Graduate Assistant- Women's Track/Field and Cross Country Assistant Coach

Position Overview

The Graduate Assistant (GA) is a 20 hour per week graduate assistantship. The primary responsibilities of the GA are largely based on the specific duties from a college or division. The position will apply theory to practice for the specific office area in which the position is housed. The assistantship shall be for the academic semester, with the opportunity to continue for the following academic year if agreeable to the supervisor and the GA. GA positions are academic and should include significant mentoring and professional development. GA should be considered part-time professionals in the field and given projects reflective of that role. Individual may not hold other employment on campus without prior permission from college or division.

Anticipated Start Date

August 1, 2023

Hours per Week

• 20 hrs/wk
• Mon-Fri and some weekends

College/Department Overview

The Athletic Department at the University of Central Oklahoma currently supports over 400 student athletes in 15 sports including Football, Men's & Women's Basketball, Men's & Women's Golf, Baseball, Softball, Wrestling, Women's Track & Field and Cross Country, Women's Tennis, Women's Soccer, Women's Rowing and Women's Volleyball.

Department Specific Job Functions

Work as a student assistant coach within the Women's Track & Field and Cross-Country program to serve all needs of the program and athletic department. This includes the coaching and administration of the Women's Track & Field and Cross-Country program. This student position requires heavy, physical and manual labor.

Performance Responsibilities (include but not limited to):

1. Assists in organization of specific event programming.
2. Communicates with Head Coach and Assistant Coach to secure facilities to ensure safe practice/competition environment for students.
3. Supports the philosophy, programmatic instruction of sequential fundamentals and proper conditioning communicated by the Head Coach.
4. In collaboration with the Head Coach, communicates and plans practice sessions and competition strategies which ensure the health and physical well-being of the student participants.
5. At the direction of the Head Coach and Assistant Coach, coordinates a schedule of off-season and in-season practices.
6. Models and instills the values of sportsmanship to all participants and enforces consequences for breach of such standards.
7. Assists in recruitment of prospective student athletes for specific Track & Field and Cross-Country event areas.
8. Maintains and provides the head coach with end-of-season individual and team records and statistics.
9. Participates in department functions/meetings as requested.
10. Assists the head coach in planning of home cross country and track meets.
11. Assists in the orderly documentation, distribution, and collection of uniforms and equipment.
12. Demonstrate leadership, sportsmanship and conduct representative of the coaching profession and the University of Central Oklahoma
13. In collaboration with athletic academic professionals and resources, assists with the oversight and scheduling of study hall for all freshmen and at-risk student athletes.
14. Other Duties as assigned by the Head Coach and/or Assistant Coach include but are not limited to: coaching student-athletes, recruiting prospective student-athletes on-campus, assisting with planning of team travel, organizing team gear, facility and equipment maintenance and cleaning, inventory and organization of inventory, assisting with budgetary planning. Assist staff with filming competition including editing & downloading. Practice planning and recruiting as needed. Additionally, will assist in coaching strength & conditioning sessions as needed, assist with monitoring student athlete academics, assist staff with basic office responsibilities and assist with fundraising initiatives as needed.

Variety of skills required, and jobs performed including moving equipment, coaching, spreadsheet creation and management, communication management both internally within team/staff and externally with recruits as designated.

Enrollment Requirements

Fall/Spring Semesters: All student employees must be enrolled at least half time to be eligible to work any UCO student position. Half time enrollment for Fall/Spring is considered 5 hours for graduates and 6 hours for undergraduates. International students shall be enrolled full time to be eligible to work as a student worker. Full time enrollment is 9 credit hours for graduates and 12 credit hours for undergraduates.

Summer Semester: Student employees working regular student positions must be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours to be eligible to work during the summer. Students not enrolled in summer classes must be enrolled in Fall classes in order to work on campus, but they (and the department) will be required to pay FICA taxes. Student employees working FWSP positions must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours (if undergraduate) or 5 credit hours (if graduate) in order to work during the summer in a Federal Work Study Program position.

Enrollment Exception: If the number of credit hours needed to graduate is less than the minimum number of hours required for student employment, the student must obtain a letter from their Academic Advisor (stating the number of hours needed to graduate and anticipated graduation date) and submit it to Human Resources. This pertains to both regular and Federal Work Study Program positions. Contact jobs@uco.edu for more information.

Qualifications/Experience Required

• Graduate student classification status at UCO

Qualifications/Experience Preferred

• Knowledge of the sport
• Experience either competing or coaching the sport
• Throws experience preferred

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Have sensitivity of intercultural communication
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Strong desire to learn
• Detail oriented
• Dependable
• Punctual

Physical Demands

Reasonable accommodations (in accordance with ADA requirements) may be made, upon request, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.