The Chicago Sky are seeking an experienced, forward-thinking, and innovative Head of Athletic Performance to
lead all aspects of the team’s physical preparation and sports science systems. This individual will oversee the
strength & conditioning program, athlete monitoring processes, and the integration of performance data to
support athlete health, readiness, and on-court success. The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with strong hands-on coaching ability, exceptional collaboration skills, and a passion for advancing athlete performance through evidence-based methods. This role is central to fostering a high-performance environment that aligns with the organization’s championship-driven standards.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
• Provide strategic leadership of athletic performance and sports science initiatives, ensuring cohesive
alignment with coaching, health/medical, and organizational goals.
• Develop and lead the long-term architecture of sustainable athletic performance including system design,
technology strategy, assessment framework, and iterative improvement processes.
• Lead, mentor, and develop performance staff including strength coaches, sports scientists, and interns.
• Collaborate closely with coaching, medical, and front office staff to align performance planning with team and individual goals.
• Establish performance standards, protocols, and measurable KPIs to evaluate progress and drive athlete development.
• Oversee performance-related technology, data systems, and budget areas to ensure effective resource management.
Strength & Conditioning
• Design and deliver comprehensive strength, power, speed, and conditioning programs tailored to the demands of professional women’s basketball.
• Conduct movement assessments and apply corrective strategies to reduce injury risk and enhance performance.
• Implement evidence-based training principles that match the seasonal calendar—preseason, in-season, postseason, and offseason.
• Supervise lifting sessions, court-based conditioning, and recovery sessions while ensuring athlete safety and technical proficiency.
Reconditioning and Return to Performance
• Partner closely with the rehabilitation staff to integrate performance principles, load progression strategies,
and objective KPIs into reconditioning plans.
• Co-develop and apply criteria-based return-to-performance frameworks that ensure safe, progressive, and
sport-relevant reintegration.
• Provide hands-on performance coaching for designated reconditioning phases, ensuring clarity and
continuity between performance and medical teams.
Sports Science & Data Integration
• Develop and oversee athlete monitoring systems including GPS/IMU technologies, force plates, HRV,
wellness surveys, and additional load-monitoring tools.
• Analyze, interpret, and clearly communicate performance and readiness data to coaches and support staff to
inform decision-making.
• Lead innovation and research initiatives that elevate training methodology and performance strategy.
• Maintain detailed performance records and reports to track trends and individual athlete progress.
Collaboration & Education
• Foster a performance-driven culture that emphasizes communication, shared learning, innovation, and
athlete-centered problem-solving.
• Oversee collaboration among performance, analytics, and coaching staff to support uniTied decision-making
on player development, performance programs, and strategic planning.
• Develop frameworks, educational content, and cross-department training opportunities to elevate
organizational performance unity.
• Develop and manage staff professional development pathways, providing mentorship and opportunities for
growth in coaching science, training, data interpretation, applied biomechanics, and performancetechnology implementation.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Exercise Science, Strength & Conditioning, Sports Science, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years in elite sport, professional sport, Olympic sport, tactical, or integrated high performance environments.
• CSCS (Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist) required.
• Proven ability to design and implement evidence-based strength, power, speed, conditioning, and movement programs.
• Demonstrated leadership experience within strength and conditioning, sports science, or performance departments.
• Experience integrating performance data – force plates, GPS/IMS systems, readiness metrics, AMS platforms into daily decision making.
• Ability to translate complex biomechanical, physiological, and performance information into actionable insights for coaches and athletes.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, and developing performance staff.
• Strong expertise in athlete monitoring, data analysis, and applied sports science tools.
• Proven ability to design and coach high-level strength and conditioning programs.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills within multidisciplinary, high-performance environments.
Preferred
• Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (NSCA-RSCC), or similar high-performance certification.
• Certified Performance and Sport Science (CPSS) Certification preferred.
• Experience working in the WNBA, NBA, NCAA Division I, or other elite basketball environments.
• Familiarity with stage-based reconditioning or return-to-performance frameworks and collaboration with medical staff during rehabilitation processes.
• Proficiency with athlete monitoring technologies, data management workflows, and applied data visualization tools.
• Understanding of coaching science, cueing frameworks, practice design, or skill acquisition principles.
• Experience with working with analytics, biomechanics, or data science groups to co-develop KPIs, dashboards, or performance workflows.
• Ability to design and delivery staff education, coach development, or professional development content.
• Experience managing budgets, performance technologies, or departmental operations.
Why Join Us
This role offers a unique opportunity to lead and shape the Chicago Sky’s high-performance strategy within a progressive, collaborative, and championship-driven environment. The Head of Athletic Performance will play a vital role in elevating athlete readiness, maximizing performance, and driving innovation across the organization.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
