High School Teacher / Head Girls Softball Coach

Job Title: High School Teacher / Head Girls Softball Coach

Wage/Hour Status: Exempt

 

Reports to: Principal / Athletic Coordinator / Executive Director of Athletics

Pay Grade: Teacher Pay + Coaching Stipend

 

Dept./School: Juarez-Lincoln High School

Initiated Date: March 2026

 

WHO WE ARE

 

La Joya Independent School District is committed to excellence for students, staff, and the community. With a strong legacy in the Rio Grande Valley, La Joya ISD is focused on providing high-quality academic, athletic, and extracurricular opportunities for all students.

 

The district’s vision, Educational Excellence: The Right of Every Student, reflects our commitment to ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education and opportunities that support student success.

Our work is rooted in the district’s core priorities:

1. Customer Service
2. Trust & Transparency
3. High-Quality Instruction
4. Excellence in Leadership
5. Integrity & Accountability

La Joya ISD serves more than 22,000 students across more than 30 schools and is committed to building systems that support academic achievement, athletic excellence, student leadership, and community pride.

 

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

 

La Joya ISD seeks a committed, motivated, and highly organized educator-coach to serve as a High School Teacher and Head Girls Softball Coach at Juarez-Lincoln High School. The ideal candidate will be passionate about student development, classroom instruction, softball skill development, athletic competition, and building a softball program rooted in discipline, accountability, toughness, teamwork, character, and excellence.

 

We are looking for a leader who:

• Demonstrates excellence in classroom instruction and softball coaching.
• Holds high expectations for student-athletes academically, behaviorally, and athletically.
• Develops and implements a competitive girls softball program focused on fundamentals, position development, pitching, catching, hitting, fielding, baserunning, softball IQ, strength, conditioning, and game strategy.
• Builds a culture of accountability, commitment, sportsmanship, work ethic, competitive toughness, and continuous growth.
• Leads by example through professionalism, organization, integrity, consistency, and personal discipline.
• Mentors assistant coaches and supports vertical alignment with middle school softball programs.
• Builds strong relationships with students, families, faculty, staff, and community partners.
• Promotes equity, broad student participation, and multi-sport athlete development.
• Supports academic accountability, eligibility, attendance, and student success.
• Commits to continuous professional growth and year-round program improvement.

WHY LA JOYA ISD

 

You will be joining a district that is building on a strong tradition of achievement while continuing to improve systems, expectations, and opportunities for students. La Joya ISD is committed to developing student-athletes who demonstrate excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community.

 

The district values strong leadership, student-centered decision-making, athletic program development, and a unified approach to building pride across all campuses.

 

WHY JUAREZ-LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL

 

Juarez-Lincoln High School is a proud learning community with a strong tradition of academic achievement, athletic pride, and community support. As the home of the Huskies, Juarez-Lincoln High School provides an outstanding opportunity for a Head Girls Softball Coach to lead, grow, and strengthen a competitive softball program.

 

The girls softball program has the opportunity to build on a strong feeder system, develop student-athletes through year-round skill development, and promote excellence through discipline, preparation, teamwork, fundamentals, pitching development, defensive execution, and a commitment to program success. The campus leadership team and athletic department are focused on supporting student achievement, athletic success, and a positive culture of high expectations.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

Education / Certification

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
• Valid Texas Teaching Certificate.
• Valid CPR, AED, and First Aid certification.
• Completion of all required UIL coaching certifications and compliance trainings.

Experience

• Minimum of two years of coaching experience at the secondary level preferred.
• Experience as a head coach or lead assistant preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in developing student-athletes in softball.
• Experience developing pitchers, catchers, hitters, infielders, outfielders, and complete team systems preferred.
• Experience organizing practices, games, tournaments, offseason programs, summer skill development, and program development preferred.
• Experience supporting middle school feeder programs and vertical alignment preferred.

