Assistant Coach, Middle School Coed Cross Country

Date posted: July 31, 2026

Pay: $700.00 per year

Job description:

School: Shining Mountain Waldorf School, Boulder, CO

Program: Middle School Athletics (Grades 6 to 8)

Reports to: Head Cross Country Coach and the Athletic Director

Compensation: Base stipend of $700 for the season

About the program

Shining Mountain Waldorf School is a Pre-K through 12 Waldorf school in the Boulder foothills. Our middle school athletics program (grades 6 to 8) is built around personal growth and social development, not a win-at-all-costs approach. We emphasize effort over outcomes, teamwork, and learning. Every coach is a certified Double-Goal Coach through the Positive Coaching Alliance, and the school holds PCA's Seal of Commitment. We don't hold tryouts or make cuts. Every student who commits is on the team.

Position summary

We're looking for an assistant coach to support our head cross country coach in leading a coed middle school team. You'll help run trail-based practices, support athletes at meets, and reinforce a supportive team culture where kids of all experience levels feel they belong.

Season and time commitment

• Preseason begins the week of August 24. The season runs from the first week of September into late October.
• Practices average 3 times per week, ranging from 2 to 4 events. Practices are 3:15 to 4:15 on the trails near school (Wonderland Lake, Foothills Community Park), gathering outside the Festival Hall to start and finish. Specific practice days are still being set.
• Weekly meets, most on Thursday with two on Wednesdays this season.
• Meet sites depend on the host school, so expect travel. Host schools are located in Boulder, Westminster, Arvada, and Evergreen (the farthest).
• The assistant is expected at every practice and meet unless otherwise agreed upon in advance.

Key responsibilities

• Arrive at least 15 minutes before each practice to help set up and be ready when athletes arrive.
• Support the head coach in planning and leading practices, warmups, and running workouts.
• Lead pace groups and work with athletes across a range of abilities and experience levels.
• Help supervise athletes on the trails, including headcounts, hydration, and safety.
• Support the team at meets, which are held at or near host schools, so sites vary.
• Travel with the team and head coach on the team bus when the team travels together.
• Model and reinforce the PCA Double-Goal philosophy of effort, growth, and good sportsmanship.
• Assist with basic first aid and emergency procedures as needed.

Qualifications (in order of importance)

• Experience teaching and/or coaching children, preferably teens.
• Experience running and knowledge of the sport. A competitive or elite background is not required.
• Genuine enthusiasm for the sport and for working with this age group.
• Reliability and a full commitment to the season.
• Ability to work collaboratively with the head coach and Athletic Director.
• Successful background check.
• CPR/First Aid certification required. We can provide this if needed.
• PCA Double-Goal Coach certification required. We provide this training.

Learn more about us

Take some time to get to know us at https://shiningmountainwaldorf.org/. We'd encourage you to read about the school and about Waldorf education before you apply. It will give you a real feel for the community you'd be joining and the developmental approach that shapes how we coach.

To apply

Email ad@smwaldorf.org with your resume and a brief note about your background and why this interests you.

Job Type: Part-time

Work Location: In person