Tennis Coach - Cumberland Gap High School

About the Role

A high school tennis coach in a Tennessee public school system leads all aspects of the varsity and junior varsity tennis programs while strictly enforcing the athletic rules of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA). The role focuses on developing student-athlete skills, enforcing academic eligibility, and fostering sportsmanship. Public school districts hire both internal faculty members and external non-faculty individuals for this position.

Responsibilities

• Instruction & Player Development: Conduct daily spring practices; teach tennis fundamentals, footwork, singles/doubles strategies, and rules; and manage match-day court lineups.
• TSSAA Compliance: Ensure the tennis program operates within TSSAA Handbook Tennis Regulations, including strict rules governing continuous court-side coaching behavior.
• Eligibility Monitoring: Track student-athlete academic progress to confirm all participants meet local board and state athletic eligibility standards before match play.
• Match & Travel Logistics: Coordinate match schedules with the school Athletic Director; arrange student transportation to away matches; and oversee tournament check-ins.
• Safety & Student Welfare: Supervise student-athletes at all practices and matches; verify that valid physical forms are on file; and implement mandatory weather/heat safety policies.
• Equipment & Inventory: Manage the procurement, distribution, collection, and storage of tennis balls, team uniforms, and court training gear.

Requirements

• Education: Minimum of a High School Diploma or GED.
• Background Check: Must pass a comprehensive Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) criminal fingerprint background check and a Department of Children's Services (DCS) clearance.
• Health & Safety Certifications: Must hold active certifications in CPR and First Aid.
• State-Mandated Safety Courses: Must complete annual courses via the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Learn covering Concussion in Sports, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and Heat Illness Prevention (per the Tennessee Safe Stars Act).
• Special Non-Faculty Requirements: If the coach is not a full-time certified teacher, they must complete the NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching and First Aid, Health, and Safety for Coaches courses before working with students.

Schedule

This is a temporary, seasonal position focused heavily in the spring semester. Practices and match events require significant after-school and weekend commitments.

Pay

Compensation varies based on employment status: if filled by an existing teacher, the role is paid as a stipend supplement added to their base educator salary. Non-faculty coaches receive a flat, single-season athletic stipend determined by the local board of education's athletic supplement scale.