Special Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of TEKS and the ability to implement rigorous, standards-aligned instruction consistent with the La Joya ISD Instructional Framework.
• Strong knowledge of UIL rules, athletic compliance, eligibility requirements, student-athlete supervision, and safety procedures.
• Knowledge of softball fundamentals, including pitching mechanics, catching development, hitting approach, bunting, slapping, baserunning, infield play, outfield play, defensive systems, cutoffs and relays, situational awareness, and game management.
• Ability to develop pitchers through proper mechanics, arm care, pitch progression, command, velocity development, change of speeds, mental approach, and safe workload monitoring.
• Ability to develop practice plans, training cycles, offseason programs, skill stations, defensive systems, offensive strategies, and competitive game plans.
• Ability to collaborate with middle school coaches to create consistent terminology, drills, expectations, skill progressions, and feeder program development.
• Effective classroom and team management skills.
• Strong organizational, communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with campus administration, athletic coordinators, assistant coaches, parents, athletic trainers, middle school coaches, and community members.
• Ability to promote student participation and develop a positive, competitive athletic culture.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

 

Instructional Responsibilities

• Deliver engaging, standards-aligned instruction in the assigned content area in alignment with the La Joya ISD Instructional Framework.
• Implement the district curriculum with fidelity to ensure rigorous, student-centered learning experiences.
• Develop and execute comprehensive lesson plans aligned to TEKS, district curriculum guides, and campus instructional priorities.
• Establish clear learning objectives and communicate high academic expectations for all students.
• Use formative and summative assessment data to monitor student progress and adjust instruction.
• Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners.
• Provide timely, specific, and actionable feedback to promote student growth and accountability.
• Maintain an organized and structured classroom environment that maximizes instructional time.
• Implement proactive classroom management strategies that promote respect, engagement, and positive student behavior.
• Integrate technology and district-adopted instructional resources to support student achievement.
• Collaborate with colleagues in Professional Learning Communities to analyze data and improve instructional practices.
• Communicate consistently with parents and guardians regarding student progress, expectations, and concerns.
• Maintain accurate records of attendance, grades, accommodations, and required documentation in compliance with district policy.
• Participate in ongoing professional development to continuously improve instructional effectiveness.
• Support campus initiatives that promote academic excellence, character development, and student success.

Athletic Program Leadership

• Plan, organize, and implement the Juarez-Lincoln High School girls softball program.
• Develop a comprehensive girls softball program focused on fundamentals, skill development, pitching, catching, hitting, fielding, baserunning, softball IQ, strength, conditioning, leadership, and team culture.
• Create practice plans that include throwing progression, defensive fundamentals, offensive skill work, bunting, slapping, baserunning, situational defense, cutoffs and relays, team communication, pitching and catching development, live competition, and game strategy.
• Develop training programs that support student-athlete growth during the softball season, offseason, summer preparation, and athletic period.
• Organize and manage tryouts, rosters, practice schedules, game schedules, tournament entries, transportation, uniforms, equipment, hydration plans, and program events.
• Establish clear expectations for attendance, effort, discipline, communication, academic accountability, and team conduct.
• Analyze athlete performance, practice data, game results, batting statistics, pitching statistics, fielding performance, and team execution to improve training, player development, lineup decisions, and game strategy.
• Prepare student-athletes for district, bi-district, area, regional, and state-level competition.
• Collaborate with the Athletic Coordinator, campus administration, assistant coaches, athletic trainers, middle school coaches, and district athletic office to align program goals.
• Mentor assistant coaches and provide clear expectations for practice planning, supervision, student support, communication, skill instruction, and professional conduct.
• Support vertical alignment with middle school softball programs to build consistent systems, terminology, expectations, practice habits, skill development, and student readiness for high school softball.
• Promote multi-sport participation and collaborate with volleyball, basketball, track, soccer, and other coaches to support student-athlete success.
• Monitor student-athlete academic progress, attendance, behavior, and UIL eligibility.
• Maintain accurate records related to rosters, physicals, parent forms, eligibility, emergency contacts, game entries, travel, equipment, inventory, statistics, and required documentation.
• Ensure compliance with UIL, TEA, La Joya ISD, and campus athletic policies.
• Supervise student-athletes during practices, games, tournaments, travel, offseason programs, summer workouts, and athletic events.
• Manage softball equipment, uniforms, helmets, bats, balls, catcher’s gear, pitching equipment, field supplies, safety supplies, and instructional resources responsibly.
• Promote a positive team culture centered on discipline, effort, accountability, sportsmanship, toughness, teamwork, pride, and respect for Juarez-Lincoln High School.

