Head Football Coach

Job Summary

The Head Football Coach provides strategic and operational leadership for all aspects of the Our Lady of the Lake football program. The coach is responsible for building and sustaining a competitive, mission aligned program; recruiting, retaining, developing, and graduating student athletes; hiring and supervising staff; administering the program budget; and ensuring compliance with university, applicable athletic conference, and NAIA requirements. The coach will model the NAIA Champions of Character values and OLLU core values while promoting academic achievement, student wellbeing, sportsmanship, and responsible stewardship of university resources.

The head coach is expected to maintain a positive public image and uphold a standard of professionalism that reflects favorably upon Our Lady of the Lake University and the Saints Athletic Program.  All actions, communications, and media, both public and private, that are associated with the coach should demonstrate integrity, respect, and alignment with the mission and values of the OLLU community. This includes behavior on social media, during public appearances, in interactions with student-athletes, and in all professional settings.

Performance Evaluation Metrics

• Meet annual roster, recruiting, and net enrollment goals established by the Athletic Director.
• Maintain a cumulative team grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
• Achieve a fall-to-fall retention rate of 70 percent or higher.
• Achieve a five-year graduation rate of 70 percent or higher.
• Demonstrate competitive progress against annual conference and program goals established by the Athletic Director.
• Meet annual fundraising, camp, and community engagement goals established by Athletics and Advancement.

Primary Responsibilities and Essential Functions

1. Provide the vision, culture, standards, and daily leadership for the football program in alignment with the mission and core values of OLLU.
2. Build and implement a comprehensive program plan covering staffing, recruiting, roster development, football operations, scheduling, facilities, equipment, fundraising, and competitive readiness.
3. Know, communicate, and comply with all applicable University, conference, and NAIA rules, policies, reporting requirements, and standards of conduct.
4. Recruit, retain, develop, and graduate student athletes consistent with annual enrollment, academic, character, and competitive goals established by the Athletic Director.
5. Develop sustainable recruiting pipelines throughout San Antonio, Texas, and other priority markets, including productive relationships with high school and junior college coaches.
6. Partner closely with Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, Compliance, and the Registrar throughout the recruiting, admission, scholarship, eligibility, and enrollment processes.
7. Plan and direct practices, strength and conditioning coordination, game preparation, film evaluation, player development, and competitive strategy within applicable rules and established medical protocols.
8. Work collaboratively with athletic training, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, and University leadership to promote student athlete health, safety, wellness, and injury prevention.
9. Hire, train, supervise, evaluate, and develop assistant coaches and football support personnel; establish clear roles, performance expectations, and accountability.
10. Maintain responsibility for the program budget and operate within approved scholarship, staffing, recruiting, travel, equipment, and operating allocations while following University purchasing and internal control policies.
11. Prepare and submit an annual program budget that is cost effective, administratively efficient, and aligned with institutional priorities.
12. Coordinate with Athletics staff on competition scheduling, team travel, game management, facilities, equipment procurement and inventory, uniforms, technology, and football operations.
13. Ensure appropriate maintenance, fitting, inspection, inventory, and replacement planning for football equipment in coordination with qualified staff and applicable safety standards.
14. Foster disciplined and sportsmanlike behavior and maintain responsibility for team conduct during recruiting, practice, travel, competition, and community activities.
15. Promote academic progress by monitoring student athlete performance and partnering with faculty, academic support staff, and campus resources.
16. Build positive relationships with students, families, alumni, donors, media, youth organizations, local schools, and the San Antonio community.
17. Support department and campus vibrancy by engaging football student athletes in other Athletics, Student Affairs, service, and University programs.
18. Assist the Faculty Athletics Representative, Compliance office, and Athletic Director with eligibility, certification, reporting, and program documentation.
19. Represent OLLU professionally and exercise sound judgment in public communication, media engagement, social media, and all program activities.

Additional Responsibilities

1. Participate in fundraising and donor engagement coordinated by the Athletic Director and Advancement office, including at least one major program fundraiser annually.
2. Plan and conduct football camps, clinics, prospect events, and community engagement activities in accordance with university policy.
3. Participate in Athletics staff meetings, University activities, professional development, clinics, and other activities that strengthen coaching and administrative performance.
4. Submit an annual program report evaluating academic, enrollment, retention, competitive, financial, compliance, fundraising, and student development outcomes, with recommendations for improvement.
5. Maintain accurate program records and submit required reports, purchasing documentation, recruiting records, rosters, schedules, and inventories by established deadlines.
6. Adhere to University policies and applicable federal and state laws, including requirements related to Title IX, FERPA, and health information privacy.
7. Perform other duties as assigned by the Athletic Director.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Thorough knowledge of football rules, strategies, techniques, player development, practice planning, recruiting, conditioning, and injury prevention.
2. Demonstrated ability to establish a healthy program culture, lead a large and diverse roster, supervise a multi person staff, and hold team members accountable.
3. Strong recruiting, relationship building, evaluation, and roster management skills, including an understanding of enrollment and financial aid processes at a tuition dependent university.
4. Ability to manage complex budgets, scholarship resources, travel, equipment, facilities, camps, game operations, and administrative deadlines.
5. Effective oral, written, interpersonal, organizational, and public communication skills.
6. Ability to mentor and motivate student athletes toward academic, personal, spiritual, and competitive success.
7. Ability to work collaboratively with campus departments and maintain professional relationships with officials, coaches, families, alumni, donors, media, and the public.
8. Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and travel as required by the football schedule.
9. Valid driver’s license and ability to meet University requirements for operating university vehicles.

Education and Experience

1. Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred.
2. Minimum of five years of progressively responsible collegiate football coaching experience required; head coaching, coordinator, or comparable leadership experience preferred.
3. Demonstrated success in recruiting, staff leadership, student athlete development, budget administration, and rules compliance required.
4. Experience building or launching a football program is preferred.