MLS Next Pro Head Coach

Oversee all on the field matters involving the MLS Next Pro team or any other league or competition in which the team competes. Head Coach reports directly to General Manager, Assistant GM and Technical Director.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

GENERIC DUTIES

• Oversee in-season and off-season player development programs for the team with the Timbers coaching staff and MLS Next Pro coaching staff
• Lead, direct and supervise the team's coaching staff and support staff
• Work closely, constructively and collaboratively with the Timbers first team and Academy coaching staff, trainer and support staff
• Create optimal conditions for team performance and player development
• Work closely with the Technical Director and the Development Programs Director regarding player movement and development.
• Create and maintain a winning culture and high-performance environment
• Consult and advise with respect to the team's roster and player trades
• Enforce team rules and league rules applicable to the team's players and or coaching staff
• Other duties and services as may reasonably assigned by the club that are consistent with employment as assistant coach of a team in the league
• Be innovative and creative
• Identify areas for improvement and work with players on improvement
• Be active making decisions and implementing philosophies
• Maintain unquestionable trustworthiness
• Be in tune with Club's ideological approach
• Keep up with latest technology in computing, communications, sports science and sports analysis

SPECIFIC DUTIES

On Field

• Conduct and supervise the team's practices, training camps, and training sessions.
• Coach the team in all exhibition, regular season, playoff, international and other matches.
• Prepare for all games played by the MLS Next Pro team or any other league or competition in which the teams compete. This includes developing game strategies and supervising the scouting of opposing teams.
• Conduct and supervise the team's practices, training camps, and training sessions
• Monitor off-season player development programs for the MLS Next Pro team and Academy teams along with the Development Programs Director
• Work closely with the Development Programs Director in the arrangement and organization of scouting/evaluation of potential players for the team
• Design training sessions that positively affect the needs of the team.
• Scout potential college players that could join the team.
• Enforce team rules and league rules applicable to the team's players and or coaching staff
• Scout next opponent and view three different games.
• Scouting / Match reports to be completed and submitted five days prior to the game.
• Set up training areas arranging for, conducting, assisting and supervising practices, training camps and training sessions for both the first team, MLS Next Pro team and academy teams when requested.
• Prepare players for all games played by the team, including developing game strategies and the scouting of opposing teams.
• Take responsibility for all components including coaching of the MLS Next Pro team.

Off Field Development

• Communicate – The management of communication channels is important within any organization. The flow of information has to have a purpose and ensure that the right information meets the right people. The staff will be kept involved and informed of important strategic decisions and results. Communication flows in both directions. To ensure that any organizational actions that do not fit within the club's action plan and philosophy are identified and then stopped. It is the responsibility of every member of the organization to monitor this.
• Develop a plan to have excellent, current knowledge of all opponents' individuals, and team strategies.
• Support/encourage your staff in seeking educational opportunities to grow as a coach and to help with the development of the club.
• Have an open mind to change, no comfort zones, no complacency and no compromises.
• Publicly share the same philosophy as the General Manager, Assistant GM and Technical Director.
• Live the team values, don't just talk about them, and set an example for the players to follow.
• Place a large amount of focus on player development from the academy players through the first team players that are involved with the program.
• Strive to learn more about coaching, your sport and your role – recognizing that no matter how much you might know there will always be more to learn.
• Accept and understand that no coach of any sport competing at the highest level can manage all tasks without specialist assistance in a number of elements and as such encourage the expression of the views, ideas, beliefs and contributions of players, coaches and staff.
• Enforce team rules and league rules.
• Be prepared to accept and welcome the contribution made by assistant coaches within your team structure and do not assume that your role is superior in importance.
• While financial rewards are important, be more committed to the progress and performance of individuals and the team rather than be dollar driven.
• Do more listening than speaking.
• Have an excellent current knowledge of all opponents' individual and team strategies to allow you to have intelligent, informed input to your own team's game plans.
• Develop a program that is superior in every way possible and help to incorporate policies and protocols of the head coach and program.

Management

• Lead discussions and coaches' meetings.
• Resolve conflicts quickly and appropriately. Don't leave the coaching environment with issues unresolved and conflicts left hanging.
• Maintain an excellent working environment with all support staff.
• Manage and administrate the program as if you are spending your own money.
• Ensure that full reports be formed by the coaching staff on team, and player performances in trainings and games.
• Conduct coaches' meetings and have communications channels with the Timbers first team coaches and the academy coaches as needed to ensure strong collaboration.

