Coaches - Nighthawk Track & Field

Updated 7/15/2026.

We are a Christian-principled program and are looking for volunteer coaches with encouraging spirits and hearts to serve.

The events we offer each season depend on coaches' commitments as well as facilities available. Experience is preferred but does not have to be recent; otherwise, general athletic ability (past or present) and body awareness helps. :) We will train you. Coaches are not required to have student-athletes participating in the program, so please let us know if you know someone that would make a great coach.

Coaching benefits:

• Official Northwest Nighthawks COACH shirt :)

• Meets feel shorter when you're keeping busy

• Rewarding experience working with youth and seeing them grow and rise to challenges

• Fun!

The Basics:

• The head coach(es) and the AD set the competition schedule.

• The head coach(es) and the track specialty coaches plan the workouts.

Responsibilities for all coaches:

• Participate in required background checks (see NHAC Youth Protection Policy in the Team Handbook)
  and complete Ministry Safe training.

• Abide by MSHSL coaching guidelines:

  • https://www.mshsl.org/schools/coaches

  • https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2023-09/AthleticCampClinicQA%209-20-23.pdf

• Complete MSHSL online coaches' training (approximately 3 hours and update annually as required)
  and read InSideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives by Joe Ehrmann (provided).

• (Optional but highly recommended:) Attend at least one day of the MTFCA coaches’ training clinic (typically the last Friday and Saturday of January, www.mshsca.org/trackclinic). NHAC will cover your registration fee.

• Attend practices 3+ days/week

  • We host more practices than that, but 3x/week is a minimum for coaches to maintain coaching continuity. See the website general information page and team calendar for practice schedule.

  • Cross country: mid-August through early November, depending on advancement.

  • Track & field: mid-March through early June, depending on advancement.

• Meets are generally scheduled once/week, typically on practice days. If have to miss a couple and/or arrive a bit late, that is O.K. as we typically have other coaches to cover for you. See Team Calendar for the tentative competition schedule, or if it is not yet posted, scroll back for last year's competition schedule. It will be similar.

We understand that coaching is a big commitment, so thank you for considering it! We'd love to hear from you and answer any of your questions. Please continue to pray as we seek what is best for the Nighthawk programs.