Department
CSL Athletics and Recreation
About the Department
With a rich and storied history, the University of Chicago’s Department of Athletics & Recreation endeavors to serve the broad range of fitness, physical recreation, and athletic needs of the University of Chicago community. The Department sponsors 20 intercollegiate teams and 570 student-athletes in various varsity sports. The Department sponsors more than 40 club sports and a diverse intramural sports program in which approximately 8,500 students participate each year. Numerous open recreation opportunities are provided in the two indoor facilities as well as the outdoor fields, courts, and running track. On an average day, approximately 2,100 students, faculty and staff use the athletic and recreational facilities on campus.
Job Summary
The Head Men’s Tennis Coach will provide leadership in the personal, academic, and athletic development of student-athletes and will work with the Director of Athletics to support the overall mission and vision of the University and the Department of Athletics and Recreation. The head coach must be committed to the educational model of college athletics and to the values of professional integrity, dignity, ethical conduct, and inclusivity.
The Head Men’s Tennis Coach is responsible for the organization, direction, and administration of all facets of a competitive NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis program. This includes teaching and developing players, planning practices and competitive strategies, recruiting academically and athletically qualified student-athletes, supporting alumnae relations and fundraising efforts, administering the operating budget, adhering to University policies and NCAA/conference rules and regulations, and managing program operations such as scheduling and team travel. The head coach will maintain collaborative working relationships with departmental colleagues, campus partners, and University constituents.
Responsibilities
- Develops and executes a strategic vision for building and sustaining a competitive Men’s tennis program consistent with NCAA Division III philosophy.
- Plans and leads all practice sessions and competitions; teaches technical, tactical, and mental aspects of the sport.
- Oversees seasonal planning, including competitive schedules, practices, facilities coordination, officials, and team travel.
- Demonstrates a philosophy that emphasizes academic priorities and supports student-athlete success in the classroom.
- Provides leadership and mentorship in the personal, athletic, and academic development of student-athletes and fosters a positive, inclusive, and values-based team culture.
- Demonstrates a commitment to student-athlete well-being, including mental health awareness, injury prevention, and the development of a supportive team environment.
- Counsels student-athletes in academic, disciplinary, and personal matters; consults with appropriate University partners as needed.
- Assists with training and conditioning programs in collaboration with strength and sports performance staff.
- Conceives, implements, and manages recruiting strategies aligned with institutional academic standards and NCAA regulations; collaborates with the Office of Admissions throughout the application and matriculation process.
- Works collaboratively with the Head Men’s Tennis Coach to coordinate shared resources, including staffing, facilities usage, scheduling considerations, and fundraising efforts, recognizing the consolidated nature of program operations where applicable.
- Provides leadership for the program by modeling professionalism, accountability, and ethical conduct consistent with Department and University expectations.
- Manages the program’s operating budget, including forecasting needs, monitoring expenditures, and ensuring fiscal responsibility.
- Serves as the primary representative and spokesperson for the Men’s Tennis program with alumni, prospective families, officials, and external partners.
- Assists with advancement and fundraising initiatives in support of the tennis programs and the Department of Athletics and Recreation.
- Remains current with national trends, rules, and best practices in collegiate tennis and participates in ongoing professional development.
- Ensures full compliance with NCAA, conference, and University rules and policies.
- Reviews team and individual performance using video and data to inform strategy, instruction, and player development.
- Serve as event management for select home contests, as assigned by athletic administration.
- Coordinate pre‑event planning and game‑day execution, including staffing coordination, officials’ communication, competition logistics, and on‑site operational needs.
- Collaborate with Sport Administration, Facilities, Sports Medicine, and Operations staff to ensure events are conducted safely, efficiently, and in alignment with departmental standards.
- Assist with post‑event reporting and follow‑up as required.
- Event management responsibilities are limited to select contests and are assigned based on departmental needs, seasonal capacity, and primary coaching responsibilities.
- Manages a team of professionals responsible for the planning, coaching, recruiting, administration, and promotion of University intercollegiate athletics programs. Ensures student-athletes and athletics representatives comply with NCAA and University rules and regulations.
- Develops and implements an overall recruiting plan. Determines fiscal requirements and prepares budgetary recommendations; monitors, verifies and reconciles expenditures of budgeted funds.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Experience:
- Experience playing and/or coaching tennis at the collegiate level.
- Minimum of seven years of significant and relevant playing and/or coaching experience in highly competitive tennis.
- Demonstrated knowledge of NCAA rules, compliance expectations, and Division III philosophy.
Certifications:
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
- Proficiency with computer applications, including Microsoft Office Suite and related software.
- Familiarity with or experience using Teamworks Hub, including Compliance and Recruiting modules, to support recruiting, compliance tracking, communication, and program operations.
Preferred Competencies
- Strong leadership, mentoring, and team-building skills.
- Demonstrated ability to recruit academically and athletically successful student-athletes.
- Understanding of the role intercollegiate athletics plays within a rigorous academic environment.
- Ability to communicate effectively with student-athletes, colleagues, alumni, and campus partners.
- Ability to develop and manage recruiting strategies consistent with NCAA Division III philosophy and institutional academic standards, including evaluation through rankings, match play, video, and academic indicators.
- Knowledge of relevant sport rules and best practices in collegiate tennis.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Working Conditions
- Considerable travel and frequent night and weekend hours are required.
- Adherence to NCAA rules and regulations; violations may result in disciplinary action.
- Ability to meet the University driving requirements.
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter (required)
- List of Three Professional References Contact Information (preferred)
The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Student Affairs & Services
Role Impact
People Manager
Scheduled Weekly Hours
40
Drug Test Required
No
Health Screen Required
No
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
Yes
Pay Rate Type
Salary
FLSA Status
Exempt
Pay Range
$80,000.00 - $90,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.