2025 College Track & Field Open Coaching Positions Discussion

Tigerlini watermelini wrote:

As many of you know you apply for jobs 10 times out of 10 the job is already filled. Head coaches we do not have to conduct a legitimate search, we have autonomy to just hire whoever we feel is best for the program, besides hiring a spouse or family member with the same last name we most likely will not get questioned by administration(unless you’ve made bad hires before or some P4s do have to conduct a search). If you’re applying for a HC position they’re mostly a comprehensive search as ADs usually do not talk to each other about track coaches if anything it would be revenue generating sports only. So I found applying to he a HC as the most smooth and transparent situation. Best man/woman wins, and that’s fine.

so most of you apply and hear nothing from the coach and you feel slighted that’s the game. It may not help your cause much but you all deserve better and should put us HCs in a position to reply to you at the least if not give you a fair chance.

my best advice for you all in your search, email the HC with a thorough message about your interest, experience and wanting a follow up on the process, but this time, CC the AD and one assistant AD(peferable of different genders). This will 9 times of out 10 ensure the HC will respond to you, in some cases not all, the AD will email the HC asking if they replied to the email. This isn’t 100% fool proof nor will it guarantee anything but if you all want this process to be more fair this is your best chance besides networking and all that other jazz.. good luck!

Dontlisten wrote:

Tigerlini watermelini wrote:

As many of you know you apply for jobs 10 times out of 10 the job is already filled. Head coaches we do not have to conduct a legitimate search, we have autonomy to just hire whoever we feel is best for the program, besides hiring a spouse or family member with the same last name we most likely will not get questioned by administration(unless you’ve made bad hires before or some P4s do have to conduct a search). If you’re applying for a HC position they’re mostly a comprehensive search as ADs usually do not talk to each other about track coaches if anything it would be revenue generating sports only. So I found applying to he a HC as the most smooth and transparent situation. Best man/woman wins, and that’s fine.

so most of you apply and hear nothing from the coach and you feel slighted that’s the game. It may not help your cause much but you all deserve better and should put us HCs in a position to reply to you at the least if not give you a fair chance.

my best advice for you all in your search, email the HC with a thorough message about your interest, experience and wanting a follow up on the process, but this time, CC the AD and one assistant AD(peferable of different genders). This will 9 times of out 10 ensure the HC will respond to you, in some cases not all, the AD will email the HC asking if they replied to the email. This isn’t 100% fool proof nor will it guarantee anything but if you all want this process to be more fair this is your best chance besides networking and all that other jazz.. good luck!

Whatever you do, do NOT take this horrible advice. CC’ing an AD is not going to help you out and will probably deter them even more.
That will be an email the AD will skim through and never look at again and it’ll be an email the HC will be wondering why you tagged their AD…

Tigerlini watermelini wrote:

As many of you know you apply for jobs 10 times out of 10 the job is already filled. Head coaches we do not have to conduct a legitimate search, we have autonomy to just hire whoever we feel is best for the program, besides hiring a spouse or family member with the same last name we most likely will not get questioned by administration(unless you’ve made bad hires before or some P4s do have to conduct a search). If you’re applying for a HC position they’re mostly a comprehensive search as ADs usually do not talk to each other about track coaches if anything it would be revenue generating sports only. So I found applying to he a HC as the most smooth and transparent situation. Best man/woman wins, and that’s fine.

so most of you apply and hear nothing from the coach and you feel slighted that’s the game. It may not help your cause much but you all deserve better and should put us HCs in a position to reply to you at the least if not give you a fair chance.

my best advice for you all in your search, email the HC with a thorough message about your interest, experience and wanting a follow up on the process, but this time, CC the AD and one assistant AD(peferable of different genders). This will 9 times of out 10 ensure the HC will respond to you, in some cases not all, the AD will email the HC asking if they replied to the email. This isn’t 100% fool proof nor will it guarantee anything but if you all want this process to be more fair this is your best chance besides networking and all that other jazz.. good luck!

