Auburn Ski Club Seeks Head Coach for Nordic Development Program

Auburn Ski Club (ASC) is a historic non-profit organization dedicated to providing snow sports opportunities to the greater Northern California region since 1928. Today, ASC operates a snow sports Training Center on Donner Summit that provides athletic programs, USSS/FIS competition and training venues, and youth snow sports teams ranging from entry-level to elite for Alpine, Snowboard, Nordic, and Biathlon. The Training Center’s cross-country venue also operates as a 25-kilometer Nordic Center open to the public.

ASC is now hiring a Head Coach for its Nordic Development Program.

Position Overview

The Head Coach of the Nordic Development Program leads the Devo 1 and Devo 2 teams, where U10 through U14 athletes move from learning to ski toward learning to train. This is the stage of the pipeline that determines whether a young skier stays in the sport. ASC is looking for a coach who understands that skill, confidence, and enjoyment at this age build better racers than early specialization does.

The Head Coach takes graduates of the Super Sliders program and prepares them, technically and personally, for the Competition Team. The role covers session planning and on-snow coaching, technical progression across both Devo groups, support and training of assistant coaches and parent volunteers, and steady communication with families. It suits a coach who wants ownership of a program rather than a set of practices, and who is comfortable being the person a nine-year-old remembers as the reason they kept skiing.

The Details

Annual salary based on experience
Salary structure includes coaching hours, administrative responsibilities, and flex time off
Health insurance offered
ASC 401(k) program with annual 3% salary match

Key Responsibilities

Coaching & Athlete Development

Lead the Devo 1 and Devo 2 programs year-round, on snow and in dryland
Plan and deliver weekly training across the Devo schedule, including weekday afternoon sessions under the Nordic Center lights and Saturday mornings
Build technical progressions appropriate to the age group: classic stride with coordinated pole use, skate skiing with and without poles, V1, step turns, hockey stops, terrain reading, pacing over varied distances, and smooth transitions between techniques
Run Devo 1 as a train-to-learn environment and Devo 2 as a learn-to-train environment, with a clear and deliberate step between them
Teach athletes to take care of their own equipment as they approach the Competition Team, including ski selection, basic tuning, and hot waxing
Introduce racing as something athletes look forward to, supporting Devo skiers at local and Far West Nordic events without making competition the price of admission
Identify athletes ready to move up, and prepare both the athlete and the family for that step
Keep retention and long-term participation as measures of the program’s success alongside results

Program Leadership & Collaboration

Work with Super Sliders staff so athletes arriving in Devo 1 meet a familiar teaching language and a consistent standard
Coordinate with Competition Team coaching staff to keep one continuous progression across the Nordic pipeline
Recruit, train, schedule, and support assistant coaches and parent volunteers, including the volunteer sessions Devo families are asked to fill
Support ASC-hosted racing, including Far West Nordic qualifying events held on the Training Center trails
Contribute to registration, retention, and program growth planning with Nordic program leadership
Build a culture of mentorship and sportsmanship across the ASC Nordic community

Community & Regional Engagement

Serve as a visible and positive presence in the Far West Nordic community
Work with regional programs on development events, clinics, and youth racing opportunities
Support initiatives that create access and opportunity for athletes at every level, including needs-based scholarship efforts
Potential leadership role representing ASC at the FW Junior Committee or FW Board

Communication & Family Engagement

Maintain consistent, proactive communication with athletes and families
Lead parent education on what development looks like at this age, and on what it does not need to look like
Guide families through equipment decisions, including fall meetings ahead of the season
Help families understand the pathway ahead while keeping expectations honest and athlete-centered