The Head Performance Coach leads the physical development of the Racing Louisville FC first team, ensuring players are prepared for training and competition in alignment with the club’s game model.
This role oversees all aspects of team physical preparation, including training-load periodization, individualized strength and fitness programming, recovery strategies, and return-to-performance (RTP) progressions. The Head Performance Coach leads on-field RTP sessions and ensures athletes maintain appropriate fitness throughout rehabilitation.
This position also provides leadership within the department, mentoring the Applied Sports Scientist and any performance interns, and serving as a primary liaison between the medical/performance staff and the technical staff.
The ideal candidate is collaborative, adaptable, and decisive, with a strong understanding of athlete development, integrated performance care, and the demands of professional soccer.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Oversee player monitoring, profiling, and evaluation to deliver a clear, data-informed strategy for each first-team player, tailored to their developmental needs and priorities.
- Develop and execute team lifting and strength-training sessions.
- Design and deliver team conditioning programs aligned with the club’s tactical philosophy.
- Support the return-to-play process through appropriate conditioning strategies and maintenance of strength training.
- Lead and design individualized on-field RTP sessions.
- Design and analyze individualized loading progressions for on-field return-to-play.
- Develop individualized activation routines for all first-team athletes.
- Create, deliver, and remotely support off-season training programs.
- Educate and guide players on evidence-based recovery strategies.
- Design and lead training warm-ups and reentry-day recovery sessions for high-minute players.
- Develop and implement the team’s travel-performance strategy.
- Manage and maintain performance supplies and equipment.
- Oversee team training periodization across the season.
- Lead performance testing efforts, including team-wide assessments and RTP-specific testing.
- Collaborate with the Head Athletic Trainer and Director of Medical & Performance to review and analyze the risk-reward profile of prospective athletes.
- Perform other related duties and projects as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Direct supervision of the Applied Sports Scientist.
- Oversight and mentorship of performance interns, as applicable.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education & Certifications
· Bachelor’s degree in human physiology, sports science, or related field (required)
· Master’s degree (preferred)
· Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), NSCA (required)
· Certified Performance & Sports Scientist (CPSS), NSCA (preferred)
Experience & Technical Skills
- Minimum four (4) years of experience in a similar role, preferably within professional or elite soccer.
- Deep understanding of soccer periodization and its application to training and long-term planning.
- Strong applied sports science knowledge and proficiency with athlete-monitoring systems, GPS, and data analysis software.
- Experience with performance technologies such as Output, Vald, and 1080 Sprint.
- Demonstrated understanding of modern return-to-play methodology and on-field rehabilitation principles.
- Strong soccer-specific technical knowledge to integrate physical preparation with tactical demands.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and collaborative skills within multidisciplinary high-performance environments.
Additional Requirements
- Successful completion of a pre-employment comprehensive background check is required.
- Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship now or in the future.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
- Must be able to walk significant distances, including up and down stairs, as required throughout the venue, as well as stand, sit, walk, bend, kneel, climb, grasp, stretch, stoop, and reach above head in conjunction with tasks.
- Ability and willingness to work in all types of adverse weather conditions (i.e., heat, rain, cold, snow, wind).
SCHEDULE:
This is a full-time, year-round position. The Head Performance Coach is expected to attend all team training sessions, matches (home and away), team events, and necessary club activities. The role requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and select holidays based on the team’s schedule and performance needs.
REFERENCES & BACKGROUND CHECK:
Racing Louisville FC and the NWSL will contact references and perform thorough background checks for all coaching and technical staff positions. The Club expects all coaches and staff to perform their job duties at the highest level of professionalism, ensuring the safety of our players.
ABOUT OUR CLUB:
Racing Louisville FC, also known as Racing, is Kentucky’s top-tier professional women’s soccer team competing in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Founded in 2021 as an NWSL expansion club, Racing is operated by Soccer Holdings, LLC, the same organization behind Louisville City FC. The Team’s roster features both World Cup winners and national team-caliber players. Racing plays its home matches at Lynn Family Stadium and trains at the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center in Louisville, KY.
DISCLAIMER
The information in this job description is not exhaustive of all the duties and responsibilities, nor is it intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to perform the job. At the discretion of management, duties and responsibilities may change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other business needs.
Soccer Holdings, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, class, religion, country of origin, political belief, disability, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other factor protected by law.
