Coming 2024 Arizona Wildcats Women's Ice Hockey ACHA D1

Campus Recreation at The University of Arizona (UAZ) invites applicants for Head Coach of the Women’s ACHA Division 1 Hockey team to begin play in Fall 2024. This opportunity is at a perfect intersection of a new hockey program and a future state of the art hockey facility coming to Tucson in the Fall 2025. https://www.facebook.com/mosaicquarter/?ref=py_c&paipv=0&eav=AfZ1BDI4BwGSJAGme-xcLHn9G7LIEisYoD9U7Rqaax0sbeztswdycNVDXbe6fe6LxdI&_rdr

Our newest Wildcats Club Head Coach will have the opportunity to build and develop a new program from scratch. We expect them to be enthusiastic and entrepreneurial in scope, and someone who works closely with Campus Recreation (CREC) (https://rec.arizona.edu/) staff, and manage a Division 1 ACHA hockey program at a campus steeped in men’s hockey tradition. The hockey program is expected to strengthen university enrollment and retention, contribute to the student life experience, and boost the University of Arizona’s visibility locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Head Coach will be actively involved in recruiting club student-athletes, which may include overnight travel. This role requires budget management experience, attention to detail, and high organizational and coordination skills. The Head Coach will oversee practices and game schedules and support travel.  The Head Coach will actively promote ACHA Hockey to prospective students virtually, through showcases, or when they are on-campus.

The successful candidate will add value to the student-athlete experience and will exemplify the student-athlete experience at the UAZ. Additionally, they will be expected to:

• Develop and execute a recruitment plan to identify and enroll student-athletes that will create and sustain a successful academic career at UAZ.
• Plan, implement, and oversee all practices and scheduled contests to provide a positive and competitive experience for student athletes.
• Establish and enact team rules and protocols appropriately. This is done by following the Code of Conduct for students on campus. Work closely with Campus Recreation on the mitigation of risk.
• Prepare and maintain team budget, manage arrangements for transportation, hotels, meals, and sports officials.
• Foster the personal development and competitive spirit of student-athletes while supporting their educational experience. Conduct participant ejection/disciplinary hearings as necessary.
• Emphasize and promote academic progress, resulting in strong academic performance, retention and graduation rates. Track student-athlete eligibility based on GPA and provide academic intervention as needed.
• Provide team supervision at all competitions.
• Collaborate with Campus Health on the use of Athletic Trainers.
• Interpret and implement rules and regulations of the team, CREC, and UAZ.
• Represent the university and team at all appropriate athletic events (e.g. competitions, conferences, and university sanctioned programs).
• Develop, coordinate, and oversee fundraising activities to supplement coach’s salary, team expenses such as travel and team apparel. Expected to work closely with the UAZ Foundation and Development Officers to attract donors and financial contributions toward the program.
• Meet with and report to Campus Recreation staff regularly.
• Select and supervise assistant coaching and support staff as needed.
• Work closely and collaboratively with the men’s coach and men’s ACHA Division I program.
• Report data and ensure full compliance with ACHA and conference regulations.
• Support evaluation and assessment efforts, including measurement of participant satisfaction, student learning outcomes, rules, policies, and processes to improve program quality.
• Work collaboratively with Tucson Convention Center (TCC) in the first year of the program.
• Work to obtain conference affiliation as soon as possible.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; OR two or more years of relevant coaching experience.
• Ability to work within a team, motivate others, and be available and willing to work a flexible schedule including weekends and evenings.
• Highly skilled in communication (written and verbal), motivational, organizational, and relationship development.
• Possess valid driver’s license to conduct travel and recruitment off campus as required. Possess valid passport or enhanced driver’s license with capability for travel nationally and internationally.
• Advanced knowledge of all applications of the Microsoft Office Package, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as the ability to stay current with emerging departmental and hockey-related technologies.
• Demonstrated budget management experience and ability to work within confines of a budget.
• CPR/First Aid/AED certification required or ability to obtain within 60 days of commencement of employment.
• Demonstrated commitment to integrity of a Club Sports program and the concept of the student-athlete.
• Satisfactory completion of a UAZ background check.
• Knowledge of ACHA rules and regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two or more years of demonstrated coaching experience, preferably at Club, high school, collegiate level.
• USA Hockey certification.
• Experience with facility and rink management operations.
• Familiarity of aspects of risk management relating to sport clubs.

Salary discussions will be conveyed within the interview. Once the program is established and projected revenue streams come in, a salary schedule will commence. Your application (resume, letter of application, and the names and contact information of three professional references) must be received by Friday, April 14, 2023 at 5pm (MST) for best considerations. Credentials may only be sent online to the email address listed below. All credentials must be sent directly to Janelle Holyoak at jholyoak@arizona.edu.

For questions about the position, please contact Troy Vaughn, Senior Director – Campus Recreation at troyvaughn@arizona.edu.

Information about the history of the Arizona Hockey program can be found at https://www.arizonawildcathockey.org/.