The Spirit Squad Coordinator oversees the Northwestern cheerleading and mascot program organizing practices, conducting tryouts, teaching routines and supervising the team at all home football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball games. As an extension of the Northwestern Athletics and Recreation Department, the Spirit Squad Coordinator works with the cheer and mascot teams to enhance the fan experience at Northwestern events. The coordinator must serve as a positive role model for students through ethical and professional conduct.
*Please note: This is part-time and a term appointment from August 2021 – May 2022. Willingness and ability to work evenings, weekends and holidays. Travel required.
Responsible for adhering to all Department and University policies and procedures, as well as the rules, regulations, bylaws and interpretations of the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA.
Specific Responsibilities:
Coaches and instructs cheerleaders and mascots, individually or in groups, the applicable skills, rules, regulations, equipment and techniques of the sport.
Works with cheerleaders and mascots during practices and sport events; Observes cheerleaders and mascots, during events and practice to determine the needs for individual and team improvement.
Develops a regular practice schedule and organizes practice times to provide both individual and team development; emphasizes safety in skill development, providing proper warmup and conditioning, and ensures student safety at all times.
Assesses skills and assigns team positions. Models nondiscriminatory practices in assignment of positions.
Coaches the cheerleading and mascot teams at all home football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball games.
Coaches and chaperones the cheerleading and mascot teams at away football games; develops policies for determining travel squad members. Models nondiscriminatory practices in scheduling team travel.
Coaches and chaperones the cheer and mascot teams at postseason events (i.e. Football Bowl Game, Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments).
Participates in special events (i.e. Meet the Team Night, Kits, Cats and Kids Block party, Wildcat Welcome events, Homecoming, etc.); Develop procedures for scheduling cheerleaders and mascot performers for all events.
Follows established procedures for securing supplies, distributing uniforms and securing meeting and practice space.
Recruits new students to join the cheerleading and mascot teams each year. Plans, organizes and conducts tryouts for the cheer and mascot programs.
Maintains the operating, fundraising and donation budgets for the teams; including paying bills, obtaining payments for appearances, etc. Obtains administrative budget approval annually.
Models good sportsmanship and maintains appropriate conduct toward cheerleaders, officials and fans.
Supervises, recruits and hires volunteer assistant coaches.
Collaborates with the athletics’ marketing team on gameday preparation.
Provides administrative support to the Event Management and Marketing departments in preparation for home events.
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Minimum 2 years’ experience as a cheer coach; high school or college level preferred.
Must possess effective coaching techniques and skills.
Must possess thorough knowledge of the rules, regulations, strategies and techniques of USA Cheer College Cheer rules.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students and administration.
Strong organizational skills.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity.
Certificate in USA Cheer Safety and Risk Management by USA Cheer before employment start date and maintained throughout appointment.
Maintenance of CPR, AED and First Aid training required.
Ability to work evenings, weekends and some holidays.
Travel required for away football games and postseason events.
Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
Ability to stand for extended periods of time.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.
About Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a major private research university with 12 academic divisions located on three campuses in Evanston, Chicago, and Education City in Doha, Qatar. We have approximately 2,500 full-time faculty members, 17,000 graduate and undergraduate students, and over 5,700 full and part-time staff. Faculty members include Tony Award winners, MacArthur Fellowship recipients and members of numerous honorary and professional societies, National Academy of Engineering, American Academy of Arts and Sciences and American Council of Learned Societies. Research thrives at Northwestern University. Interdisciplinary teams at Northwestern work to solve society's problems and facilitate clinical and commercial use of their innovations with partners at Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, and local universities. Beyond being a dynamic learning organization, Northwestern employs a dynamic and diverse mix of faculty and staff who work proactively to ensure that the University is a special place to work. Northwestern is committed to the recruitment of a diverse faculty, staff and student body, fostering a climate that treasures differences and provides rich opportunities for learnin...g. To that end, Northwestern University actively seeks women, minorities, veterans, and disabled persons for employment and promotion throughout the University.
The Northwestern Work Environment. Our two main campuses are situated along Lake Michigan’s lakefront. The Chicago campus, located between the Magnificent Mile and Lake Michigan, offers outstanding views and is within walking distance of some of the city’s main attractions.The Evanston campus, just 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, sits among charming residential neighborhoods, parks, beaches, and bike trails.At our newest campus, in the architecturally significant Education City in Doha, Qatar, the University offers undergraduate programs in partnership with the Qatar Foundation.
Northwestern offers many benefit options to full and part-time employees including: Competitive compensation, Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, Tuition reimbursement, Pre-tax transit options, Professional development opportunities, Vacation, sick, and holiday pay, Excellent retirement plans, Work/Life balance and resources, Dependent care match, Faculty-Staff Assistance Program. We also provide employees with access to an abundance of recreational, cultural, and enrichment opportunities that take place on and off campus.
