Position Overview

The assistant women’s ice hockey coach is responsible for assisting the head women’s ice hockey coach in all aspects of running an NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey program by: evaluating talent and recruiting academically qualified prospective student-athletes; developing and executing training strategies, practice sessions and game plans; coaching and teaching student-athletes to ensure continued growth and improvement; and supporting student-athletes in their personal, academic and athletic development at Merrimack College. This full-time position reports directly to the head women’s ice hockey coach and is responsible for assisting in all phases of the program in accordance with NCAA Division I, Hockey East and Merrimack College rules, regulations and policies.

Primary Responsibilities:

Position Overview

The assistant women’s ice hockey coach is responsible for assisting the head women’s ice hockey coach in all aspects of running an NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey program by: evaluating talent and recruiting academically qualified prospective student-athletes; developing and executing training strategies, practice sessions and game plans; coaching and teaching student-athletes to ensure continued growth and improvement; and supporting student-athletes in their personal, academic and athletic development at Merrimack College. This full-time position reports directly to the head women’s ice hockey coach and is responsible for assisting in all phases of the program in accordance with NCAA Division I, Hockey East and Merrimack College rules, regulations and policies.

Primary Responsibilities:

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• Assist in the supervision of all aspects of the women’s ice hockey team, at the direction of the head coach.

• Oversee and manage the recruitment of high-quality student-athletes, which includes but is not limited to preparing recruiting schedules, traveling to evaluate talent, communicating and/or visiting with prospective student-athletes and parents/guardians, planning on-campus visits, and utilizing the compliance recruiting software system consistently.

• Assist the head coach in determination of athletic scholarship allocation for prospective student-athletes.

• Assist in organizing, planning and conducting effective and efficient team practices and individual skill instruction sessions with demonstrated ability to teach and instruct the sport.

• Help prepare individual student-athletes and the team for competition.

• Scout opposing teams and assist in the breakdown of game film for teaching purposes; assist in video analysis of team and individual players.

• Participate in the development of student-athletes, personally, academically and athletically.

• Help monitor and ensure the academic progress of student-athletes.

• Provide leadership to the volunteer coach, if applicable, as well as to auxiliary staff members.

• Represent the program with the highest level of professionalism, sportsmanship and integrity.

• Foster and maintain a team culture that demonstrates a commitment to NCAA rules compliance, Hockey East rules and protocols, and institutional policies.

• Foster and maintain a team culture that demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as well as trust, mutual respect and belonging.

• Participate in departmental activities including staff meetings, compliance education, diversity, equity and inclusion training, guest speaker presentations and other events/meetings.

• Fulfill other specific areas of responsibility related to the program as assigned by the head women’s ice hockey coach and/or sport administrator.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university

• Demonstrated success in recruiting with appropriate skills and knowledge

• Commitment to supporting the academic success and overall well-being of student-athletes

• Outstanding interpersonal skills and strong verbal and written communication skills

• Excellent administrative and organizational skills including the ability to prioritize and complete tasks by established deadlines

• NCAA DI collegiate playing and/or coaching experience preferred.

Application Materials Should Include:

• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission, our values, and our desire to be a more diverse, equitable and inclusive institution of higher learning

• Resume

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Vaccinations and Work Location

This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

The COVID-19 vaccine and booster for which an individual may be eligible are highly recommended for students, faculty and staff. Merrimack College does not require proof of COVID vaccination for enrollment, employment or to be a guest on our campus.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building a culturally and racially diverse community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission and values and advance our work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. All candidates should describe in their application previous experience related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as how they will engage in fostering a culture that supports our Catholic and Augustinian mission and our values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,000 undergraduate and 1,400 graduate students from 32 states and 37 countries. The College features more than 100 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has five schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, the Winston school of education and social policy and the Girard school of business. The College’s suburban 240-acre campus is approximately 25 miles north of Boston in the towns of North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 33rd in the Regional Universities North category in 2024. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.