Tigerlini watermelini wrote:

As many of you know you apply for jobs 10 times out of 10 the job is already filled. Head coaches we do not have to conduct a legitimate search, we have autonomy to just hire whoever we feel is best for the program, besides hiring a spouse or family member with the same last name we most likely will not get questioned by administration(unless you’ve made bad hires before or some P4s do have to conduct a search). If you’re applying for a HC position they’re mostly a comprehensive search as ADs usually do not talk to each other about track coaches if anything it would be revenue generating sports only. So I found applying to he a HC as the most smooth and transparent situation. Best man/woman wins, and that’s fine.

so most of you apply and hear nothing from the coach and you feel slighted that’s the game. It may not help your cause much but you all deserve better and should put us HCs in a position to reply to you at the least if not give you a fair chance.

my best advice for you all in your search, email the HC with a thorough message about your interest, experience and wanting a follow up on the process, but this time, CC the AD and one assistant AD(peferable of different genders). This will 9 times of out 10 ensure the HC will respond to you, in some cases not all, the AD will email the HC asking if they replied to the email. This isn’t 100% fool proof nor will it guarantee anything but if you all want this process to be more fair this is your best chance besides networking and all that other jazz.. good luck!

jambalaya wrote:

Tigerlini watermelini wrote:

As many of you know you apply for jobs 10 times out of 10 the job is already filled. Head coaches we do not have to conduct a legitimate search, we have autonomy to just hire whoever we feel is best for the program, besides hiring a spouse or family member with the same last name we most likely will not get questioned by administration(unless you’ve made bad hires before or some P4s do have to conduct a search). If you’re applying for a HC position they’re mostly a comprehensive search as ADs usually do not talk to each other about track coaches if anything it would be revenue generating sports only. So I found applying to he a HC as the most smooth and transparent situation. Best man/woman wins, and that’s fine.

so most of you apply and hear nothing from the coach and you feel slighted that’s the game. It may not help your cause much but you all deserve better and should put us HCs in a position to reply to you at the least if not give you a fair chance.

my best advice for you all in your search, email the HC with a thorough message about your interest, experience and wanting a follow up on the process, but this time, CC the AD and one assistant AD(peferable of different genders). This will 9 times of out 10 ensure the HC will respond to you, in some cases not all, the AD will email the HC asking if they replied to the email. This isn’t 100% fool proof nor will it guarantee anything but if you all want this process to be more fair this is your best chance besides networking and all that other jazz.. good luck!

So you think the HC will feel forced to respond to the applicant because the email cc's the AD & an assistant? You think the AD wants to see the response and subsequent email chain? Be serious.

I'm a coach and if someone cc'd the AD, I'd wonder to myself why would she/he do that? Does she/he think the AD cares who I hire as an assistant? And if I did respond to the applicant I sure would not reply all. No way my AD would want that nonsense in his email box. Not a chance.

jambalaya wrote:

Tigerlini watermelini wrote:

As many of you know you apply for jobs 10 times out of 10 the job is already filled. Head coaches we do not have to conduct a legitimate search, we have autonomy to just hire whoever we feel is best for the program, besides hiring a spouse or family member with the same last name we most likely will not get questioned by administration(unless you’ve made bad hires before or some P4s do have to conduct a search). If you’re applying for a HC position they’re mostly a comprehensive search as ADs usually do not talk to each other about track coaches if anything it would be revenue generating sports only. So I found applying to he a HC as the most smooth and transparent situation. Best man/woman wins, and that’s fine.

so most of you apply and hear nothing from the coach and you feel slighted that’s the game. It may not help your cause much but you all deserve better and should put us HCs in a position to reply to you at the least if not give you a fair chance.

my best advice for you all in your search, email the HC with a thorough message about your interest, experience and wanting a follow up on the process, but this time, CC the AD and one assistant AD(peferable of different genders). This will 9 times of out 10 ensure the HC will respond to you, in some cases not all, the AD will email the HC asking if they replied to the email. This isn’t 100% fool proof nor will it guarantee anything but if you all want this process to be more fair this is your best chance besides networking and all that other jazz.. good luck!

So you think the HC will feel forced to respond to the applicant because the email cc's the AD & an assistant? You think the AD wants to see the response and subsequent email chain? Be serious.

I'm a coach and if someone cc'd the AD, I'd wonder to myself why would she/he do that? Does she/he think the AD cares who I hire as an assistant? And if I did respond to the applicant I sure would not reply all. No way my AD would want that nonsense in his email box. Not a chance.

Tigerlini watermelini wrote:

As many of you know you apply for jobs 10 times out of 10 the job is already filled. Head coaches we do not have to conduct a legitimate search, we have autonomy to just hire whoever we feel is best for the program, besides hiring a spouse or family member with the same last name we most likely will not get questioned by administration(unless you’ve made bad hires before or some P4s do have to conduct a search). If you’re applying for a HC position they’re mostly a comprehensive search as ADs usually do not talk to each other about track coaches if anything it would be revenue generating sports only. So I found applying to he a HC as the most smooth and transparent situation. Best man/woman wins, and that’s fine.

so most of you apply and hear nothing from the coach and you feel slighted that’s the game. It may not help your cause much but you all deserve better and should put us HCs in a position to reply to you at the least if not give you a fair chance.

my best advice for you all in your search, email the HC with a thorough message about your interest, experience and wanting a follow up on the process, but this time, CC the AD and one assistant AD(peferable of different genders). This will 9 times of out 10 ensure the HC will respond to you, in some cases not all, the AD will email the HC asking if they replied to the email. This isn’t 100% fool proof nor will it guarantee anything but if you all want this process to be more fair this is your best chance besides networking and all that other jazz.. good luck!