Softball Program Expectations

• Build a structured year-round softball program that supports varsity, sub-varsity, and middle school feeder development.
• Develop a clear seasonal calendar that includes offseason skill development, preseason preparation, regular season competition, tournament play, district competition, playoff preparation, and postseason reflection.
• Establish a softball skill development plan that includes throwing mechanics, defensive footwork, glove work, hitting approach, bunting, slapping, baserunning, pitching, catching, softball IQ, and situational execution.
• Create systems for tracking attendance, academic eligibility, practice performance, skill progress, pitching workload, hitting progress, defensive development, injuries, and game statistics.
• Coordinate with athletic trainers regarding injury prevention, arm care, return-to-play procedures, hydration, heat illness prevention, and student-athlete wellness.
• Ensure practices, workouts, field use, equipment use, and off-campus activities are approved, supervised, and communicated in advance.
• Maintain strong communication with parents regarding practice times, game schedules, tournament schedules, transportation, expectations, nutrition, hydration, safety, and student-athlete accountability.
• Promote student leadership through team captains, peer mentoring, accountability groups, leadership activities, and positive team culture.
• Encourage participation from incoming freshmen and middle school feeder programs.
• Support the development of players across all levels, from beginner athletes to varsity-level competitors.
• Plan and support team-building activities that reinforce character, responsibility, commitment, confidence, and school pride.
• Use practice data, game statistics, and coach observations to set individual and team goals.
• Encourage student-athletes to represent La Joya ISD, Juarez-Lincoln High School, and the athletic program with pride and sportsmanship.

Pitching Development Expectations

• Develop and implement a structured pitching development plan for beginner, intermediate, and advanced pitchers.
• Teach and reinforce proper pitching mechanics, balance, stride, arm circle, release point, follow-through, command, spin, and body control.
• Monitor pitching workload, arm health, recovery, and physical readiness in collaboration with athletic trainers and assistant coaches.
• Develop pitchers in command, pitch selection, change of speeds, location, mental toughness, fielding the position, holding runners, and game management.
• Provide regular pitcher-catcher skill work to improve communication, framing, blocking, throwing, pitch calling, and defensive execution.
• Use bullpen sessions, live pitching, situational work, and game statistics to evaluate pitcher progress.
• Create a long-term plan to identify, develop, and retain pitchers from the middle school level through high school.
• Communicate with middle school coaches regarding young pitcher development, safe workload expectations, mechanics, and consistent terminology.
• Promote proper warm-up, cool-down, arm care, mobility, and recovery routines.
• Ensure pitching development is safe, age-appropriate, and aligned with student-athlete health and long-term growth.

Middle School Feeder Program Support

• Collaborate with middle school softball coaches to align expectations, terminology, drills, skill progressions, and program culture.
• Support feeder programs by providing guidance on practice organization, player development, pitching development, defensive fundamentals, offensive approach, and team culture.
• Attend or coordinate periodic middle school softball alignment meetings as directed by the Athletic Coordinator or district athletic office.
• Assist with identifying incoming student-athletes and supporting their transition into the high school softball program.
• Encourage consistent communication between high school and middle school coaches regarding student development, readiness, and participation.
• Provide middle school coaches with recommended drills, practice structures, and skill priorities that prepare athletes for high school softball.
• Support middle school participation, retention, and enthusiasm for softball through clinics, camps, campus visits, and program outreach when appropriate.
• Build a unified softball pathway that promotes confidence, skill development, academic accountability, and pride in the Juarez-Lincoln feeder pattern.

