Track & Field Sprint Coach
$25 - $30
Mid
Bachelor's
New York, NY, USA
In Person
TrainingFitness & Sports Instruction
About the job
Requirements
- A high school diploma or GED is required; a bachelor's degree is preferred.
- At least three years of experience coaching track and field, sprinting, hurdles, or a related speed-based discipline, preferably at the middle school, high school, collegiate, club, or elite competitive level.
- Demonstrated experience developing and coaching competitive sprint and/or hurdle athletes.
- Strong knowledge of track and field rules, regulations, sprint mechanics, starting techniques, acceleration, maximum velocity, speed development, conditioning, race strategy, relay development, and athlete performance.
- Demonstrated ability to design and implement progressive training programs appropriate for youth and adolescent athletes.
- Experience coaching and supporting youth and adolescent populations.
- Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, mentor, and retain scholar-athletes.
- Commitment to the mission, values, and programs of Harlem Children’s Zone.
- Strong leadership, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accurate records, and meet established deadlines.
- Ability to work effectively with scholars, families, coaches, school leaders, HCZ colleagues, community organizations, and external partners.
- CPR and First Aid certification, or the ability to obtain certification within the required timeframe.
- Ability to travel to away meets, invitationals, tournaments, championships, and other athletic events.
- Ability to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours as required by the athletic schedule.
- Availability for the stated Fall/Spring and Summer work schedules, with Saturday work required depending on the sport and game schedule.
Responsibilities
- In collaboration with the Head Track & Field Coach and Athletic Leadership, develop and implement a comprehensive sprint-development program for elementary, middle, and high school scholar-athletes.
- Design and implement age-appropriate, progressive training plans that develop acceleration, maximum velocity, speed endurance, strength, power, mobility, running mechanics, and overall athletic performance.
- Lead daily practices and sprint-specific training sessions in accordance with the overall Track & Field program schedule.
- Develop individualized training plans based on athlete ability, experience, event specialization, competition schedule, and developmental needs.
- Prepare scholar-athletes for sprint and related events, including the 60m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m, 4x400m, hurdles, and other applicable events.
- Teach proper sprint mechanics, posture, arm action, stride mechanics, block starts, acceleration technique, transition to maximum velocity, pacing, and race execution.
- Develop and implement appropriate drills and progressions to improve starts, acceleration, top-end speed, speed endurance, and sprint performance.
- Develop scholar-athletes’ ability to execute effective race strategies based on event, athlete strengths, competition level, and meet conditions.
- Incorporate appropriate strength, power, mobility, flexibility, conditioning, and injury-prevention strategies into sprint training.
- Collaborate with Strength & Conditioning staff, Athletic Trainers, medical personnel, and other coaches when appropriate to support athlete health and performance.
- Evaluate athlete performance through practices, competitions, time trials, testing, video analysis, and other appropriate measures.
- Use performance data to establish goals and adjust training plans.
- Identify and develop scholar-athletes with potential to compete at higher levels of competition.
- Prepare scholar-athletes for league meets, invitationals, championships, tournaments, and other sanctioned athletic events.
- Develop individualized race strategies and competition plans based on event, athlete strengths, competition level, and meet conditions.
- Prepare athletes for efficient execution of starts, acceleration, race positioning, pacing, finishes, and event-specific strategies.
- Attend and actively coach assigned competitions and provide real-time instruction, support, and feedback.
- Maintain accurate records of athlete times, personal records, placements, qualifying standards, and other relevant performance data.
- Support the Head Track & Field Coach with meet entries, athlete selection, event assignments, relay considerations, and competition logistics.
- Develop and evaluate relay teams and ensure athletes understand relay exchanges, positioning, communication, and race strategy.
- Promote sportsmanship, professionalism, accountability, and appropriate conduct before, during, and after competitions.
- Recruit, evaluate, develop, and retain scholar-athletes interested in sprinting, hurdles, and related speed events.
- Provide individualized instruction and feedback to support each scholar-athlete’s athletic development.
- Create a positive, inclusive, disciplined, and high-performing training environment.
- Promote sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, resilience, accountability, discipline, and respect.
- Establish and communicate clear expectations regarding attendance, participation, behavior, academic performance, training standards, and team responsibilities.
- Hold scholar-athletes accountable for meeting HCZ academic, school attendance, and after-school programming standards.
- Collaborate with school staff, CCLR, Zone site staff, families, and other HCZ colleagues to identify and support scholars experiencing academic, attendance, behavioral, or engagement challenges.
- Reinforce the expectation that academic responsibilities and required school or after-school programming take priority over athletic participation.
- Teach scholar-athletes the importance of goal setting, time management, discipline, consistency, recovery, responsible decision-making, and preparation.
