The Opportunity
Berwick Academy announces a search for a Director of Athletics to drive excellence in interscholastic, recreational, and club sports. Reporting to the Head of School, the successful candidate will rally the community around the joy of athletic competition and have comprehensive responsibility for all athletic teams, personnel, activities, and programs. This leadership role offers a distinct opportunity to develop student-athletes in a feeder program from Grades 3 through 12. As such, Berwick’s new Director of Athletics will mentor coaches to foster positive team culture and develop the skills and talents of student-athletes at four levels: Young Bulldogs Program (Grades 3 to 5), Middle School, Junior Varsity, and Varsity. In addition, the successful candidate will benefit from Berwick’s new comprehensive and visionary plan (see below) that articulates success in strengthening Berwick Athletics and the student-athlete experience. This is an exciting opportunity for proactive and thoughtful planning, decisive action to achieve goals, and "taking the ball and running with it.”
Founded in 1791, Berwick Academy is one hour north of Boston and situated within the beautiful, growing, and highly attractive southern Maine Seacoast area. Its 80-acre campus is home to 525 students (Pre-K to 12), 43 athletic teams, 84 coaches, and numerous league sports championships. The School’s facilities include one turf field, four grass fields, a softball/baseball field, four indoor basketball courts, tennis facilities, a fitness center that supports practice and competition, a dance studio, and a yoga studio. Berwick has an effective and long-standing partnership for use of a multi-rink hockey facility and a pool fewer than ten minutes from campus.
Berwick Athletics Philosophy Statement
Through a range of opportunities including highly competitive interscholastic sports, as well as intramural offerings promoting student fitness, community connections, and a lifelong love of physical activity, Berwick Academy’s Athletics Program emphasizes teamwork, character, self-discipline, and healthy life habits. We challenge our students to pursue individual growth and to become a part of something greater than themselves.
What We’re Looking for in Our New Athletics Leader
#1. Strategic Thinker and Skilled Administrator
Partnering with admissions, marketing, and communications colleagues in leveraging our athletics program to strengthen Berwick's brand and attract new student-athletes
Constructive collaboration with three division directors (Lower, Middle, and Upper School), the Facilities Team, and faculty in order to achieve program goals
Strategist that is constantly looking for ways to optimize Berwick Athletics by proactively identifying problems, dilemmas, opportunities, and solutions to improve the program
Driving and enacting the new plan for Berwick Athletics (see below) by moving forward through possible pitfalls and reimagining potential solutions
Systems-orientated manager that’s effective supervising team members and overseeing balanced team rosters, facilities use, scheduling, game operations, special events, and more
Strong fiscal acumen by interfacing with the Business Team to allocate resources that meet the needs of all athletics programs
Thought-partner to the Head of School and Administrative Team in identifying new strategies and vision to take Berwick Athletics to the next level
#2. Positive Team and Culture Builder
Highly visible in the Berwick community to build relationships and trust across multiple constituencies
Ability to translate the Berwick mission and culture into positive sportsmanlike conduct among players, coaches, families, and fans
Train coaches and student leaders in setting a good tone and building a positive team culture that is highly competitive, student-centered, and team-oriented
Adept at integrating Berwick Athletics positively into the life of the school and with thoughtful whole-school thinking so that the program makes a positive impact across the PK-12 spectrum
Motivate the community with a passion for highly competitive sports, an infectious enthusiasm for student-athletes and coaches, and a renewed sense of community spirit to cheer on Berwick teams
#3. Developing the Skills and Passions of Student-Athletes
Student-centered approach to athletic administration and coaching
Overseeing a wide range of team sports, skill levels, and student experiences to build our new and more-robust Varsity feeder program with reliable and well-structured JV and Middle School teams that challenge athletes with skill development, training, and swing players up to Varsity
Ensuring a seamless process for middle schoolers “playing up” onto JV and Varsity teams based on coach assessment, player skills, performance, developmental maturity, and academic standing
Proactive approach to retain athletes from Middle School into Upper School by ensuring MS involvement is meaningful and challenging and that there are enough choices resulting in appropriately sized rosters
Adept at helping student-athletes navigate outside sports club participation while balanced with meaningful and active participation and student leadership on Berwick teams
#4. Coaching Berwick Coaches
Success in recruiting and evaluating coaches to ensure an effective feedback loop, appropriate accountability, and consistent application of athletic policies and practices
Mentor and guide coaches to be highly adept at motivating their players and developing their team captains
Establish an approach of “sports program directors” led by Varsity coaches to create a better link among Varsity, JV, and Middle School coaches to ensure seamless progression for student-athletes and consistent techniques, plays, and terminology for each team sport
Partner with the Wellness Team to foster a mindset that keeps student growth, development, safety, wellness, and mental health at the forefront of coach decision-making
Provide professional development opportunities to coaching staff
#5. Effective Constituent Relationships and Communications
Positive relationships and timely, accurate messaging to families, student-athletes, and coaches
Navigate the expectations of student-athletes and their families with care, candor, and compassion
Strong partnership with the Admissions Team to drive and improve student-athlete recruitment among prospective families and retention among current families
Active liaison with the College Counseling Team to guide aspiring student-athletes through the college recruitment process
Ability to understand and integrate into Berwick Athletics the ongoing evolution of high school sports, outside club teams, today’s student-athletes, and parent expectations with a positive customer-service orientation
Ambassador for Berwick Athletics in maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with peer schools in the Eastern Independent League and NEPSAC, as well as among peer athletic directors and coaches
Background and Qualifications We Seek
Bachelor’s degree and preference for coaching experience at the high school and/or college level
Significant managerial experience, preferably in athletic administration, and background in leading complex athletic programs
Strong organizational and executive functioning skills, particularly in managing complex logistics and different internal structures that exist in a PK-12 school
Sound judgment and a resourceful, persistent, and flexible problem-solver
Ability to manage multiple priorities within time constraints while maintaining an optimistic and growth-oriented mindset
Highly skilled at collaboration and ability to contribute meaningfully as a member of Berwick’s senior Administrative Team
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain trust, respect, and credibility within a community
Strong interpersonal skills and composure through difficult conversations
Commitment to confidentiality
Salary and compensation package are market competitive and commensurate with experience, background, and demonstrated expertise.
Interested candidates are invited to send inquiries to Berwick’s search consultant in confidence: Rice Bryan,
rbryan@carneysandoe.com and Amanda Gastel, amanda.gastel@carneysandoe.com.
Please do not contact the school directly.Candidates will ultimately submit the following materials as one PDF document: