Strength and Conditioning Coach

Founded more than a century ago, Holton-Arms School encourages young women in grades 3-12 to approach the world with a thirst for challenge, unflinching curiosity, and a sense of responsibility to use what they learn for the greatest good. A nationally-recognized school that prioritizes purposeful connections, Holton is a vibrant place where both students and faculty are deeply engaged in the process of learning and bring tremendous spirit and passion to their work.

With a long legacy of excellence in educating girls, Holton provides students with time-tested and future-forward programming, preparing them for what the world needs next. The mission of the Holton-Arms School is to cultivate the unique potential of young women through the “education not only of the mind, but of the soul and spirit.” Founded in 1901 by two visionary women, Holton-Arms continues to cultivate a diverse, inclusive, and equitable school community; tend to the health and wellbeing of its members; and build a global curriculum that responds to the learners in its classrooms and the world around us.

The school’s aspirations and current program are rooted in Mrs. Holton’s founding vision: “My high hope is that they who enter through the ‘Open Door’ of Holton-Arms remember they felt, in the friendliness of a home, the urge to learn and the joy of overcoming obstacles as the way to happiness and the fullest life.” In this vibrant community committed to academic excellence, discovery, creativity, and joy, students are scholars, artists, and athletes who find their voices, take risks, learn from mistakes, pursue leadership opportunities, and build lifelong friendships. The school motto, Inveniam viam aut faciam (I will find a way or make one), exemplifies this spirit of agency and empowerment.

We seek applicants from diverse backgrounds, talents, and interests who share our passion for helping girls learn, grow, and thrive. Together, we are committed to cultivating the leaders of tomorrow who will make a positive impact on their communities and the world.

Position Description

Holton-Arms School seeks an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and collaborative Strength and Conditioning Coach to lead and advance the school's strength and conditioning program. This individual will play an integral role in the Athletics and Physical Education Department, developing and implementing a comprehensive approach to athletic performance, injury prevention, physical development, and lifelong fitness for students across all grade levels.

Reporting to the Director of Athletics and Physical Education, the Strength and Conditioning Coach will design, implement, and oversee safe, developmentally appropriate, and sport-specific training programs that support the needs of individual athletes and teams. The successful candidate will work closely with coaches, athletic trainers, physical education faculty, and school leadership to create a cohesive approach to student-athlete development.

The primary goals of this position are to:

• Enhance Athletic Performance: Develop strength, speed, power, agility, mobility, endurance, and sport-specific skills to help athletes reach their full potential.
• Promote Health and Reduce Injury Risk: Implement evidence-based training practices that prioritize proper movement mechanics, strength development, recovery, and injury risk reduction.
• Develop Lifelong Fitness: Teach students the knowledge, skills, confidence, and habits necessary to lead healthy, active lives beyond their athletic careers.

In addition to overseeing the strength and conditioning program, this individual will teach physical education classes across the Lower, Middle, and Upper School divisions. They will also be responsible for the daily management, organization, safety, and professional operation of the school's weight room.

The ideal candidate is a student-centered educator and coach who understands the unique developmental needs of adolescent girls, values collaboration, demonstrates initiative, and is passionate about helping students become stronger, healthier, more confident, and more capable individuals.

Key Responsibilities

Strength and Conditioning Program Development

• Lead the development, implementation, and continued evaluation of a comprehensive strength and conditioning program serving all athletic teams and student-athletes.
• Design and deliver age-appropriate, developmentally sound, and sport-specific training programs that address the physical demands of individual sports and the needs of individual athletes.
• Establish consistent training principles and standards that promote strength, speed, power, agility, flexibility, mobility, balance, coordination, and overall athletic development.
• Develop seasonal and annual training plans that complement each team's competitive schedule, practice demands, and student-athlete workload.
• Collaborate with coaches to integrate strength and conditioning into each sport's overall training and performance goals.
• Establish measurable performance benchmarks and assessment tools to monitor individual and team progress.
• Maintain accurate records of athlete participation, performance assessments, training plans, and program outcomes.
• Stay current with research, best practices, and emerging trends in strength and conditioning, particularly those related to female athlete development.

