Description
Post Title: HertSquad Head Basketball Coach – BUCS Men’s 1st Team
SBU/Department: University of Hertfordshire Sports Village - HertSquad
Duration of Contract: 12 months reviewed annually (Casual Contract)
Salary: Competitive Location: Hertfordshire Sports Village, De Havilland campus, Hatfield, Hertfordshire The University of Hertfordshire is seeking a proven and ambitious basketball coach to lead and shape the future of its high-performance basketball programme within British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) competition. This is a pivotal moment to join the programme, coming off the back of a historic 2024/25 season that saw Hertfordshire claim its first-ever BUCS South Premier Division title and reach the National Semi-Finals. Building on this success, we are looking for a coach with a strong track record in developing talent, building winning cultures, and competing at the highest level of university sport in the UK.
We are looking for a suitably qualified individual who can demonstrate excellent leadership qualities. As Head Basketball Coach, they will play a pivotal role in coordinating and driving the development of the performance basketball programme. The Head Coach will oversee the progression of the 1st Team and prepare them for competition in the BUCS South Premier Division. They will play an important part in shaping and delivering the long-term strategy for basketball at the University, while also serving as a figurehead in attracting and supporting student-athletes within the programme.
The successful candidate will be responsible for leading and coordinating individual player development plans and will also act as a mentor to support the development of the NBL Division 3 coach. The University of Hertfordshire is committed to establishing itself as the leading higher education institution for basketball in the region, and we are seeking an enthusiastic and driven leader to help shape the programme’s future.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead the on-court delivery for the BUCS Men’s First Team, implementing effective and innovative training methods in both practice and competition settings.
• Plan, prepare, and deliver detailed scouting and game review materials for athletes and staff, both pre- and post-game.
• Work alongside the Performance Sport Manager to coordinate and deliver the long-term strategy and playing philosophy for Performance Basketball at the University of Hertfordshire.
• Design and implement year-round individual development plans tailored to basketball scholar-athletes.
• Lead and collaborate with a multidisciplinary support team to optimise player development and performance.
• Coordinate with partner club Hemel Storm on athlete load management and collaborative basketball initiatives.
• Maintain regular communication with the Performance Sport Manager to ensure the ongoing development and progression of athletes.
• Support and promote the development of wider basketball activities across the university community.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to the NBL Division 3 Head Coach to support their coaching development.
Skills and experience needed:
• Basketball England Level 2 Basketball Coaching Certificate or internationally recognised equivalent (Essential)
• First Aid Certificate (Essential)
• Proven experience coaching and/or playing basketball at a performance or elite level, ideally in a British University setting. (Essential) • Experience of monitoring and reviewing performance. (Essential)
• Knowledge of Basketball England academy systems and feeder pathways to higher education settings. (Essential)
• Experience of using performance profiling and analytical tools to aid player development. (Essential)
• Experience of collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of staff including strength and conditioning and medical services. (Essential)
• Exceptional technical, tactical, physical and psychosocial understanding of the demands of basketball. (Essential)
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate clearly and effectively to athletes and support staff both verbally and in writing report form. (Essential)
• An ability to identify strengths and areas of improvement in athletes and produce development plans that are suited to address player issues. (Essential)
• An exceptional work-ethic and ability to prioritise workloads. (Essential)
• An ability to motivate student-athletes and have an awareness of the unique pressures they face. (Essential)
• An ability to develop effective relationships within the basketball community (Essential)
• Strong IT-proficiency. (Essential)
• A willingness to work unsociable hours. (Essential)
• A willingness and ability to commit to flexible travel arrangements midweek. (Essential)
• Basketball England Level 3 Basketball Coaching Certificate or Internationally recognised equivalent. (Desirable)
• Bachelor’s, Masters or PhD degree in physical education, basketball coaching or other relevant equivalent degree qualification. (Desirable)
• Demonstrable experience of leading and mentoring coaches. (Desirable)
• Experience working with stakeholders and partnership clubs. (Desirable)
• Proven track record of recruiting elite basketball players to academic institutions. (Desirable)
Employee Benefits include:
• Competitive hourly rate
• Pension scheme
• University benefits such as access to an employee support programme and discount schemes
• The opportunity to join a forward thinking, positive and committed team with clear direction
• UniDays, NUS and Galleria discounts
• Discounted travel on UNO buses
• and much more...
Hertfordshire Sports Village provides extensive sports facilities and services to the local community, students and staff of the University of Hertfordshire. Proudly named as one of Leisure and Hospitality’s 20 Best Companies to Work For in 2021, Hertfordshire Sports Village is committed to ensuring our staff team are connected and engaged.
Welcoming, going the extra mile, leading by example and the ability to consistently exceed expectations are some of the values we look for in our team members.
If you share these values and want to make a real difference, we would love to hear from you. Interested in this position?
For an informal discussion about this exciting opportunity, please contact Bryn Clark (Deputy Director of Sport) by email at [email protected]
If you would like to apply or wish to find out more please get in touch with Bryn Clark (Deputy Director of Sport) by email at [email protected]
