Head Football Coach
- Employer
- Knox College
- Location
- Galesburg, Illinois
View more
- Administrative Jobs
- Institutional & Business Affairs, Athletics
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
LocationGalesburg, Illinois
Employment TypeFull-Time Benefited
DepartmentAthletics
Knox College
Head Football Coach
Description/Goals
Knox College invites applications for the position of Head Football Coach. This is a 12-month, benefits eligible position reporting to the Director of Athletics. The anticipated start date is March 1, 2021. The salary range for this position is competitive. The successful candidate will have a focus on supporting student-athlete success and developing a competitive NCAA Division III program.
Knox College, a member of the Midwest Conference and NCAA Division III, is a vibrant community of scholar-teachers and students with a tradition of free inquiry, independent thought, and diverse perspectives. Football at Knox College dates as far back as 1884 and is one of the oldest football programs in the country. The storied football rivalry between Knox and Monmouth College dates back to 1888 and is the sixth-oldest, and arguably the most exciting rivalry, in the nation. In more recent history, the team had its best finish in 2017 since 1996 with a record of .500. Prairie Fire football has accumulated 15 wins over the last five seasons with ten wins accumulated over the last three seasons. These wins pushed the team to finish in the top half of the Midwest Conference South Division three times. Recruiting nationally, the team consists of student-athletes from all over the country that have 33 all-conference awards during this span and seven all-conference awards in the 2019 season. In addition, since 2015 the team has been awarded 60 Academic All-Conference awards. Coming off one of the best recruiting classes in recent history, the 2021 Knox College football team is poised to move to the top of the Midwest Conference standings. Information on Knox College Athletics is available on the Prairie Fire website.
That’s only part of the story, however. Knox College is also one of the 50 most diverse campuses in America. Founded by abolitionists in 1837, the College was among the first in the nation to admit women and students of color and has a historic commitment to keeping a high-quality education accessible to all students, regardless of financial means. The New York Times ranked Knox #16 on its 2017 College Access Index in recognition of its commitment to low- and middle-income students and its role as an engine of upward mobility. Forbes has included Knox in its annual Grateful Grads rankings for the last five years running. And, recently, U.S. News & World Report listed Knox among the top 50 U.S. colleges for “best undergraduate teaching.”
Knox athletes are student-athletes with a focus on achievement in the classroom, on the court or playing field, and as community leaders. Institutional support for enhancing intercollegiate athletics is strong and the K Club booster organization has been active for eight years with a significant upward trajectory both in engagement and dollars raised. This past year, the booster club surpassed $350,000 in gifts and more than 1,000 donors. The club made possible a state-of-the-art golf performance center and converted the College’s grass soccer field to a high-grade synthetic turf. More recently, the athletics department has increased its social media presence, facilitated increased branding of the Prairie Fire facilities, and completed a website redesign to capitalize on the department’s increased online audience.
A full prospectus for this position is available https://www.knox.edu/headfootballcoach.
Responsibilities
The Head Coach is responsible for all aspects of the Knox College Football Program including but not limited to: executing a successful recruiting and retention plan; integrating the program into the campus community; scheduling, planning, and supervising practices and contests; team travel; managing the program operating budget; developing cultural competence within the football program; fully supporting Knox College and Prairie Fire athletics department diversity and inclusion initiatives; fundraising; administering all aspects of the program ensuring compliance with departmental, institutional, Midwest Conference (MWC), and NCAA rules and regulations; participating in alumni and booster engagement, including promotion of program on social media platforms; and additional coaching and administrative duties as assigned. The Head Coach must develop a competitive program within the MWC with the goal of postseason participation. The Head Coach must also provide support and encouragement and ensure the safety and well-being of the student-athletes.
This position will supervise three full-time, benefits-eligible, salaried exempt assistant coaches, two part-time and two seasonal, non-benefits-eligible, at-will assistant coaches, as well as student manager(s), student worker(s), and volunteer assistant coach(es). In addition, this position will have duties assigned to assist with game operations (basketball).
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university
- 6 or more years college football coaching experience
- 6 or more years college football recruiting experience
- Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks and projects
- An appreciation for a residential liberal arts education and flexibility to adapt to constant change
- Respect for individual differences, openness to the values and opinions of others, and commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for underrepresented communities
Preferred Qualifications:
- 3 or more years experience as an offensive or defensive coordinator or a similar position with extensive football supervisory or administrative responsibility (i.e., special teams coordinator, passing game coordinator, running game coordinator, etc.)
- 3 or more years experience as a Recruiting Coordinator or administratively coordinating recruiting for a collegiate football program
- Experience with HUDL video editing system
- Experience with Front Rush Database
- Experience recruiting football in the midwest
Application
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume including contact information for three references, and complete the Knox College Employment Application at https://knoxhr.bamboohr.com/jobs/. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Finalists will be subject to a background check.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
In keeping with its commitment to equal rights since it was founded in 1837, Knox College particularly welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups. Knox College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, religion or religious affiliation, sexual orientation or preference, age, marital or family status, disability, veteran status, or other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law in admission, financial aid, employment, athletics, or any other aspect of its educational programs or activities. In addition, Knox College is prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its accompanying regulations from so discriminating on the basis of sex.