Athlete Development, Health, and Safety

• Prioritize safe training practices and teach proper lifting techniques, movement mechanics, exercise progressions, and training fundamentals.
• Incorporate evidence-based injury risk reduction strategies, including appropriate warm-ups, mobility, stability, strength development, and recovery practices.
• Work collaboratively with the Athletic Trainer to support injury prevention, rehabilitation considerations, and appropriate return-to-play progressions.
• Provide guidance to athletes and coaches on recovery, conditioning, movement quality, and responsible training habits.
• Adapt programming to accommodate different ages, abilities, experience levels, and individual needs.
• Foster a positive training environment that promotes confidence, resilience, accountability, discipline, and a growth mindset.

Physical Education Instruction

• Teach engaging, developmentally appropriate physical education classes to students in the Lower, Middle, and Upper School divisions.
• Develop lessons that emphasize physical literacy, movement competency, fitness fundamentals, teamwork, and lifelong wellness.
• Incorporate strength, conditioning, and functional movement principles into the physical education curriculum when appropriate.
• Serve as a positive role model who encourages students of all abilities to participate, challenge themselves, and develop a lifelong appreciation for physical activity.
• Collaborate with Physical Education faculty to support departmental curriculum, instructional goals, and student development.

Weight Room Management

• Oversee the daily operation, organization, safety, and professional management of the school's weight room facilities.
• Establish and maintain appropriate operating procedures, supervision expectations, facility guidelines, and training standards.
• Develop and manage weight room hours and staffing needs.
• Monitor, maintain, and organize equipment and supplies, ensuring that all equipment is safe, functional, and properly maintained.
• Manage equipment inventory, identify future needs, and coordinate the purchase of equipment and supplies in collaboration with the Director of Athletics and Physical Education.
• Ensure that all students, coaches, and staff using the facility understand and follow established safety procedures.

Departmental and School Community Collaboration

• Build strong working relationships with coaches, athletes, physical education faculty, athletic trainers, administrators, and families.
• Partner with coaches to understand the specific demands of their sports and develop training programs that support team and individual goals.
• Be an active and contributing member of the Athletics and Physical Education Department.
• Participate in departmental meetings, professional development, preseason planning, and other school-wide initiatives.
• Be present and actively engaged during preseason preparation, athletic tryouts, and other key periods throughout the school year.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the Holton-Arms mission, values, and Portrait of a Graduate through daily interactions with students and colleagues.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Athletics and Physical Education.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Strength and Conditioning, or a related field.
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the NSCA required, or the ability to obtain certification within six months of employment.
• Three to five years of experience designing and implementing strength and conditioning programs; experience in an educational or school-based athletic setting is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with adolescent athletes, particularly female athletes, is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated knowledge of exercise science, athletic performance, strength training principles, injury risk reduction, and age-appropriate training methodologies.
• Strong instructional skills and the ability to communicate technical concepts in an engaging and accessible manner.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively to a collaborative team environment.
• Demonstrated initiative, adaptability, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic school environment.
• A genuine passion for working with students and supporting their physical, social, and personal development.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mission Statement

Holton-Arms cherishes the uniqueness of each of our members including current and former students, faculty, and staff. We seek to create an inclusive environment that sees, values, and supports diverse identities and experiences, cultivates engaging discourse, and empowers our students to be thriving members of the global community. At Holton-Arms, each of us is responsible for fostering an equitable, respectful, and just community.

Salary & Benefits

The average salary range for this position is $70,000 - $80,000, the exact salary to be determined based on education and experience. Benefits include health insurance with a generous employer contribution to medical, dental and vision; life and disability insurance; 403b retirement savings with an employer match and non-elective contribution; employee assistance program, tuition remission for eligible children; professional development opportunities; paid parental leave after one year of employment; paid sick and personal days; and lunch is provided on school days.

Application Details:

Interested candidates should submit a resume and contact Graham Westerberg, Director of Athletics and Physical Education, at Graham.Westerberg@Holton-Arms.edu.