Career Center

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart is seeking a Head Volleyball Coach for the 2023-2024 academic year to develop, coach, and manage the Volleyball Program within the standards of Woodlands Academy, the ISL (Independent School League), and the IHSA (Illinois High School Association). The Head Volleyball Coach will foster a positive and inclusive team atmosphere that values individual development, discipline, and sportsmanship while keeping the self-esteem and best interest of all student-athletes first and foremost.

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart is one of 25 Sacred Heart schools in the United States and Canada. Sacred Heart education at Woodlands Academy is distinctive and emphasizes best practices for the education of girls and innovative practices for academic excellence. Established in 1858, the school forms global citizens and transforms young women through a dynamic of relationships that responds to the dignity of each member of the school community.

The Head Volleyball Coach will report to the Athletic Director and supervise all Volleyball assistant and volunteer coaches, to form an innovative and collaborative athletic department.  

Responsibilities include:

• Educate and coach Woodlands Academy student-athletes in the game of Volleyball
• Provide leadership that promotes positive attitudes and good sportsmanship
• Notifies team members of all Woodland’s Academy Athletic Program policies, procedures, and training rules as they pertain to the team
• Plan and communicate to Junior Varsity and assistant coaches practice sessions and competition strategies which ensure the health and physical well-being of student-athletes
• Schedules and coordinates, in conjunction with the Athletic Director, summer camps, game schedules, practice schedules, team tryouts, meetings, team workouts, and summer open gym/conditioning sessions in coordination with IHSA regulations
• Maintains, along with assistant coaches, the proper supervision of student-athletes at practices, games, in locker rooms, and on school-provided transportation
• Assists in the selection and evaluation of assistant coaches
• Completes the evaluation of IHSA officials in a timely manner
• Conducts a mandatory preseason parent meeting
• Coordinates the distribution, care, inventory, and collection of uniforms and equipment
• Maintains individual and team records and statistics
• In conjunction with the Athletic Director, plans and implements a seasonal awards recognition program through the athletic office
• Implements programmatic instruction of sequential fundamentals and proper conditioning for all levels of the program

• Previous head coaching experience in Volleyball, preferred
• Previous experience as a coach in Volleyball, required
• Meets NFHS/IHSA Criteria and completion of NFHS courses, preferred
• Must be available from the first allowable practice date as designated by the IHSA for all practices, games, and regional/state finals
• The ideal candidate will possess the ability to effectively relate and communicate to diverse constituents a high level of knowledge about the fundamentals and strategies of Volleyball to the student-athletes of Woodlands Academy.
• Successful completion of criminal and sexual offender registry background checks

Why you should join our community:

• Get to make an impact on the lives of young women
• The opportunity to help student athletes develop their skills and achieve their goals

How to apply:

Please complete the application materials on our Employment page here by March 10th. All applicants must apply with a cover letter, resume, and Personal Reflection on the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria. We also strongly suggest applicants to submit three written references.

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart is an all-girls, Catholic, college preparatory day and boarding school in Lake Forest, IL. Visit the school’s website at www.woodlandsacademy.org and the website of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools at www.sacredheartusc.education to learn more.

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion*, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, genetic information, age, disability, protected veteran status or being a member of the Reserves or National Guard, or any other classification under state or federal law.

*The School reserves the right to use religion as a hiring criterion for selected positions and nature of a school as a faith-based institution as permitted by law.