The College official responsible for coordinating compliance with this Notice of Non-Discrimination is Kimberly K. Schrader, Title IX Coordinator. Any inquiries regarding Title IX or the College's policies that prohibit discrimination and harassment should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator identified below. The Coordinator will be available to meet with or talk to students, staff, and faculty regarding issues relating to this Notice of Non-Discrimination and the College’s policies and procedures.
Title IX Coordinator
Kimberly K. Schrader
Old Jail 12 | Campus Box K-209
337 South Cherry Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
Phone: 309-341-7751
Email: kschrade@knox.edu
Inquiries about the application of Title IX to Knox may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, the United States Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, or both. Individuals may also contact the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights for additional information.
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education-Chicago Office
500 W Madison St., Suite 1475
Chicago, IL 60661-4544
Phone: 312-730-1560
Email: ocr@ed.gov
Inquiries regarding the College’s policies regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”) should be directed to either the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources or Director of Disability Support Services identified below.
For Employees:
Assistant Vice President of Human Resources
Amy Chambers
Administrative Services Center 109 | Campus Box K-200
368 South Prairie Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
Phone: 309-341-7200
Email: adchambers@knox.edu
For Students:
Director of Disability Support Services
Stephanie Grimes
Umbeck Science and Math Center E111 | Campus Box K183
340 South West Street
Phone: 309-341-7478
Email: sgrimes@knox.edu
Organization
Working at Knox College
Knox College is a community of individuals from diverse backgrounds challenging each other to explore, understand and improve ourselves, our society and our world. The commitment to put learning to use to accomplish both personal and social goals dates back to the founding of the College in 1837. We take particular pride in the College's early commitment to increase access to all qualified students of varied backgrounds, races and conditions, regardless of financial means.
Today, we continue to expand both the historic mission and the tradition of active liberal arts learning. We provide an environment where students and faculty work closely together and where teaching is characterized by inviting and expecting students to pursue fundamental questions in order to reach their own reflective but independent judgments.
The first thing college guides will tell you is that Knox College is a nationally ranked, private, residential liberal arts college of 1,400 undergraduate students located in Galesburg, Illinois. But to really get a feel for our campus, just consider this: Everything that happens at Knox -- both inside and outside of the classroom -- involves giving our students the freedom to flourish. Knox professors don't just stand in front of classes and "profess" their wisdom, and our students are not mere note takers. Instead, we value:
- Independent thinking. Our students choose their own path toward a degree, guided by scholar-teachers who encourage them to explore ideas and places, stretch their intellect and their talents, blend thought with action, and fuse imagination with initiative.
- Egalitarian spirit. Founded in 1837 by social reformers strongly opposed to slavery, Knox was one of the first colleges in the United States open to both women and people of color. And it was on our campus that Abraham Lincoln chose to denounce slavery on moral terms for the first time, during the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas Debate. A pervasive spirit of equality thrives on campus today in our commitment to giving every student a voice.
- Diverse perspectives. With a campus population that includes students from 47 states and 48 countries, 18% U.S. students of color, and individuals from every imaginable religious and socioeconomic background, members of the Knox community are actively challenged to broaden their points of view.
At Knox, the educational experience means being part of a community of individuals who challenge each other to explore, understand, and improve their world. That mission calls on a special sort of scholar-teacher, one who approaches the classroom, the College, and the community in a uniquely engaged way. Our faculty are top scholars - 98% of our full-time faculty have Ph.D.s or the highest degree in their field. They are active scholars with frequent work in leading academic publications and showcases of artistic and theatrical work in venues around the world. And they represent a wide range of academic disciplines, educational backgrounds, and cultural experiences. Just as important as their scholarly achievements and diverse backgrounds is how Knox professors bring all of that into the classroom. Our faculty make the classroom a forum for a shared pursuit of knowledge, a vibrant place for exploration and debate. You'll not only learn from your professors, you'll learn with them.
Walk into any class on campus and you'll find professors -- not graduate students - leading discussions. A Knox class is small - average size is 18 students - and it is anything but a passive one-way lecture or note-taking session. Our faculty are not shy about letting students know their own point of view on a subject; but they also expect-and assist-students to form and defend their own opinions and viewpoints in a wide range of coursework. They challenge assumptions and teach students to be independent thinkers.
Our faculty don't hide away in their offices. Their doors are open to work closely with students throughout their educational careers. Through one-on-one mentoring, professors help students plan their studies and even design their own majors and research projects.
At Knox, we never forget that life is about more than the books. Our faculty do more -- and breathe more -- than merely publish. They live in the community. And you'll find them cheering on the Prairie Fire athletic teams, playing on intramural sports teams, discussing current events at the dining hall, or enjoying jazz music with fellow faculty and students at a downtown club - or even performing on-stage. By being engaged scholars, Knox faculty instill a lifelong love of learning in their students and impart to them the skills and the drive to apply their education to their career, their community and their world.
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