Head Cross Country Coach & Assistant Distance Coach

Join our vibrant community of dedicated faculty and staff who work to create a transformative educational experience rooted in faith, reason, and justice.

Eastern University is a nationally-recognized Christian university enrolling approximately 9,000 students in a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, professional, and seminary programs. The university’s main campus is located in St. Davids, PA, with many programs also offered online. Eastern’s core values of Faith, Reason, and Justice are woven into all of its educational offerings. Through dynamic programs, a vibrant campus community, and meaningful service learning opportunities, Eastern University is committed to providing students with transformative, accessible, and affordable education.

Position Description

The Head Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track and Field Coach provides leadership for Eastern University's men's and women's cross country programs and supports all areas of the men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field programs. The coach will recruit, develop, retain, and mentor student-athletes in a manner consistent with Eastern University's Christ centered mission and NCAA Division III philosophy.

This position is central to the University's strategic use of athletics to support undergraduate enrollment growth. The successful candidate will build sustainable roster size, strengthen student-athlete retention, and create a competitive culture capable of contending at the top of the Middle Atlantic Conference and the NCAA Metro Region in cross country and track and field.

Position Responsibilities

Cross Country Program Leadership: Direct all operations for men’s and women’s cross country, including meet scheduling, budget management, travel logistics, equipment, and administrative compliance.

Recruiting & Roster Management: Lead year-round recruiting strategy across cross country and track—identifying, evaluating, and yielding prospective student-athletes while partnering with Admissions to hit enrollment and roster goals.

Distance Coaching & Athletic Development: Design and execute progressive training philosophies for cross country and track distance/middle-distance event groups, focusing on long-term development, competitive ambition, and injury prevention.

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Join our vibrant community of dedicated faculty and staff who work to create a transformative educational experience rooted in faith, reason, and justice.

Eastern University is a nationally-recognized Christian university enrolling approximately 9,000 students in a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, professional, and seminary programs. The university’s main campus is located in St. Davids, PA, with many programs also offered online. Eastern’s core values of Faith, Reason, and Justice are woven into all of its educational offerings. Through dynamic programs, a vibrant campus community, and meaningful service learning opportunities, Eastern University is committed to providing students with transformative, accessible, and affordable education.

Position Description

The Head Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track and Field Coach provides leadership for Eastern University's men's and women's cross country programs and supports all areas of the men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field programs. The coach will recruit, develop, retain, and mentor student-athletes in a manner consistent with Eastern University's Christ centered mission and NCAA Division III philosophy.

This position is central to the University's strategic use of athletics to support undergraduate enrollment growth. The successful candidate will build sustainable roster size, strengthen student-athlete retention, and create a competitive culture capable of contending at the top of the Middle Atlantic Conference and the NCAA Metro Region in cross country and track and field.

Position Responsibilities

Cross Country Program Leadership: Direct all operations for men’s and women’s cross country, including meet scheduling, budget management, travel logistics, equipment, and administrative compliance.

Recruiting & Roster Management: Lead year-round recruiting strategy across cross country and track—identifying, evaluating, and yielding prospective student-athletes while partnering with Admissions to hit enrollment and roster goals.

Distance Coaching & Athletic Development: Design and execute progressive training philosophies for cross country and track distance/middle-distance event groups, focusing on long-term development, competitive ambition, and injury prevention.

Track & Field Program Support : Assist the Director of Track & Field with indoor/outdoor program administration, meet entries, staff integration, and overall championship preparation.

Student-Athlete Mentorship & Formation: Guide student-athletes in academic success, leadership, Christian formation, and personal accountability to ensure strong retention and character development.

Administrative & Compliance Standards : Maintain full compliance with NCAA, Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC), Title IX, and institutional policies while submitting accurate expense, recruiting, and team records on time.

Campus Collaboration & Advancement: Partner across campus with Athletic Training, Sports Performance, and Student Development, while assisting with alumni relations, team fundraising, and community service.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Distance Coaching & Physiology: Deep mastery of multi-season periodization, training design (800m to 10k), pace tactics, and injury prevention to peak athletes for MAC and NCAA championships.
• Recruiting & Roster Development: Proven ability to build a robust pipeline, evaluate talent, and guide prospects through the admissions/financial aid process to hit university enrollment and roster goals.
• Program Operations & Compliance: Strong organizational skills in managing team budgets, complex travel logistics, meet entries, and strict adherence to NCAA Division III regulations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Collegiate coaching experience in cross country and/or track and field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, coach, mentor, and retain student-athletes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree.
• Successful head coaching, recruiting coordination, or program-building experience at the collegiate level.
• Demonstrated success in increasing roster size while maintaining strong retention, academic performance, and competitive results.
• Experience coaching distance and middle-distance events across cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track.
• Evidence of competitive success at the conference, regional, or national level.
• Experience with recruiting software, meet management systems, budgeting, fundraising, and alumni engagement.

About Eastern University

Eastern University is a Christian university of the arts and sciences that integrates faith, reason and justice for students in its undergraduate, graduate, seminary, urban, professional and international programs. Applicants should have a Christian commitment compatible with its mission and be willing to support the mission and vision of the university. The university complies with federal and state guidelines of nondiscrimination in employment; members of protected classes encouraged to apply.

Background Checks

Standard University employees are required to complete the background clearance process. Employment is contingent upon the successful results of an employment background screening. The employment background screening may include but is not limited to your consumer credit history (for positions that work with the university finances or alumni funds only), verification of education and professional credentials, criminal history, driving history, residency, immigration status, performance, references, and other qualities pertinent to your qualifications for the following position.

Youth Clearances are required for positions with direct contact with children and essential personnel positions. Employees working with or around minor age children are required to complete the youth clearance process which includes the following four child protection clearances:

1) Affidavit;

2) FBI Criminal Record Check;

3) Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance and;

4) Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check.

In accordance with state laws, Act 73 of 2007, Act 153 of 2014, Act 168 (relating to the Child Protective Services Law), school employees of Eastern University who will have "direct contact with children" must complete the background check process prior to employment. Results must be submitted within ten days of receipt.

Description Disclaimer

This description is intended to describe the general level and nature of work performed by the person/people assigned to this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities of the person/people so assigned.

For all positions: Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

Eastern University is committed to the principles of equal opportunity as defined under federal and state law, and does not discriminate unlawfully on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, color, creed, disability, national/ethnic origin, age, disabled veteran/Vietnam-era, Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), or veteran status in its admission policy, program, or activities, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other University-administered programs, or employment practices and programs.

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