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 Field Events Coach .
The Track & Field Field Events 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 Field Events Coach to lead and develop scholar-athletes competing in field events across our elementary, middle, and high school programs. The Field Events 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 .
• High school diploma or GED required, bachelor’s degree preferred.
• At least three years of experience coaching track and field field events, preferably at the middle school, high school, collegiate, club, or elite competitive level.
• Demonstrated experience developing and coaching athletes in one or more field-event disciplines, including jumps, throws, or other applicable field events.
• Strong knowledge of track and field rules, regulations, event-specific techniques, training methodologies, competition strategy, and athlete development.
• Demonstrated knowledge of appropriate training progressions for field events, including strength, power, speed, mobility, coordination, technique, and event-specific conditioning.
• 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 Field Events Coach is responsible for the development and performance of scholar-athletes competing in field events while contributing to the overall success and culture of the HCZ Track & Field program.
The Field Events 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 Field Events Coach must understand the importance of developing technical skills, strength, power, coordination, mobility, and event-specific abilities progressively and safely. They should be able to balance competitive expectations with appropriate training loads, recovery, injury prevention, and the individual needs of developing athletes.
What You’ll Do
Field Events Program Leadership and Training
• In collaboration with the Head Track & Field Coach and Athletic Leadership, develop and implement a comprehensive field-events development program for elementary, middle, and high school scholar-athletes.
• Design and implement age-appropriate, progressive training plans that develop technical proficiency, strength, power, speed, mobility, coordination, balance, body control, and overall athletic performance.
• Lead daily practices and field-event-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 field events, including long jump, triple jump, high jump, shot put, discus, javelin, and other applicable events within the program.
• Teach proper event-specific mechanics, body positioning, approach patterns, takeoff and landing techniques, throwing mechanics, implement control, and competition strategy.
• Develop appropriate drills and technical progressions to improve event-specific performance.
• Incorporate appropriate strength, power, speed, mobility, flexibility, coordination, conditioning, and injury-prevention strategies into field-event training.
• Collaborate with Strength & Conditioning staff, Athletic Trainers, medical personnel, and other coaches when appropriate to support a