Description

Head Swim Coach – Position Summary

Monocacy Aquatic Club (MAC), a year-round USA Swimming program serving more than 200 athletes in Frederick, MD, is seeking an experienced and visionary Head Swim Coach. The Head Coach is responsible for the overall leadership, direction, and management of the club’s competitive swimming program. This includes athlete development, staff supervision, program planning, meet management, and collaboration with the MAC Board of Directors and facility partners. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator, an effective leader, and a coach who can foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performance team culture for all stakeholders.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities -Program Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive coaching philosophy aligned with USA Swimming’s Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD model)
• Oversee the design and execution of seasonal training plans for all groups
• Establish and maintain group structures, criteria, and progression pathways for swimmers
• Promote a positive, athlete-centered environment focused on skill development, sportsmanship, and long-term success
• Give feedback to coaches and athletes and receive feedback from stakeholders for improvements

Staff Leadership & Supervision

• Recruit, hire, train and supervise assistant coaches and any other pertinent staff
• Ensure coordination of staff schedules and coverages
• Lead coaches with well-being in mind, ensuring transparent and open communication
• Provide ongoing mentorship, performance evaluations, and professional development opportunities
• Meet with coaches to check on their progress and performance
• Create a collaborative environment for coaches in which all voices are heard and respected when decisions are made

Coaching and Athlete Development (should be prepared to coach one senior or age-group of swimmers)

• Provide on-deck coaching for assigned training group(s), including technical instruction, race strategy and age appropriate performance feedback
• Conduct regular evaluations of athlete progress and adjust training plans/coaching as needed
• Prepare athletes for competitions, including meet entries, warm-ups, race plans and post-race analysis
• Support athletes in achieving goals at all levels, from developmental to championships

Board Collaboration & Governance

• Work in partnership with the MAC Board of Directors and committees on strategic planning, staffing, budgeting, and program development
• Assist in preparing materials for board meetings as needed
• Present a head coach report at board meetings which may include updates on program operations, athlete development, staffing, strategic planning, and budgeting
• Support implementation and maintain accountability of board-directed or staff-directed initiatives
• Maintain organized records of key documents and governance materials
• Communicate with the Board on needs of the team in a timely, transparent and effective manner

Facility Partnership & Operations (with operations manager)

• Serve as a liaison when needed with facility partners to coordinate pool time, lane usage, equipment needs, and safety protocols
• Maintain positive, professional relationships with facility leadership to ensure reliable access and operational efficiency
• Oversee equipment inventory, maintenance, and purchasing needs
• Distribute training materials (such as underwater cameras, sonar pods, etc) to coaches for use at practices in an equitable manner to enhance training

Meet & Event Management  (with operations manager)

• Check over meet entries, timelines, and communication with host teams
• Collaborate to plan and execute/support home meets, ensuring compliance with USA Swimming and Maryland Swimming (LSC) regulations
• Support communication of event details to families and participants
• Provide on-site support for events/meets 

Communication & Community Engagement (with operations manager)

• Maintain clear, timely communication with athletes, families, coaches, and the Board
• Represent MAC at Maryland Swimming LSC meetings, coach summits, and USA Swimming events
• Build strong relationships with families and foster a welcoming, inclusive team culture
• Support outreach and engagement initiatives as directed
• Uphold and promote Safe Sport policies and athlete well-being
• Reply to emails or redirect in a timely (within 48 hrs) manner 

Requirements

Qualifications

• Coaching experience with USA Swimming or a comparable competitive program
• Experience supervising or mentoring a coaching staff
• Strong technical knowledge of stroke mechanics, training cycles and age-appropriate development
• Current USA Swimming certifications, including CPR/AED, Safety Training for Swim Coaches, and background checks.
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Excellent and timely communication, leadership and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and travels as needed for meets.

Preferred

• Prior experiences as a Head or Lead Coach in a large club environment
• Experience working with athletic programs, clubs, or youth organizations
• Familiarity with event coordination or volunteer management
• Experience working with a parent-run board and facility partners.
• Familiarity with SportsEngine, SWIMS, Meet Manager, and other club-management tools
• Competitive swimming background

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and be on deck for extended periods
• Ability to demonstrate swimming skills as needed for both coaches and athletes
• Ability to lift and move equipment up to 25 lbs
• Work schedule to include evenings, weekends, and travel for competitions

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive compensation aligned with experience
• Professional development support
• Reimbursement for required certifications
• Paid time off
• Bonus opportunity as determined by the Board at the end of each season

Application Process

• Interested candidates should submit the below items to monocacyhiring@gmail.com:
• Resume
• Cover letter
• Coaching philosophy statement
• Three professional references