Head Coach Softball

Position Description:

The Merrimack College Head Softball Coach is responsible for providing leadership and supervision for all aspects of an NCAA Division I softball program. This includes recruiting academically qualified prospective student-athletes, developing and implementing effective practice and competition strategies, supporting student-athlete academic and personal development, and ensuring compliance with NCAA, MAAC, and Merrimack College rules and policies.

This full-time position reports to an assigned sport administrator and plays a key role in advancing the mission of the Department of Athletics and the College.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee all aspects of the softball program, demonstrating effective communication and planning, strong organizational and administrative skills, sound decision-making and visionary leadership.
• Recruit quality student-athletes to meet enrollment goals, including talent evaluation, communication with prospective student-athletes and families, planning official visits, and coordinating with the compliance office.
• Determine athletic scholarship allocation in collaboration with athletic administration.
• Organize, plan and conduct efficient team practices and individual skill instruction sessions with demonstrated ability to teach the sport of softball.
• Develop and implement game strategy.
• Maintain a competitive program within the MAAC, showing consistent progress toward conference success and supporting institutional enrollment goals.
• Build a competitive Division 1 NCAA schedule.
• Prepare student-athletes for competition by utilizing video analysis, scouting software, and performance analytics.
• Recruit, hire, supervise, and mentor assistant coaches, graduate assistants, and student managers in alignment with athletic department standards.
• Demonstrate sound fiscal responsibility in the management of the department-approved budget for the program.
• Engage actively in revenue generation through camps and clinics, alumni relations and philanthropy.
• Participate in the development of the whole student-athlete — athletically, academically and personally, regarding individual well-being and life skills.
• Monitor and ensure the academic progress and eligibility of student-athletes..
• Represent the program with professionalism, consistency, sportsmanship, and integrity on and off the field.
• Actively engage with alumni, donors, and the broader Merrimack community to promote and enhance program visibility.
• Foster and maintain a culture of compliance with NCAA, conference, and institutional rules.
• Participate in departmental activities such as staff meetings, compliance education, and professional development opportunities.
• Fulfill other duties as assigned by the sport administrator and/or Director of Athletics.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of 3 years of collegiate coaching experience, with NCAA Division I or II experience strongly preferred.
• Proven success in recruiting and developing high-level student-athletes.
• Commitment to academic achievement, NCAA compliance, and student- athlete well-being.
• Strong organizational, administrative, and fiscal management skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to foster a strong team culture.

Application Materials Should Include:

• Resume
• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack's Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our mission.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50 doctoral students from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features more than 160 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has six schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, the Girard school of business and the graduate school of counseling and social work. The College's suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master's Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report's ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in the Regional Universities North category in 2026. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.