2026-2027 - Upper School - Head Coach of Speech and Debate

About the role

The Isidore Newman Speech & Debate Team is a comprehensive program serving Upper School students in grades 9–12 across a wide range of competitive events, including Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Policy Debate, World Schools Debate, Public Forum Debate, Interpretation Events, Platform Events, and Limited Preparation Events.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic vision and day-to-day leadership for all aspects of the program.
• Mentor assistant coaches.
• Design and oversee practices.
• Provide individualized coaching and constructive feedback to students.
• Cook up and oversee tournament travel and logistics.
• Attend overnight and day trips to tournaments.
• Manage budgets and communications.
• Serve as a liaison between parents and the school.
• Cultivate a team culture grounded in the school's Mission and Core Values.

Requirements

• A strong background in competitive Speech & Debate at the local, regional, and national levels, with particular expertise in Cross-Examination (Policy) Debate and/or Lincoln-Douglas Debate preferred.
• A commitment to fostering meaningful relationships with students while maintaining high expectations for preparation, conduct, intellectual engagement, and competitive excellence.
• Cultural competency and a demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and respect for diverse identities, perspectives, and experiences.
• A collaborative and innovative professional orientation, with the ability to work effectively with students, families, faculty colleagues, and school leadership.
• A student-centered educational philosophy aligned with Newman's motto that "We learn to do by doing."
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, along with the judgment, flexibility, and professionalism necessary to lead a complex and evolving program.
• A positive sense of humor, intellectual curiosity, and the energy to contribute meaningfully to the life of the school community.

Qualifications

• An ideal candidate will possess many of the following qualifications and characteristics:
• A strong background in competitive Speech & Debate at the local, regional, and national levels, with particular expertise in Cross-Examination (Policy) Debate and/or Lincoln-Douglas Debate preferred.
• A commitment to fostering meaningful relationships with students while maintaining high expectations for preparation, conduct, intellectual engagement, and competitive excellence.
• Cultural competency and a demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and respect for diverse identities, perspectives, and experiences.
• A collaborative and innovative professional orientation, with the ability to work effectively with students, families, faculty colleagues, and school leadership.
• A student-centered educational philosophy aligned with Newman's motto that "We learn to do by doing."
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, along with the judgment, flexibility, and professionalism necessary to lead a complex and evolving program.
• A positive sense of humor, intellectual curiosity, and the energy to contribute meaningfully to the life of the school community.