Track & Field Distance Coach - PA II Athletics
$25 - $30/hr
Mid
Bachelor's
New York, NY, USA
In PersonOn-site in New York; travel to away meets and athletic events is required.
TrainingFitness & Sports Instruction
No H1B Sponsorship
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, cross country, distance running, or a related endurance sport, preferably at the middle school, high school, collegiate, club, or elite competitive level.
- Demonstrated experience coaching distance events, including the 800m, 1500m/1600m, 3000m, 3200m, 5K, and cross country.
- Strong knowledge of distance running principles, race strategy, conditioning, training methodology, recovery, injury prevention, and athlete development.
- 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.
- 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, cross country competitions, tournaments, invitationals, championships, and other athletic events.
- Ability to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours as required by the athletic schedule.
- Availability during Fall/Spring Monday–Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. depending on the sport and game schedule, and during Summer from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- The coach must prioritize athlete health and safety and follow applicable HCZ, school, league, athletic safety, and governing-body policies and requirements.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement, in collaboration with the Head Track & Field Coach and Athletic Leadership, a comprehensive distance-training program for elementary, middle, and high school scholar-athletes.
- Design age-appropriate, progressive training plans to develop endurance, speed endurance, strength, mobility, running mechanics, race strategy, and overall athletic performance.
- Lead daily practices and distance-specific training sessions in accordance with the Track & Field program schedule.
- Develop individualized training plans based on athlete ability, experience, event specialization, competition schedule, and developmental needs.
- Prepare scholar-athletes for distance events, including the 800m, 1500m/1600m, 3000m, 3200m, 5K, cross country, and other applicable endurance events.
- Teach proper running mechanics, pacing, race strategy, warm-up and cool-down procedures, recovery techniques, and training principles.
- Monitor training volume, intensity, recovery, and athlete readiness to support healthy and sustainable development.
- Incorporate strength, mobility, flexibility, conditioning, and injury-prevention strategies appropriate for distance athletes.
- Collaborate with Strength & Conditioning staff, Athletic Trainers, medical personnel, and other coaches to support athlete health and performance.
- Evaluate athlete performance through practices, competitions, time trials, fitness assessments, 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.
- Prepare scholar-athletes for league meets, invitationals, championships, cross country competitions, tournaments, and other sanctioned athletic events.
- Develop race strategies and individualized competition plans based on event, athlete strengths, competition level, and meet conditions.
- Attend and actively coach assigned competitions, providing real-time instruction, support, and feedback.
- Maintain accurate records of athlete times, personal records, placements, qualifying standards, and other relevant performance data.
- Identify appropriate competitive environments that support scholar-athlete development.
- Support the Head Track & Field Coach with meet entries, athlete selection, relay considerations, event assignments, and competition logistics.
- Promote sportsmanship, professionalism, accountability, and appropriate conduct before, during, and after competitions.
- Recruit, evaluate, develop, and retain scholar-athletes interested in distance running and endurance events.
- Provide individualized instruction and feedback to support each scholar-athlete’s athletic development.
- Establish a positive, disciplined, inclusive, and competitive training environment.
- Promote sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, resilience, accountability, discipline, and respect.
- Establish and communicate expectations regarding attendance, participation, behavior, academic performance, training standards, and team responsibilities.
- Hold scholar-athletes accountable for HCZ academic, school attendance, and after-school programming standards.
- Collaborate with school staff, CCLR, Zone site staff, families, and HCZ colleagues to identify and support scholars experiencing academic, attendance, behavioral, or engagement challenges.
- Reinforce that academic responsibilities and required school or after-school programming take priority over athletic participation.
- Teach scholar-athletes goal setting, consistency, time management, nutrition, hydration, recovery, discipline, and responsible decision-making.
- Recognize and celebrate academic achievement, leadership, positive behavior, personal growth, and athletic accomplishments.
- Implement appropriate warm-up, cool-down, recovery, hydration, and environmental safety practices.
- Monitor athletes for excessive fatigue, overtraining, injury, dehydration, heat-related illness, or other health concerns.
- 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 recovery, nutrition, hydration, sleep, and injury prevention.
- Support day-to-day operation of the Track & Field program.
- Maintain records related to athlete participation, attendance, performance, eligibility, competition results, and program outcomes.
- Support management and maintenance of Track & Field equipment, uniforms, supplies, and program resources; ensure equipment is maintained and returned following practices and competitions.
- Assist with scheduling practices, competitions, transportation, facilities, and other program logistics.
- Support 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 with the Head Track & Field Coach, Assistant Athletic Director, Director of Athletics, school leaders, and other coaches to ensure program alignment.
- Support 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 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 running organizations, clubs, colleges, athletic programs, leagues, and other community partners to expand scholar-athlete opportunities.
- Support an inclusive, collaborative, and mission-aligned Track & Field culture across HCZ.
- Ensure 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 distance-running competitions, invitationals, showcases, camps, clinics, and collegiate exposure opportunities.
- Support scholar-athletes who demonstrate potential and interest in pursuing collegiate athletics.
- Ensure scholar participation in external competitions and opportunities aligns with applicable school, league, organizational, and NCAA requirements.
- Attend administrative meetings, professional development sessions, athletic events, competitions, invitationals, championships, cross country meets, family engagement activities, and other organizational responsibilities outside the standard schedule when required.
Desired Qualifications
- A bachelor's degree is preferred.
- Coaching experience at the middle school, high school, collegiate, club, or elite competitive level is preferred.
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