About the Department of Athletics & Recreation & Wilfrid Laurier University

Our vision is to build leaders and champions, where are mission is to be leaders in sport and recreation by fostering students' spirit and pride, while elevating their experience and well being. Our interuniversity sport department is looking for the next head coach of our Baseball Program.

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier's thriving community has a place for everyone. Laurier has more than 19,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton.

Position Summary

The ideal candidate is committed to leading the program to provincial prominence and focused upon the student-athlete experience, recruitment, and retention of the top student athletes. The successful candidate will be a student-first leader who has a growth mindset, is an excellent identifier and developer of talent and is committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in high performance sporting environments. This individual exudes excellence and role models the values & expectations of Wilfrid Laurier University and the Department of Athletics and Recreation.

This honorarium position is responsible for all coaching elements associated with the sport program. The incumbent is responsible for the overall direction, planning, recruitment, team selection, and player development. The incumbent will design and implement a yearly training program as well as recruiting highly qualified OUA caliber student-athletes conducive to positioning Laurier Baseball at the top of OUA competition. The head coach will assist in the scheduling of preseason competitions and travel plans, contribute to the development of a balanced budget and ensure compliance to Laurier and OUA policies and regulations. The coach will work cooperatively with athletic department staff in event scheduling, facility, travel planning, required fundraising, budgeting, academic support, purchasing of equipment and apparel, alumni engagement and completing other administrative requirements. The OUA Baseball season begins with training camp in late-August, league play beginning late August/early September, and finishes with OUA championship in mid October. Practices occur at Bechtel Field in Waterloo and student-athletes train throughout the calendar year. Recruitment of student-athletes is ongoing throughout the year, including building relationships and partnerships with local club programs.

This position is eligible for an honorarium in line with our structure for non-full-time coaches.

Qualifications

• Outstanding character, integrity, passion, and a commitment to excellence
• Excellent communicator with strong teaching and technical baseball skills
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills and a demonstrated team player
• Commitment to promotion equity, diversity, and inclusion
• CPR & First Aid level C
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work with others in an environment that requires quick decisions that protect the safety and well-being of the student-athlete.
• Experience working with high performance athletes, staff and coaches
• Valid 'G' Drivers License required
• Knowledge of OUA and U Sports procedures and protocols
• Demonstrated ability to relate to students, faculty and staff in ways that build trust and confidence
• Proven ability to work in diverse community with students of varied ages and backgrounds presenting a range of difficulties and personal issues
• Flexibility of working hours will be required to meet student athlete needs which may arise outside of traditional work hours
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in coaching and administering elite level student-athletes (college or university preferred).
• Preference to those who have competed in baseball at a post-secondary level (U SPORTS, OUA, CCAA or NCAA)
• Preference to candidates that have completed coaching certification (NCCP)
• Preference to those applicants with at minimum a Bachelor's degree
• Willingness to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends is required.
• The successful candidate will require a vulnerable sector check
• The successful candidate will be required to complete all necessary training as required by Wilfrid Laurier University, the Department of Athletics & Recreation and Ontario University Athletics (OUA) (re. Safe Sport, EDII, 4 Seasons of Reconciliation, etc)

Length of Appointment

The appointment will be for 3 years commencing as soon as possible with the option to renew/review annually pending required year-end performance evaluations.

Application Process

CV and resumes may be submitted to Courtney Bruce (Sr. Coordinator, Sport & Athlete Services - cbruce@wlu.ca) by May 11th. Please contact Courtney with any questions. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier's core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities.

The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Our locations are situated on the traditional territories of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. We recognize the unique heritages of Indigenous peoples and support their intentions to preserve and express their distinctive Indigenous cultures, histories, and knowledge through academic programming and co-curricular activities. Laurier's Centre for Indigegogy is one example of how Laurier honours Indigenous knowledge.

Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format please contact Courtney Bruce (cbruce@wlu.ca)