Vashon Seals Head Coach

About the Vashon Seals

The Vashon Seals Swim Team (Vashon Aquatic Club) is a community-based, non-profit youth swim program on Vashon Island, WA. We serve approximately 25-40 athletes ranging from beginners (age 5) to competitive high school swimmers. Our mission is to foster a lifelong love for swimming through character development, physical fitness, and technical excellence.

Position Overview

We are seeking an inspiring and experienced Head Coach to lead our year-round program. The ideal candidate will balance technical instruction with a positive, motivational coaching style that meets the needs of a wide range of ages and abilities. As the primary representative of the Seals on the pool deck, this role is critical to maintaining our team culture and managing our relationship with the Vashon Park District.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Program Planning: Develop and execute a long-term vision for the Seals that balances competitive excellence with team growth. This includes designing a multi-year athlete progression curriculum and partnering with the Board to ensure the team remains a sustainable and vibrant part of the Vashon community. 

• On-Deck Coaching: Planning and oversight of daily practices (currently scheduled Monday–Friday afternoons) for all four levels of the program. Delegation of on-deck coaching duties to assistants and older athletes based on judgement.

• Technical Instruction: Provide expert guidance on stroke mechanics, starts, turns, and competitive strategy.

• Mentorship: Work with older athletes to develop leadership and coaching skills. Define a plan for providing direct, on deck coaching experience for these athletes. Provide meet planning that provides opportunities for role ownership for our older athletes.

• Meet Management: Determine meet schedules, manage entries via TeamUnify/GoMotion, and provide leadership on-deck at local and regional competitions.

• Safety & Compliance: Ensure a safe environment at all times, strictly adhering to USA Swimming SafeSport and Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP).

• Administrative Leadership: Act as the team registrar, manage parent communication, manage website updates, and lead regular meetings for assistant and junior coaches.

• Community Engagement: Maintain professional, transparent communication with parents and the Board of Directors (the Head Coach is a Board member).

Requirements & Qualifications:

• Certification: Current USA Swimming Coach membership, including Safety Training for Swim Coaches, CPR/AED/First Aid, and successful background check.

• Experience: Previous competitive coaching experience, preferably with a diverse age range (5–18).

  • 5+ years coaching experience and competitive swimming background preferred.

• Soft Skills: Strong interpersonal skills to navigate island logistics and maintain a collaborative relationship with Vashon Park District staff.

• Ability to communicate effectively with a tight-knit island community.

• Proven track record of maintaining professional boundaries and a safe-sport culture.

• Philosophy: A commitment to the philosophy that "winning" is about personal improvement, character growth, and team unity.

Position Details:

• Employment Type: Salaried, year-round employee of the Vashon Aquatic Club.

• Compensation: Competitive monthly salary based on experience: $2,500 - $2,800/mo.

• Reimbursements: Standard stipends for meet travel and professional certifications (CPR/First Aid, USA Swimming registration, etc.).

• Bonus Structure: Eligibility for seasonal/annual performance reviews.

• Location: Vashon Community Pool, Vashon, WA.