other teachers.
• Strong communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to implement effective coaching theory, strategies, and techniques appropriate for high school athletes.
• Knowledgeable in the techniques and strategies for the sport/activity.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions, inquiries, and/or complaints.
• Display courtesy, tact, and respect when dealing with others.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships; demonstrate a commitment to teamwork.
• Ability and willingness to learn and refresh job skills through professional development in order to meet the changing needs of this position.
• Ability to react well under pressure, handle and balance multiple demands at one time, work with frequent unscheduled interruptions, and perform duties and tasks at expected levels of professionalism.
• Spanish language skills are preferred.

• Occasionally requires physical exertion to manually move, lift, or carry heavy materials or related equipment.
• Must work in noisy and crowded environments.
• This work involves standing for long periods of time and may involve walking or standing for extended periods of time. Some playoff/state series events can last upwards of 10 hours in length.
• Public contact requiring appropriate business‑like apparel.

• This is an Appendix F stipend position in accordance to the school year calendar.
• For Non‑ETA Coaches: this position is for this year only.
• Season per IHSEA and IHSA Calendar.
• Terms of employment will be determined in collaboration with the athletic/activity director.
• Performance of this job will be evaluated annually by the athletic/activity director.