Red River Valley Wahoos Head Swim Coach - Grand Forks, ND

Red River Valley Wahoos Head Swim Coach - Grand Forks, North Dakota | USA Swimming Club | Part-Time, Salaried (non-exempt), Year-Round

About the Red River Valley Wahoos
The Red River Valley Wahoos are a board-governed, nonprofit USA Swimming club in the ND LSC serving swimmers in Grand Forks and the surrounding region. The club provides a positive, safe, and development focused environment for athletes to swim fast and develop long-term life skills.
    RRV Wahoos are approaching a key pivot point for growth. In fall 2027, the club will move into the new Altru Sports Complex with a 50-meter competition pool and warm-water community training pool holding more than 800 spectators. The new facility will be operated by the Grand Forks Park District and owned by the City of Grand Forks.
     The Wahoos are seeking a Head Coach who is enthusiastic about swimming, committed to athlete development, and ready to help grow and strengthen the program over the next several years.

Position Summary
The Red River Valley Wahoos are seeking a part-time, salaried (non-exempt) Head Swim Coach to lead the club’s year-round competitive swim program. The ideal candidate will be both a strong on-deck coach and a program leader who can build positive relationships with swimmers, families, assistant coaches, the Board of Directors, and community partners.
    The Head Coach will provide leadership across all practice groups, supervise and support assistant coaches, guide athlete skill development and progression, and help create a unified team culture. The club is especially interested in a coach who brings energy, initiative, organization, and a long-term commitment to growing the team and the sport of swimming in the Grand Forks region.
     Depending on candidate qualifications and organizational needs, the Head Coach may also have the opportunity to coordinate the club's swim lesson program for the 2026-2027 season prior to transition to the new facility. This position reports to the RRV Wahoos Board of Directors.
Key Responsibilities
Athlete Development and Coaching
• Plan and lead age-appropriate, skill-focused practices.
• Promote swimmer development across all levels of the program.
• Establish clear expectations for swimmer behavior, effort, attendance, and progression.
• Provide technical instruction in strokes, starts, turns, racing skills, and training habits.
• Create a positive, disciplined, and encouraging practice environment.
• Help swimmers set goals and understand their development path within the club.
• Maintain visibility and connection across all practice groups.
• Support both competitive achievement and long-term enjoyment of the sport.
Program Leadership and Growth
• Lead the overall structure and direction of the swim program.
• Develop and maintain a clear practice group progression model.
• Lead initiatives that strengthen swimmer recruitment, athlete retention, and community engagement while helping build a sustainable long-term membership base.
• Work with the Board to identify and pursue strategic growth opportunities.
• Help define seasonal programming, including short-course season, long-course season, clinics, and potential off-season skill-development opportunities.
• Provide regular coaching and program updates to the Board of Directors.
Staff Leadership
• Supervise, support, and help develop assistant coaches. The Head Coach serves as a direct supervisor to assistant coaches.
• Promote consistency in coaching expectations, communication, and swimmer development across practice groups.
• Help clarify roles and responsibilities among the coaching staff.
• Provide practice guidance and feedback to assistant coaches.
• Address coaching inconsistencies or concerns professionally and promptly.
Parent, Facility, and Community Engagement
• Serve as a visible and positive representative of the Wahoos in the community.
• Communicate professionally and proactively with swimmers and families, helping families understand team expectations, swimmer progression, meet participation, and the broader development process.
• Maintain strong working relationships with the Grand Forks Park District, pool/facility staff, City,
Convention and Visitors Bureau, schools, and community partners.
Meets and Administration
• Help develop the meet schedule in coordination with the Board and coaching staff.
• Support meet entries, relays, swimmer event selection, and meet preparation.
• Attend selected meets as determined by the club schedule and role expectations.
• Assist with administrative duties related to team operations, communication, and planning.
• Maintain appropriate records and communication related to swimmer development and team operations.
Safe Sport and Compliance
• Maintain all required USA Swimming coach membership, safety, education, and background-screening requirements.
• Comply with USA Swimming Safe Sport policies, including Athlete Protection Training and applicable Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy requirements.
• Model professionalism, integrity, and appropriate boundaries in all interactions with athletes, parents, coaches, officials, and volunteers.
• Promote a safe, respectful, and athlete-centered team environment.
Qualifications
Required
• Current or ability to obtain USA Swimming coach membership in good standing.
• Ability to complete and maintain all required USA Swimming background screening, Safe Sport, safety, and education requirements.
• At least two years experience coaching age-group swimmers in a competitive program.
• Strong communication, organization, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with swimmers of different ages, abilities, and goals.
• Commitment to athlete development, team culture, and professional conduct.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a volunteer Board of Directors.
Preferred
• Experience coaching with a USA Swimming club or comparable competitive swim program.
• Experience leading or supervising assistant coaches.
• Experience developing age-group swimmers and senior-level swimmers.
• Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships with athletes, parents, volunteers, and community partners.
• Familiarity with TeamUnify/GoMotion, Hy-Tek Meet Manager, SwimCloud, or similar tools.
• Prior experience as a competitive swimmer.
• ASCA membership or coaching education credentials.
• Experience with community-based youth sports organizations.
What We’re Looking For
The Wahoos are looking for a coach who brings enthusiasm, consistency, and leadership to the pool deck. The ideal candidate is invested in the long-term success of the club, enjoys working with young athletes, communicates well with families, and can help create a more unified and sustainable program. We value a coach who is positive, organized, approachable, accountable, and willing to take initiative. The successful candidate should be comfortable serving as both a technical coach and a program leader.
Time Commitment
This is a part-time, salaried (non-exempt), year-round position with seasonal variation in hours. Expected time commitment will include on-deck coaching, meet attendance, staff coordination, parent communication, administrative duties, and program planning. Expected workload will generally range between 15-25 hours per week depending on the season.
Compensation
Compensation will be a competitive part-time salary commensurate with experience and role expectations. Approved meet travel, required certifications, USA Swimming registration, and professional development expenses may be reimbursed according to club policy. Additional aquatics employment opportunities within the Grand Forks community may become available as the new Altru Sports Complex approaches completion in 2027, creating the potential for expanded professional opportunities. Performance or growth-based incentives may be considered based on Board-approved goals.

How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit:
• Resume
• Coaching philosophy
• Professional references
• Current USA Swimming certification status, if applicable
Application materials and any questions may be sent to: rrvywahooboard@gmail.com
Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. Target start date: September 2026
The Red River Valley Wahoos are committed to providing a safe, positive, and inclusive environment for all athletes. All offers of employment are contingent upon completion of applicable background screening, Safe Sport requirements, and USA Swimming coach membership requirements.

Application materials and any questions may be sent to: rrvywahooboard@gmail.com

Equal Employment Opportunity
The Red River Valley Wahoos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law.