Mytake wrote:

He may not be a head coach but it seems as though he was generally trying to give some sound advice that from his perspective works.

the problem I see with our sport(maybe with other sports as well) is when it comes to our professionalism. Most coaches are just out to get there’s in a very selfish narcissistic way. They could care less about you or help the next person up to bat as long as they’re on base you can strike out every single time and if they know what you could do to fix it, they won’t tell you. It’s just a weirdo type of personality to have. It’s like gatekeeping. I don’t understand it but to me I see it mostly with the male coaches in our profession so someone or some ppl need to break this mold and change the way we network and help one another to succeed

Tigerlini watermelini wrote:

As many of you know you apply for jobs 10 times out of 10 the job is already filled. Head coaches we do not have to conduct a legitimate search, we have autonomy to just hire whoever we feel is best for the program, besides hiring a spouse or family member with the same last name we most likely will not get questioned by administration(unless you’ve made bad hires before or some P4s do have to conduct a search). If you’re applying for a HC position they’re mostly a comprehensive search as ADs usually do not talk to each other about track coaches if anything it would be revenue generating sports only. So I found applying to he a HC as the most smooth and transparent situation. Best man/woman wins, and that’s fine.

so most of you apply and hear nothing from the coach and you feel slighted that’s the game. It may not help your cause much but you all deserve better and should put us HCs in a position to reply to you at the least if not give you a fair chance.

my best advice for you all in your search, email the HC with a thorough message about your interest, experience and wanting a follow up on the process, but this time, CC the AD and one assistant AD(peferable of different genders). This will 9 times of out 10 ensure the HC will respond to you, in some cases not all, the AD will email the HC asking if they replied to the email. This isn’t 100% fool proof nor will it guarantee anything but if you all want this process to be more fair this is your best chance besides networking and all that other jazz.. good luck!

Mytake wrote:

He may not be a head coach but it seems as though he was generally trying to give some sound advice that from his perspective works.

the problem I see with our sport(maybe with other sports as well) is when it comes to our professionalism. Most coaches are just out to get there’s in a very selfish narcissistic way. They could care less about you or help the next person up to bat as long as they’re on base you can strike out every single time and if they know what you could do to fix it, they won’t tell you. It’s just a weirdo type of personality to have. It’s like gatekeeping. I don’t understand it but to me I see it mostly with the male coaches in our profession so someone or some ppl need to break this mold and change the way we network and help one another to succeed

jambalaya wrote:

Mytake wrote:

He may not be a head coach but it seems as though he was generally trying to give some sound advice that from his perspective works.

the problem I see with our sport(maybe with other sports as well) is when it comes to our professionalism. Most coaches are just out to get there’s in a very selfish narcissistic way. They could care less about you or help the next person up to bat as long as they’re on base you can strike out every single time and if they know what you could do to fix it, they won’t tell you. It’s just a weirdo type of personality to have. It’s like gatekeeping. I don’t understand it but to me I see it mostly with the male coaches in our profession so someone or some ppl need to break this mold and change the way we network and help one another to succeed

You want advice?

It's been given here many times. You have to get out and network. You need to make connections. The more connections you make the easier it will be to get an assistant job. Working as a volunteer is obviously a way to at least get your foot in the door. Unfortunately, it's hard to live on no pay.

Yes. Most jobs are posted with the HC already knowing who will fill the position. Why is that? Because the HC wants and needs someone who they know will support the program in the direction the HC wants it to go. The HC will hire someone they feel will support them. They aren't always right but that's the goal. That's why you should network.

Yes. Sometimes people get these assistant jobs because they were good runners. Is that unfair? Probably in many cases, yes. Still it's about networking.

Coaching is fun and rewarding but for most of us it's not a money making proposition.

If you really want to get into coaching understand it's time consuming and not something you will get rich doing. And the way to get into it is network. Oddly, connections are how most all jobs are filled.

(Oh and CCing the AD in an email is not a great idea. Because there is little upside to it.)