Hunter Mill Swim & Racquet Club is seeking an enthusiastic, experienced, and highly organized Head Swim Coach to lead the Hunter Mill Sharks, our summer recreational swim team in the Northern Virginia Swimming League.

Our program is centered on three goals: developing each swimmer, promoting healthy competition, and creating a fun, welcoming environment where swimmers build friendships and team spirit. The Head Coach plays a central role in achieving these goals by providing strong technical instruction, positive leadership, effective communication, and consistent support for swimmers of all ages and ability levels.

The position generally supports preseason planning beginning in May and continues through the conclusion of the summer season, typically in early August. There may be some additional meetings in the off-season that you are asked to attend to help the Team Representatives plan for the upcoming season.  Practices and meets are held at Hunter Mill Swim & Racquet Club in Vienna, Virginia.

Key Responsibilities

Swimmer Development and Instruction

- Create a safe, supportive, inclusive, and enjoyable environment for all swimmers.
- Conduct swimmer evaluations and time trials at the beginning of the season.
- Develop the practice and training schedule in consultation with the team representatives.
- Provide age- and ability-appropriate instruction in stroke mechanics, starts, turns, and finishes.
- Develop and oversee programming for the team’s youngest swimmers, with clear and measurable goals that help swimmers and parents understand individual progress.
- Ensure stroke-development clinics are appropriately staffed and effectively conducted.
- Provide meaningful race feedback to swimmers, including guidance following disqualifications when appropriate.
- Communicate with parents and respond to questions, particularly from families who are new to competitive swimming.

Meet Management and Competition

- Develop and approve meet lineups.
- Select swimmers for dual, divisional, league, and other competitive meets.
- Make final decisions regarding meet lineups and stroke eligibility for competitive and developmental meets.
- Encourage swimmer participation in additional team and league events when Hunter Mill elects to participate.
- Promote healthy competition, good sportsmanship, team spirit, and positive behavior at all practices and meets.

Coaching Staff Leadership

- Assist with identifying and recommending assistant, senior, and junior coaches, subject to club approval.
- Supervise, schedule, mentor, and support the coaching staff.
- Provide clear direction regarding coaching techniques, swimmer development, team culture, and sportsmanship.
- Ensure practices, meets, and clinics are adequately staffed and supervised.
- Coordinate the tracking and reporting of coaching staff hours, or delegate that responsibility to an appropriate member of the coaching staff.

Team and Community Engagement

- Serve as a visible and positive leader for swimmers, families, coaches, volunteers, and the broader Hunter Mill community.
- Attend team meetings, pep rallies, picture day, social activities, and other team-building events.
- Work collaboratively with the team representatives and Hunter Mill Swim & Racquet Club leadership.
- Recognize swimmer accomplishments and development at the end-of-season banquet.
- Model and reinforce the applicable league code of conduct and the principles and guidelines of USA Swimming’s Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy.

Safety and Compliance

- Maintain all certifications and licenses required by Hunter Mill Swim & Racquet Club for the position.
- Maintain current lifeguard certification and a pool operator’s license.
- Perform and document required pool operator checks before swimmers enter the water.
- Promptly report safety or athlete-protection concerns in accordance with club policies.
- Follow all Hunter Mill Swim & Racquet Club policies, procedures, and applicable league requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

- Prior competitive swimming and swim-coaching experience.
- Experience coaching children and swimmers with a broad range of ages and abilities.
- Strong knowledge of stroke mechanics, starts, turns, finishes, meet lineups, and competitive swimming rules.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, schedule, supervise, and mentor a coaching staff.
- Strong organizational, decision-making, and communication skills.
- Ability to build positive relationships with swimmers, parents, coaches, volunteers, and club leadership.
- A coaching philosophy that balances swimmer development, healthy competition, sportsmanship, inclusion, and fun.
- Current lifeguard certification and pool operator’s license, or the ability to obtain and maintain them before the season begins.

Position Details

Position: Seasonal Head Swim Coach
Team: Hunter Mill Sharks
League: Northern Virginia Swimming League
Location: Hunter Mill Swim & Racquet Club, 10339 Brittenford Drive, Vienna, Virginia 22182
Season: Preseason planning and activities beginning in May through the conclusion of the summer swim season, generally in early August.  Additional meetings with the Team Representative in the off-season.
Compensation: Competitive and commensurate with experience
Employment status: Seasonal employment, subject to the club’s applicable employment terms and policies

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit the following:

- A résumé outlining relevant swimming, coaching, and leadership experience
- A brief statement describing their coaching philosophy and interest in leading the Hunter Mill Sharks
- Contact information for professional references
- Current certifications, if available

Application materials should be submitted to swimteam@hmsrc.org