Careers

Sports Challenge Boys Basketball Athletic Program Director

Job Description

Background

Strive: How You Lead Matters is a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the power of character-driven leadership. We deliver dynamic experiences in sport, school and community spaces. With over twenty years of robust research based curriculum, we develop leaders who are prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Strive’s foundational program, Sports Challenge, develops character-driven leaders on and off the field, applying the rigor of sports training to the practice of leadership. We bring together a diverse group of high school student-athletes to play soccer or basketball at a competitive level. This highly demanding, yet nurturing, program offers a unique 1:5 coach:athlete ratio. Sports Challenge takes place over five days, where student-athletes learn and work together, immersed in a growth-mindset culture.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Strive is an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage individuals to apply regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy status, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, and/or any other characteristics unrelated to merit.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

How we define Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Strive

Diversity: Who’s present? Who is not?

The understanding that each individual is different; the recognition of our differences as it relates to the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies.

Equity: Does everyone have access to resources that meet their needs?

The presence of structural factors that benefit all individuals, groups, and communities; an intentional effort to transform the status quo by providing opportunity and resources for those who have historically not had access.

Inclusion: Does everyone feel included?

A state of belonging and connection; the act of including and supporting people who have historically been marginalized or excluded.

How You Lead Matters

Strive’s purpose is to spread the power of character-driven leadership. We know that effective and successful leaders are self-aware and bring their full identities and values to any situation. Through social emotional learning and character-driven leadership, we believe that anyone can lead, and that when everyone brings their differences and individuality to the table, we are all more motivated, innovative, and collaborative.

Strive is committed to ensuring that individuals from all backgrounds have the opportunity to become character-driven leaders through our intentionally designed social-emotional learning curricula and programs.

We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment.

We know that modeling and leading by example is an integral part of leadership, and we therefore strive to always put our core values into action.

Position Overview

The Boys Basketball Athletic Program Director (APD) is responsible for all aspects of the boys basketball program at Sports Challenge. APDs serve as mentors for both the coaches and student-athletes and report to the Director of Sports Challenge. They lead the effort to create an environment in which all student-athletes and coaches feel challenged and supported. APDs are captains of the program while simultaneously participating as a coach, teacher and mentor. All coaches must participate in the three days of staff training prior to the start of the program. The boys basketball program size will be approximately 15 student-athletes.

Coach Responsibilities:

Ensure the success of the boys basketball program.
Lead boys basketball daily practices.
- Foster a positive team culture that builds on the Sports Challenge daily leadership themes.
- Create and execute detailed daily practice plans for boys basketball practices (2-hour daily practices).
- Assign roles and responsibilities to coaches for each practice.
Serve as a supervisor and mentor for the boys basketball coaches.
- Lead daily meetings with boys basketball staff.
- Provide mentoring and feedback to boys basketball coaches throughout the program.
- Provide formal evaluations to boys basketball coaches at the conclusion of the program.
Oversee the boys basketball mentorship program.
- Prepare coaches for goal-setting and check-in meetings with their assigned mentees.
- Provide coaching staff with appropriate support to enable successful final mentor letters and sport evaluations for their mentees and ensure these assignments are completed by the deadline post-program.
Serve as a mentor to student-athletes.
- Goal-set with assigned mentees and frequently check-in on their progress.
- Write a comprehensive evaluation and letter to your mentees (an outline will be provided).
Serve as a teacher for a leadership class.
- Staff will be provided with training, curriculum and feedback.
- Provide short class evaluations of student-athletes.
Supervise student-athletes.
- Oversee the health of boys basketball student-athletes. Communicate any injury or illness to the Director of Sports Challenge and Athletic Trainer as needed.
- Oversee responsible behavior of all student-athletes throughout each day in all facilities.
Participate in all coach development sessions and preparation time.
- Actively participate in coach development sessions to ensure maximum impact for coaching and classroom teaching.
- Perform necessary prep work for coaching and class sessions.
Contribute to the planning and implementation of all program-wide activities, such as:
- Sports Challenge Games.
- Vitamins morning workouts.
- Leadership Forum.
Collaborate with the other APDs.
- Attend daily APD morning meetings.
Support with administrative tasks.
- Assist in setting up and cleaning up the facilities.
- Support with drop-off, check-in and pick-up.
- Assist with Final Ceremony preparation and execution.
- Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements

We hire staff who:

Currently or previously played college basketball
Currently play or coach basketball
Are passionate about leadership and athletics
Believe in working hard and working as a team
Believe that leadership skills can be taught
View sports as an extraordinary medium for teaching leadership skills as well as other life-lessons
Possess experience working with young people
Believe in self-improvement and continued learning
Take their responsibilities seriously without taking themselves too seriously

Work Calendar

Temporary contractor position, Stipend: $900

Dates of Contract: Friday, June 23 – Friday, July 7, 2023
Sports Challenge Staff Training: Wilmington, DE
Friday, June 23 – Sunday, June 25, 8am-5pm
Sports Challenge Program: Sanford School in Hockessin, DE
Monday, June 26 – Friday, June 30, 7am-6pm
Post Sports Challenge: remote
- Complete student-athlete letters and evaluations by Friday, July 7

Our Core Values & Principles

Strive upholds the following core values, and expects all employees to do the same:

Know Thyself
Fill Tanks
Brush It Off and Grow
Be Fair and Honest
Choose Laughter
Stick With It
Find the best in yourself so that you can inspire the best in others

Other Specifics

Housing will be covered by Strive for non-local staff.
Lunches will be provided by Strive.
Staff will be required to obtain a background check prior to Sports Challenge staff training.

How To Apply

Send resume to krista@striveleadership.org no later than March 15th. This position will be filled on a rolling basis and may be filled before this deadline. An offer to interview will be extended to qualified candidates.

Apply Now

Please email your resume and cover letter to us at admin@striveleadership.org to be considered for the Director of Sports Challenge position.

Stay Connected

"*" indicates required fields