Position Summary

The Head Coach & Program Director serves as the top administrative and athletic leader for Tuna Swim Club. Overseeing a program across multiple sites and age groups, this executive role combines on-deck coaching with staff leadership, program administration, family communication, meet planning, community engagement, and strategic planning.

Mission & Organizational Vision

Mission: Tuna Swim Club strives to inspire and develop swimmers of all ages and abilities in a safe, positive environment built on genuine team support — preparing every athlete to pursue their highest goals, in the pool and in life.
Vision: To compete at the highest levels as a team where every swimmer becomes family and every success is shared. 

Key Responsibilities & Administrative Scope

1. Athlete Coaching & Development

• Leadership Presence: Maintain visible presence across all training groups and build relationships with athletes and families throughout the club.

• Senior On-Deck Leadership: Serve as lead coach for Senior and Elite training groups, establishing daily workouts, competition strategies, and personalized long-term athletic development (LTAD) pathways.

• Uniform Technical Curriculum: Design and enforce a unified technical progression pathway from developmental novice groups through national competition, ensuring all coaches teach consistent stroke mechanics, turns, and starts.

• Athlete Expectations: Develop, maintain and enforce team policies including athlete progression, group and attendance requirements, and swimmer discipline policies.

• Goal Setting & Mentorship: Meet with swimmers to discuss goals, progress and specific concerns to provide individualized feedback and instruction.

• Integrated Dryland & Conditioning: Oversee and implement structured, age-appropriate dryland and strength/conditioning programs in coordination with qualified specialists to optimize performance and prevent overuse injuries.

• Technique Clinics & Skill Enrichment: Execute specialized skill clinics when possible (focusing on underwater mechanics, starts, turns, and race strategy).

2. Competition Planning & Meet Management

• Season & Meet Scheduling: Plan all yearly (Short Course and Long Course) team meet schedules, entry assignments, and coaches' travel logistics.

• Host Meet Operations: Direct all aspects of club-hosted meets, including facility setup, sanctioning, spectator/athlete logistics, and equipment.

• Database & Entry Administration: Oversee meet entries, time tracking, and swimmer database management using Hy-Tek Meet Manager, Team Unify and alternate methods as needed.

• Governance & Meet Bidding: Represent Tuna Swim Club in Minnesota Swimming (MSI) meet bidding processes and governance meetings.

3. Program Strategy & Financial Stewardship

• Strategic Plan: Formulate, execute, and adapt a strategic plan in collaboration with the Board of Directors to expand program offerings, maintain high swimmer retention and growth, and maximize club excellence benchmarks.

• Fiscal Management & Budgeting: Partner with the Board to prepare annual operational budgets, manage program-related expenses, monitor travel costs, and identify new revenue-generating initiatives.

• Fundraising, Sponsorship and Community Engagement: Support fundraising, sponsorship and community partnership efforts.

• Board Governance & Metrics: Attend monthly Board meetings, provide detailed monthly metrics on athlete, club, and staff performance, and serve on key strategic committees.

4. Staff Leadership

• Staff Management Structure: Recruit, hire, train, mentor, and evaluate a multi-tiered coaching staff that includes a Head Age Group coach, lead coaches, assistant coaches, and administrative staff.

• Coaching Education & Mentorship: Establish continuing education options, mentor coaches, conduct performance evaluations, and maintain clear expectations for deck presence and professional conduct.

• Staff Meetings & Allocation: Lead regular formal and informal staff meetings, submit written and verbal summary reports to the Board, review staffing allocations for optimal swimmer-to-coach ratios, and approve staff timecards and expense reimbursements.

5. Club Operations & Administration

• Pool Space & Facility Allocation: Negotiate, secure, and manage pool contracts and lane allocations across all facilities in coordination with school districts, municipal personnel, and aquatics directors.

• Team Platform Administration: Manage overall team administration, roster movement, billing integration, and parent communications within TeamUnify/SportsEngine Motion.

• Parent Engagement & Communication: Support all-member parent meetings and address parent or swimmer concerns with professional conflict resolution.

• Communication and Digital Information: Oversee club communications, including the team website, newsletters, social media coordination, meet information, team records, and athlete recognition.

• External Community Relations: Act as the primary ambassador for Tuna Swim Club with municipal leaders, school districts, USA Swimming leadership, and regional swim organizations.

6. Safe Sport & Compliance

• Regulatory & Safety Compliance: Ensure 100% compliance across all staff, volunteers, and athletes with USA Swimming, Minnesota Swimming (MSI), Safe Sport guidelines, MAAP and Athlete Protection Training

• Coaching Certifications: Maintain current USA swimming coach membership and all required certifications for self and all required staff.

• Safety Ambassador: Model professional, ethical, athlete-centered coaching practices at all times, ensuring a safe, healthy and positive environment for all swimmers, families, volunteers, staff, and guests.

Preferred Qualifications & Experience

• Coaching Experience: Minimum 5+ years of head coach or senior leadership experience with proven success developing athletes across multiple ages and ability levels from development swimmers through national level competition.

• Certifications: ASCA Level 3 or higher (ASCA Level 4 preferred). Current USA Swimming coach membership in good standing, including Safe Sport, CPR/First Aid, Safety Training for Swim Coaches, and background clearance.

• Staff Leadership: Experience supervising, mentoring, and developing coaching staff.

• Technical Expertise: Strong technical understanding of competitive swimming and long-term athlete development.

• Systems Proficiency: Knowledge of swim team management tools such as Hy-Tek, TeamUnify/SportsEngine Motion or similar platforms.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Characteristics & Competencies of the Ideal Candidate

• Executive Leadership & Mentorship: Demonstrates high emotional intelligence, inspires excellence across staff and athletes, and leads by example in professional demeanor.

• Strategic & Operational Agility: Balances on-deck coaching excellence with high-level administrative, facility, and business planning.

• Conflict Resolution & Communication: Communicates transparently and effectively with parents, board members, municipal partners, and athletes under challenging circumstances.

• Financial & Business Acumen: Understands the financial dynamics of a non-profit swim club, balancing growth targets with budget discipline.

General Conditions

This is a year-round executive position requiring flexibility for evening and morning on-deck coaching,    

weekend competitions (including travel), monthly board meetings, and administrative office hours.

Candidates will also need to have the ability to stand for extended periods on pool decks, travel to regional/national meets, lift up to 50 lbs of swim equipment, and hold a valid driver's license.

Duties Disclaimer: This job description outlines the primary duties and scope of authority for the Head Coach & Program Director. It is not an exhaustive list, and the Board of Directors reserves the right to modify duties as organizational needs evolve.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Tuna Swim Club is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.