What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Coach, Mens Basketball position at Aquinas College - Grand Rapids?
The Assistant Men's Basketball Coach plays a key role in supporting the development and success of the varsity basketball program. This individual will be responsible for recruiting high-character student-athletes, player development, academic progress monitoring, game preparation, and strategic practice planning. The Varsity Assistant will also collaborate with the coaching staff on defensive and offensive strategies, as well as assist in the overall coordination of team activities, fundraising, and engagement with alumni. This is a full time role with generous benefits.
Key Responsibilities
Recruiting
Aquinas College, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, an inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic Dominican tradition, provides a liberal arts education with a global perspective, emphasizing career preparation focused on leadership, service to others, and a lifelong passion for learning. Aquinas offers an inclusive and welcoming environment. Aquinas College is committed to recruiting talented and diverse faculty and staff who are capable of exposing its students to a wide range of cultures and perspectives and whose presence on the campus will enhance the diversity of the community in which the College resides.
Aquinas College has a long-standing commitment to equal opportunity and a work environment that is free of unlawful harassment or discrimination. Aquinas College provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran or active duty military status, familial status, height, weight, genetic information or any other status protected by applicable law.
Key Responsibilities
Recruiting
- Identify and recruit high-character student-athletes who will contribute to the success and growth of the varsity basketball program.
- Work with the admissions staff to schedule campus visits for prospective recruits.
- Establish and maintain relationships with high school and AAU programs to build a sustainable pipeline of future talent.
- Attend high school games, AAU tournaments, and team practices to evaluate and connect with recruits and their families.
- Maintain consistent communication with potential recruits to cultivate relationships and keep them engaged with the program.
- Continuously scout new talent and assess potential student-athletes for the program.
- Develop and organize post-season workout schedules to maintain and improve player performance.
- Coordinate and manage summer basketball leagues, including team organization and officials.
- Oversee in-season and off-season skill development sessions, including individual and team-focused drills.
- Conduct pre- and post-practice sessions to provide additional support and skill development for student-athletes.
- Meet with players regularly to ensure they are engaged with the program, meeting academic expectations, and receiving the necessary support for success.
- Track and monitor the academic progress of student-athletes to ensure academic eligibility and success.
- Conduct regular academic check-ins, discussing class progress, assignments, grades, and virtual meeting attendance.
- Facilitate study tables and provide ongoing academic support to student-athletes.
- Assist with pre-practice planning and strategize drills and activities to improve team performance.
- Evaluate post-practice sessions, utilizing film analysis to assess team and individual progress.
- Contribute to practice evaluations and identify areas for improvement through film review, schematic adjustments, and personnel decisions.
- Focus on both individual and team development, with particular attention to offensive and defensive strategies.
- Serve as the offensive coordinator, assessing and refining the team's offensive game plans and strategies.
- Use film, statistics, and analytics to evaluate offensive execution and make necessary adjustments during practice sessions.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the team's defensive schemes and tactics.
- Teach and reinforce defensive fundamentals, focusing on accountability, discipline, and team cohesion.
- Prioritize rebounding techniques on both ends of the floor, ensuring players are held accountable for their rebounding efforts.
- Organize and manage logistics for game days, including transportation, meals, uniforms, equipment, and miscellaneous items.
- Assist in the coordination and execution of pre-game shootarounds and warm-up sessions.
- Prepare scouting reports, film breakdowns, and game plans to support team strategies and provide players with necessary game-related information.
- Track in-game statistics and make real-time adjustments based on performance.
- Collaborate with the coaching staff to ensure effective communication of game assignments and strategic goals to players.
- Assist with organizing and executing summer camps, ensuring all logistics are handled effectively.
- Support the program's fundraising initiatives, including events such as golf outings, Adopt-A-Saint, and Blast fundraising campaigns.
- Foster engagement with alumni and maintain relationships to promote the program's long-term success.
- Assist in the scheduling and logistics of Junior Varsity (JV) games.
- Provide support during JV practices, offering guidance and leadership to the JV coach as needed.
- Ensure proper leadership and operational support to help reduce stress on the JV coach.
- A strong understanding of basketball fundamentals, strategies, and player development.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for recruiting, coaching, and interacting with student-athletes, families, and staff.
- Ability to evaluate and analyze film, statistics, and performance metrics.
- Experience in organizing and executing events, including camps and fundraisers.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in managing game logistics, academic tracking, and player development programs.
- Commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and motivating environment for all student-athletes.
Aquinas College, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, an inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic Dominican tradition, provides a liberal arts education with a global perspective, emphasizing career preparation focused on leadership, service to others, and a lifelong passion for learning. Aquinas offers an inclusive and welcoming environment. Aquinas College is committed to recruiting talented and diverse faculty and staff who are capable of exposing its students to a wide range of cultures and perspectives and whose presence on the campus will enhance the diversity of the community in which the College resides.
Aquinas College has a long-standing commitment to equal opportunity and a work environment that is free of unlawful harassment or discrimination. Aquinas College provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran or active duty military status, familial status, height, weight, genetic information or any other status protected by applicable law.