- Recognize and celebrate academic achievement, leadership, positive behavior, personal growth, and athletic accomplishments.
- Prioritize the health and safety of all scholar-athletes during practices and competitions.
- Implement appropriate warm-up, cool-down, mobility, recovery, hydration, and environmental safety practices.
- Monitor athletes for signs of excessive fatigue, overtraining, injury, dehydration, heat-related illness, or other health concerns.
- Follow all HCZ, school, league, and athletic safety policies and procedures.
- Immediately report injuries, incidents, behavioral concerns, and other relevant matters through established protocols.
- Collaborate with Athletic Trainers, school nurses, Strength & Conditioning staff, and other appropriate professionals regarding scholar-athlete health and readiness.
- Promote healthy training habits and educate scholar-athletes on the importance of recovery, nutrition, hydration, sleep, and injury prevention.
- Support the Head Track & Field Coach with the day-to-day operation of the Track & Field program.
- Maintain accurate records related to athlete participation, attendance, performance, eligibility, competition results, and program outcomes.
- Support the management and maintenance of Track & Field equipment, uniforms, supplies, timing equipment, starting blocks, hurdles, and other program resources.
- Ensure equipment is properly maintained, stored, and returned following practices and competitions.
- Assist with scheduling practices, competitions, transportation, facilities, and other program logistics.
- Support the planning and execution of Track & Field events, clinics, showcases, camps, community events, and other program activities.
- Maintain a clean, organized, safe, and professional training environment.
- Provide timely updates regarding program needs, athlete concerns, equipment, facilities, competitions, and other operational matters.
- Collaborate closely with the Head Track & Field Coach, Assistant Athletic Director, Director of Athletics, school leaders, and other coaches to ensure program alignment.
- Support the implementation of HCZ policies, procedures, organizational initiatives, and strategic priorities.
- Participate in required meetings, professional development sessions, trainings, family engagement activities, and organizational events.
- Maintain consistent and professional communication with scholars, families, coaches, school leaders, and external partners.
- Collaborate with CCLR to integrate college, career, leadership, and readiness opportunities into the scholar-athlete experience.
- Collaborate with Wealth Builds to support financial literacy, long-term planning, and economic empowerment opportunities for scholar-athletes and families.
- Build relationships with local track and field organizations, clubs, colleges, athletic programs, leagues, governing bodies, and community partners to expand opportunities for scholar-athletes.
- Support a strong, inclusive, collaborative, and mission-aligned Track & Field culture across HCZ.
- Ensure all coaching activities comply with HCZ policies, school requirements, league regulations, and applicable athletic governing-body standards.
- Maintain accurate records of scholar participation, attendance, academic eligibility, performance, competition results, and development.
- Use performance data to inform training plans, event assignments, athlete development, competition preparation, and program improvements.
- Monitor scholar-athletes’ academic eligibility and readiness for collegiate athletic opportunities.
- Research and identify appropriate sprint competitions, invitationals, showcases, camps, clinics, and collegiate exposure opportunities.
- Support scholar-athletes who demonstrate the potential and interest to pursue collegiate athletics.
- Ensure scholar participation in external competitions and opportunities aligns with applicable school, league, organizational, and NCAA requirements.
About the company
Harlem Children’s Zone coordinates a place-based set of programs across early childhood through adulthood in Harlem to help children and families thrive. It operates directly through schools, community centers, and outreach to deliver education, career pathways, health and wellness, and family supports. Programs are integrated, meaning services at different stages coordinate for each family, rather than one-off initiatives. This approach distinguishes HCZ from peers by offering a wraparound, long-term support system in a single community, focusing on mobility and prosperity rather than only schooling. The goal is to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by creating opportunities in education, work, and life for residents of Harlem.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
New York City, New York
Founded
1970
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- September 2026 Wealth Builds CSAs are live, with Ascensus and New York's 529 Program.
- HCZ opened Promise Academy II Elementary at 70 East 112th Street, expanding capacity.
- HCZ reports active hiring in 2026, with about 1,530 employees and 104 postings.
What critics are saying
- July 2026 fraud indictments stole $288,529 from HCZ; controls need tightening immediately.
- Wealth Builds depends on $300 million fundraising; a shortfall stalls expansion beyond Harlem.
- Scaling to ten cities strains execution, and charter politics can choke funding by 2027.
What makes Harlem Children's Zone unique
- HCZ runs cradle-to-career schooling, health, and family services inside a 97-block Harlem footprint.
- Wealth Builds pairs $500 CSAs with financial education, internships, and family wealth-building incentives.
- HCZ combines charter schools with social services, unlike standalone nonprofits or pure-school operators.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Sick Leave
- Commuter Benefits
- Employee Referral Bonus
- Wellness Program
- Hybrid Work Options
- Employee Discounts