Track & Field Sprint Coach

Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ)—a world-renowned education and poverty-fighting organization based in New York—seeks an enthusiastic, dedicated, and mission-aligned Track & Field Sprint Coach .

The Track & Field Sprint Coach will bring a strong commitment to Harlem Children’s Zone’s mission of breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty through comprehensive, on-the-ground programming that creates opportunities for children and families to thrive in school, work, and life.

We are seeking an experienced Track & Field Sprint Coach to lead and develop scholar-athletes competing in sprint and related events across our elementary, middle, and high school programs. The Sprint Coach will be responsible for providing high-quality instruction, developing scholar-athletes’ technical, physical, tactical, and mental skills, preparing athletes for competition, and strengthening the overall Track & Field program.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a passion for HCZ’s mission, an understanding of and respect for the Harlem community, and experience working with youth in a school-based or community-based setting. The successful candidate will use athletics as a platform to promote academic achievement, leadership, accountability, teamwork, discipline, resilience, and personal growth.

For more information, check out Want to Work at Harlem Children's Zone? Here's 7 Things You Need to Know .

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required, bachelor’s degree 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.

• A positive, enthusiastic, collaborative, flexible, and solutions-oriented mindset.

• 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.

Who You Are

The Track & Field Sprint Coach is responsible for the development and performance of scholar-athletes competing in sprint and related events while contributing to the overall success and culture of the HCZ Track & Field program.

The Sprint Coach will design and implement age-appropriate training plans, lead practices, prepare athletes for competition, evaluate performance, and provide individualized coaching and feedback. The coach will work closely with the Head Track & Field Coach, Assistant Athletic Director, Director of Athletics, school leadership, and other coaching staff to ensure consistency in training, expectations, athlete development, and program operations.

The successful candidate understands that coaching extends beyond athletic performance. They will serve as a mentor and role model who promotes academic accountability, positive behavior, leadership, teamwork, discipline, resilience, and long-term scholar development.

The Sprint Coach must understand the importance of developing speed and power progressively and safely. They should be able to balance competitive expectations with appropriate training loads, recovery, strength development, injury prevention, and the individual needs of developing athletes.

What You’ll Do

Sprint Program Leadership and Training

• 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.

Competition and Meet Preparation

• 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.

Scholar-Athlete Development and Accountability

• 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.

Athlete Health, Safety, and Wellness

• 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.

Program Operations

• 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.

Collaboration and Organizational Alignment

• 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.

Compliance and Data-Informed Decision-Making

• 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.

Schedule

The Track & Field Distance Coach must be available to work:

Fall/Spring

- Monday–Friday, 1:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
- Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. is required depending on the sport & game schedule.

Summer

- 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM

The position may also require attendance at administrative meetings, professional development sessions, athletic events, competitions, invitationals, championships, family engagement activities, and other organizational responsibilities outside of the standard work schedule.