Head Coach, Women's Softball (GA261) | Longwood University

Farmville, Virginia, About Longwood University: A comprehensive university with a strong liberal arts foundation, Longwood has a distinctive mission to develop citizen leaders who are prepared to make positive contributions to the common good of society. Founded in 1839, Longwood is the third-oldest public university in Virginia. Longwood is part of the proud tradition of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Roughly one hour’s drive from Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Richmond, Longwood is located in the historic two-college community of Farmville. Longwood currently has approximately 4,600 undergraduate and graduate students and 41,000 alumni. It maintains affiliations with the neighboring Robert Russa Moton Museum of civil rights history and the Longwood Center for Visual Arts, a nationally accredited university art museum. A member of the Big South Conference, Longwood competes at the NCAA Division I level. Job Description: Longwood University invites applications for the position of Head Coach, Women’s Softball (GA261). The Head Coach is responsible for the leadership, development, and administration of the NCAA Division 1 softball program competing in the Big South Conference. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to build and sustain a competitive mid-major program while promoting academic achievement, athletic excellence, and the holistic development of student-athletes in alignment with Longwood University's mission. This position is located in Farmville, Virginia, and is required to work in person on Longwood University’s campus. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Essential Responsibilities and Duties: Program Leadership and Vision Provide strategic vision and leadership for the women's softball program consistent with Longwood University values. Establish and maintain a positive, disciplined, and inclusive team culture. Ensure full compliance with the NCAA, Big South Conference, and university policies. Represent the softball program positively within the athletic department, campus, conference and community. Coaching and Competitive Success Plan, organize and conduct all practices, competitions, and training sessions. Develop and implement effective pitching, hitting, defensive, and base-running strategies. Prepare game strategies, scouting reports, and video analysis. Manage game-day operations, scheduling and team travel. Recruiting and Roster Management Lead and execute a comprehensive recruiting strategy aligned with Longwood University's academic standards. Identify, evaluate, and recruit prospective student-athletes capable of competing at the Division 1 level. Build and maintain recruiting pipeline appropriate for a Big South mid-major program. Manage roster composition, scholarships, and student-athlete retention. Staff Supervision and Administration Hire, supervise, mentor and evaluate assistant coaches and support staff. Manage and oversee the softball program budget and administrative operations. Coordinate effectively with compliance, sports medicine, strength and conditioning and academic support staff. Academic and Student-Athlete Support Promote academic excellence and degree completion. Monitor academic progress and eligibility in coordination with academic services staff. Serve as a mentor supporting student-athlete leadership, personal development, and wellbeing. External Relations and Advancement Support fundraising, donor relations, and alumni engagement efforts. Participate in community outreach, camps, clinics, and university events. Assist with marketing, media relations, and promotional initiatives for Longwood Softball. Additional Information: This position is a full-time, administrative & professional faculty, exempt position. A successful fingerprint-based criminal background investigation is required. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply. Commonwealth of Virginia benefits accompany this position to include: State health and dental benefits & flexible spending accounts Paid leave (which may include sick leave, personal leave, annual leave, etc.), and 13 holidays Retirement savings plans (some with limited employer match available (VRS) Life & Long-Term care insurance Employee Assistance Program Employee discounts for various services, including Verizon. Educational benefits for most employees Cost-effective Fitness Center membership for employees In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Longwood University will provide, if requested, reasonable accommodations to applicants in order to provide access to the application and/or interview process. You are not required to note the presence of a disability on your application. If, however, you require accommodations in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 434-395-2074 or humres@longwood.edu. Per CFR: Title 34, the Title IX Coordinator’s contact information can be located through this link http://www.longwood.edu/titleix/. A diversified workforce is an important part of our strategic plan. EOE/AA Application Instructions: Nominations and expressions of interest should be directed to Emma Britten with Collegiate Consulting at ebritten@collegiateconsulting.com. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred. Coaching experience at the NCAA Division 1 level or highly competitive collegiate level. Demonstrated success in recruiting student-athletes. Strong knowledge of NCAA rules, compliance standards, and best practices. Proven leadership, organizational, and communication skills. Preferred Qualifications Previous head coaching experience in collegiate softball; NCAA strongly preferred. Experience competing in and recruiting within the Big South or Mid-Atlantic/Southeast regions. Experience managing budgets and supervising full-time staff. Work Environment and Expectations Evening, weekend, holiday and extensive travel required. Commitment to Longwood University's mission, integrity, and student-athlete centered philosophy. Demonstrated support for diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as fostering a culture of emotional and psychological safety throughout the softball program.