General Manager Relations

• Don't be intimidated to conflict with the General Manager, (in the appropriate forum) Assistant GM and Technical Director if the issue you believe in can help grow the program.
• Collaborate with the General Manager, Technical Director, Assistant GM in a partnership to develop roster strategies.
• Meet with the General Manager, Assistant GM, Technical Director and the Development Programs Director regularly to make sure you are always on the same page.
• Attack everything you do with a united front.
• Be the eyes and ears for the General Manager, Assistant GM and Technical Director and alert them to potential issues before they develop.
• Support the General Manager in public at all times regardless of the pressure or media scrutiny of the situation.
• Formulate evaluations about potential players and produce reports as requested.
• Be a good listener/observer to players, but only report what is relevant and necessary to the General Manager, Assistant GM and the Technical Director

Player Relation

• Individual lesson/learning plans for younger players.
• Manage the accumulation/analysis of in-depth knowledge of medical, strength and conditioning profiles of each player, to help assist in player development, training, planning, strategy development and tactical plays.
• Manage the creation of player progress reports every six weeks across all phases.
• Develop action plan programs from managing the creation of detailed reports to be discussed during meetings with players.
• Reflection and discussions on all trainings and games will be completed forming an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) for each player and coach.
• Each player will have access to progress reports every six weeks across all phases. Meetings will take place biannually for senior players and after each phase (approximately six weeks) for the younger players in the squad. Reports will be discussed during the meetings with the players and the agreed action plans implemented.
• Have good synergy with all players in particular the younger athletes and emerging stars.
• Have a strong interest and knowledge of player's outside interests, family/education, etc.
• Maintain in depth knowledge of medical & strength & conditioning profiles of each player, to assist in player development, training planning, strategy development and tactical plays.
• Be friendly with players in social gatherings but retain an appropriate professional distance – know where the limits are.

Recruiting/Scouting

• Assist the Technical Director in the scouting and evaluation of potential players for the team
• Consult and advise with respect to the team's roster and player trades.
• Develop outstanding recruiting skills within yourself and your staff to assist in building a competitive team with players that have future first team potential both long and short term.
• Assign coaching staff to individual scouting areas as needed or requested
• Manage scouting efforts for upcoming opponents.
• Develop outstanding recruiting skills to help the General Manager and Technical Director sustain the competitiveness of the team.
• Be involved in the scouting process as requested (overseas, domestic, college, etc.)

Media

• Weekly press conference.
• Daily media availability after training sessions.
• Periodic appearances on team shows – typically once a month.
• Weekly broadcast production meetings (home and road) with either local broadcast or national broadcast.
• In-game broadcast requests (pregame or halftime interview, wired, locker room access).
• Weekly pregame interview for team radio broadcast.
• Outside media interviews as requested.

Marketing

• Participate in any Timbers short-film series when needed
• Allow media to shoot on select road trips – on bus, during team meetings, meals etc.
• In the locker room – pre-game and post-game (pending results) and coaches' approval
• Occasionally Mic up players or coaches during training sessions
• Ability to follow players or coaches around away from the pitch (1–2-day shoot max.)
• Ability to shoot video, weight room, rehab etc. sessions.
• Ability to shoot coaches meetings – final edit approved by the coach
• Access to shoot a full training session.
• Short sit-down 1v1 interviews with players, coaching and technical staff mins).

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Hold a USSF or Canadian Pro Coaching License (or be on track to receive in the next 18 months)
• Obtain proper coaching qualifications, certifications, experience, etc.
• Be innovative and creative – help create the future by being self-motivated with the ability to think independently and with flexibility.
• Develop a vocabulary and culture of key similarities that all coaches in the team use consistently to reinforce your methods so that players understand and respect that a strong professional relationship exists in the coaching group – players will then feel comfortable in approaching any of the coaching team for the answers to their problems.
• Coach using the 8 "Cs" of coaching - composure, clarity, communication, certainty, confidence, compassion, creativity and calmness.
• Keep up with the latest technology in computing, communications, sports science and sports analysis.
• Develop outstanding recruiting skills – help sustain the competitiveness of the team.
• Don't offer "passive" support – be active in your support of decisions and philosophies.
• Maintain unquestionable trustworthiness – trust is the cornerstone of any great relationship.
• Develop strengths where the program or coach has weaknesses.
• It is vital to have a technical staff that is in tune with the club's ideological approach and has the skill set to carry out their respective duties.
• Have an outstanding knowledge of the sport, opponents and be prepared to share that knowledge.
• Strive to learn more about coaching, your sport and your role – recognizing that no matter how much you might know there will always be more to learn
• Make sure all staff works towards the successful implementation of their performance plan and set the standard for the club in terms of knowledge and work ethic.

DISPOSITION/ATTITUDE

• Participate in promotional, sponsorship and public relations activities requested by club upon reasonable prior notice, including, but not limited to, ticket, game, team and stadium promotions, clinics, speeches, interviews, photo sessions, public appearances, sponsor activities and participating in television, radio and internet programs featuring the team and other such duties and services as may reasonably be assigned by club to employee that are consistent with employment as a head coach of a team in the league
• Dress professionally and appropriately at all times
• Publicly and privately be positive and always put the organization first – no public or private personal player or coach criticism

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.