Head Coach - Women's Hockey

About the Job

Sport: Women’s Ice Hockey
Conference: Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA)
Classification: NCAA Division I
Reports To: Director of Athletics
Employment Type: Full-Time, 12-Month

Position Summary

The Head Coach, Women’s Ice Hockey, provides strategic leadership and oversight for all aspects of a nationally competitive NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey program. Responsibilities include coaching, recruiting and roster management, student-athlete development, staff leadership, program administration, alumni and donor engagement, and external representation of the University of Minnesota. The Head Coach is expected to promote competitive excellence, academic achievement, student-athlete well-being, and a culture of integrity while ensuring compliance with NCAA, WCHA, and institutional policies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Coaching - 30%

About the Job

Sport: Women’s Ice Hockey
Conference: Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA)
Classification: NCAA Division I
Reports To: Director of Athletics
Employment Type: Full-Time, 12-Month

Position Summary

The Head Coach, Women’s Ice Hockey, provides strategic leadership and oversight for all aspects of a nationally competitive NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey program. Responsibilities include coaching, recruiting and roster management, student-athlete development, staff leadership, program administration, alumni and donor engagement, and external representation of the University of Minnesota. The Head Coach is expected to promote competitive excellence, academic achievement, student-athlete well-being, and a culture of integrity while ensuring compliance with NCAA, WCHA, and institutional policies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Coaching - 30%

• Lead and direct all aspects of the program, including philosophy, culture, standards, team operations, and competitive strategy.
• Plan, organize, and conduct practices, competition preparation, video review, individual development plans, and off-ice training in collaboration with appropriate athletics health and performance staff.
• Develop student-athletes athletically, academically, personally, and as leaders; foster accountability, sportsmanship, and a positive team culture.

Recruiting and Roster Management - 30%

• Develop and execute a comprehensive recruiting and roster-management strategy for domestic and international prospects and, as applicable, transfer candidates, consistent with NCAA, WCHA, admissions, financial aid, and institutional requirements.
• Identify, evaluate, recruit, enroll, retain, and re-recruit student-athletes who can succeed academically and athletically and represent the University positively.
• Oversee official and unofficial visits and build and maintain relationships with club, prep, junior, high school, national team, and other hockey stakeholders.
• In collaboration with compliance and athletics administration, maintain accurate and timely recruiting documentation and educate prospective and current student-athletes on applicable institutional and NCAA processes related to the evolving Division I environment, including NIL, transfer processes, roster management, and other permissible student-athlete benefits.

Staff Leadership and Program Administration - 15%

• Hire, supervise, develop, and evaluate assistant coaches and other assigned program staff, including operations, recruiting, video, analytics, and support roles as applicable.
• Manage program budget, equipment/apparel, scheduling, travel, and daily operations in alignment with department policies.
• Collaborate with athletics department units, including compliance, academics, admissions, financial aid, communications, development, facilities, operations, and student-athlete development.

Academic Success and Student-Athlete Support - 10%

• Promote academic achievement, retention, graduation, and personal development of student-athletes.
• Work with academic support staff to monitor progress toward degree, class attendance, and eligibility.
• Support student-athlete health, safety, and well-being and reinforce guidance from appropriate University and athletics professionals.

External Relations and Development - 10%

• Represent the University and program in a positive manner with alumni, donors, fans, media, campus partners, the hockey community, and the public.
• Support fundraising, alumni relations, community engagement, camps/clinics, marketing, promotional appearances, and other external initiatives that advance the program and department mission.
• Participate in conference, NCAA, and institutional meetings and events as requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Athletics.

Compliance and Governance - 5%

• Ensure full compliance with NCAA, WCHA, and University rules, policies, and procedures.
• Promote a culture of compliance and ethical conduct among student-athletes, coaches, staff, and program constituents.
• Complete required education, reports, and documentation on time, including those related to recruiting, eligibility, camps/clinics, NIL-related institutional processes, transfer matters, business expenses, and other applicable areas.

Physical and Travel Requirements

• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and travel extensively for competition, recruiting, and program responsibilities.
• Ability to demonstrate and instruct hockey skills in practice and training environments.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Significant coaching experience in women’s or men’s ice hockey at the NCAA, professional, national program, junior, or other elite level.
• Demonstrated commitment to mentoring women.
• Demonstrated success in recruiting, player development, staff leadership, and program management.
• Knowledge of NCAA Division I and WCHA rules and regulations.
• Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students, families, alumni, donors, campus partners, and external constituents.
• Demonstrated commitment to academic success, student-athlete well-being, and building an inclusive team culture.
• Demonstrated understanding of the evolving Division I athletics landscape, including NIL, transfer processes, roster/scholarship management, and related student-athlete benefit rules and institutional processes, with the ability to communicate those processes accurately and compliantly.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior NCAA Division I ice hockey head or assistant coaching experience.
• Prior WCHA coaching or playing experience.
• Experience leading or helping lead programs that achieved conference championships, NCAA tournament appearances, or national rankings.
• Experience with international recruiting, transfer recruitment/retention, and supervision of staff in a Division I environment.

About the Department

With more than 140 years of tradition, Gopher Athletics is one of the oldest and most decorated athletics departments in the country. Minnesota was a charter member of the Big Ten Conference. The University of Minnesota sponsors 22 varsity intercollegiate athletic teams and is represented by more than 625 student-athletes who compete in the Big Ten and Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Minnesota has claimed 29 national championships in eight different sports and has won 217 regular-season conference titles and 42 conference tournament championships. Minnesota has also produced 213 Academic All-Americans, which ranks as the tenth most all-time among college and universities. Housed in the historic Dinkytown neighborhood on the northern edge of the University campus, Gopher Athletics is succeeding against a backdrop unique in college athletics, nestled at the heart of a bustling, modern metro area. We are proud of our decorated history, but we are prepared to achieve even greater success in the years to come. Ski-U-Mah!

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $250,000.00 - $400,000.00 annually; depending on education/qualifications/experience 

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type:  Faculty and P&A Staff 

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services 
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online.  To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions.  You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission.  The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  To learn more about diversity at the U:  http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, social media check and motor vehicle records check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About the U of M

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).

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