Compliance and Safety

• Maintain current CPR, AED, First Aid, concussion, heat illness, and UIL-required certifications.
• Follow all UIL, TEA, district, and campus safety guidelines during practices, games, tournaments, travel, and athletic activities.
• Ensure all student-athletes have completed required physicals, forms, emergency contacts, and eligibility requirements before participation.
• Monitor student-athlete safety during throwing, pitching, hitting, fielding, conditioning, workouts, practices, competitions, travel, and off-site activities.
• Implement appropriate emergency action procedures for softball facilities, practice areas, and competition sites.
• Report injuries, incidents, concerns, and safety issues in a timely manner.
• Coordinate transportation, supervision, hydration, weather monitoring, field safety, and student accountability for athletic events.
• Inspect practice and competition areas for safety concerns, including field conditions, fencing, bases, pitching areas, dugouts, batting cages, and equipment.
• Maintain professional boundaries and ensure appropriate supervision of student-athletes at all times.
• Ensure students are never left unsupervised during practices, games, tournaments, travel, offseason workouts, or team activities.

Community Engagement

• Communicate regularly and professionally with parents, students, staff, and community stakeholders.
• Promote the girls softball program through campus events, parent communication, feeder school engagement, student recruitment, youth softball connections, and community outreach.
• Encourage student-athletes to represent Juarez-Lincoln High School and La Joya ISD with pride, integrity, discipline, and sportsmanship.
• Build positive relationships with families to support student participation, academic success, and athletic development.
• Model professionalism, integrity, accountability, respect, and servant leadership at all times.
• Support districtwide athletic initiatives and promote the One Pack culture across La Joya ISD.

Professional Responsibilities

• Participate in campus and district-level meetings, professional development, and athletic department trainings.
• Support school initiatives aligned to district priorities.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, coaches, athletic trainers, middle school coaches, and administrators to improve student outcomes.
• Maintain accurate documentation and meet all required deadlines.
• Follow all district policies, campus procedures, UIL guidelines, and athletic department expectations.
• Uphold district values of integrity, accountability, trust, transparency, and excellence in leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Principal, Athletic Coordinator, Executive Director of Athletics, or Superintendent’s designee.

WORKING CONDITIONS

 

Mental Demands

• Maintain emotional control under stress.
• Handle multiple priorities and competing deadlines.
• Exercise sound judgment and decision-making.
• Communicate effectively with students, parents, staff, and community members.
• Manage competitive, high-pressure athletic environments.
• Monitor student safety and decision-making during practices, games, travel, and competition.

Physical Demands

• Frequent standing, walking, jogging, lifting, bending, stretching, throwing, hitting, and movement during practices and competitions.
• Ability to lift and carry equipment up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to demonstrate or assist with softball drills, throwing mechanics, fielding, hitting, baserunning, and conditioning activities when appropriate.
• Work in indoor and outdoor environments as needed.
• Exposure to heat, humidity, cold, rain, wind, dust, sun exposure, and other weather conditions.
• Extended hours including early mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends, holidays, tournaments, and travel.

Work Environment

• Classrooms, softball fields, batting cages, bullpens, gyms, weight rooms, locker rooms, athletic facilities, competition venues, and community settings.
• Practices, games, tournaments, district events, offseason workouts, summer conditioning, camps, clinics, feeder program activities, and travel.
• Frequent interaction with students, parents, coaches, administrators, athletic trainers, middle school coaches, and community members.

POSITION WORKING DAYS

 

187 Days + Extended Days for Coaching Duties

Position Type: Full-Time

 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other responsibilities be performed when the needs of the district change.