Assistant Coach - Cross Country (Middle School)

University School of Nashville

Assistant Coach - Cross Country (Middle School)

Fall 2025

University School of Nashville seeks an Assistant Middle School Cross Country Coach for the 2025 fall season. The goal of the school’s athletics department is to create a positive environment that reflects transformational coaching. The position calls for excellent teamwork with colleagues and incorporates best practices into a growth-oriented teaching style in a K-12 school environment.

The ideal candidate for this position will have experience supporting a training plan for both beginners and experienced runners. They should also align with our school’s values and mission for fostering the best in educational practices and striving for excellence while meeting each student’s athletic potential. Our cross country team has a wide range of abilities and speed. We are looking for an assistant coach who can help meet the needs of all our students to grow a love of the sport and create an inclusive and supportive team environment.

Our season runs from early August through the end of September. Practices are Monday through Friday from 2:30–4:00 pm on our main Edgehill Campus, with one practice at our River Campus. Meets are once per week, usually on Thursdays, generally running from 4:30–6:30 pm.

Responsibilities:

• Support the head coach in implementing a training program that advances individual and team performance skills to support the achievement of the program’s purpose
• Assist with planning and leading practice sessions, providing individualized coaching to help students develop fundamental skills and improve their running technique
• Motivate student-athletes and foster team morale, emphasizing sportsmanship, inclusion, and a love of running
• Help prepare for meets, including supporting logistics, equipment needs, and on-site athlete management
• Promote the physical, emotional, and social development of each student-athlete, reinforcing the importance of teamwork and personal growth
• Provide feedback to student-athletes on performance and areas for improvement
• Monitor student-athlete safety and well-being during practices and meets, including supporting warm-ups, cool-downs, and injury prevention routines
• Uphold high standards of conduct, supporting adherence to department and institutional policies and the rules and regulations of the state athletic association
• Assist with administrative tasks as assigned by the head coach or athletic coordinator
• Attend all department meetings and actively contribute to maintaining positive relationships with staff, students, families, and the wider community
• Serve as a role model for student-athletes through positive and constructive behavior, respect for others, and commitment to team values
• Perform other duties as assigned by the head coach or athletic coordinator

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent recommended

Experience and Competencies:

• Previous practice experience required, college preferred
• Previous coaching experience recommended

Skills and Abilities:

• Professional who is dependable and organized, with integrity, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude
• Strong computer skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Eagerness to learn and ability to adapt to change; commitment to one’s own professional growth
• Ability to work productively, demonstrate initiative when unsupervised, and maintain confidentiality
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and other members of the USN community

The School

University School of Nashville is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational day school with enrollment of 1,080 students kindergarten through twelfth grade.  In 1915, the George Peabody College for Teachers opened Peabody Demonstration School (PDS), USN’s predecessor, which earned acclaim for its curriculum and faculty. In 1974, Peabody College announced plans to close PDS, and a group of parents, alumni, students, and teachers reconstituted and re-chartered the school as University School of Nashville. 

USN’s midtown location adjacent to Vanderbilt University and its Peabody College for Teachers reminds us each day of our beginnings 110 years ago in the demonstration school culture of innovation and educational best practices. It’s a vibrant academic community for both students and teachers in the midst of a dynamic city.

In the USN community, students expect much of each other, and the faculty benefits from that high standard. We seek educators who are enthusiastic about their learning to complement their teaching, and we offer many opportunities for professional growth. USN is committed to creating an institutional environment that mirrors the cultural and ethnic composition of greater Nashville. USN encourages a diverse applicant pool and provides equal employment opportunities for employees and job applicants. 

Application Process

Those interested in being considered for this position should complete the online application for this position available at www.usn.org/jobs. 

Visit www.usn.org for more information.