HEAVYWEIGHT SECOND ASSISTANT COACH

Summary of responsibilities

Day to Day Responsibilities

  • Daily on-water coaching, often with lower boats (4V/5V, novices)

  • Leading or assisting with fall walk-on/learn to row programs

  • Running or supporting strength training sessions

  • Setting up the Peach system and organizing team video for technical coaching/development

Recruiting

  • Assisting with recruiting, including walk-ons

  • Handles visit logistics and recruiting paperwork

Team Operations & Logistics

  • Assists in coordinating team travel, hotels, meals, and race day logistics

  • Trailer driving for training trips, away races, etc.

How long has the heavyweight 2nd assistant been in this role at your institution?

$30,000-39,000 per year

$50,000-59,000 per year

$70,000-79,000 per year

Boathouse & Equipment

  • Assisting with boat maintenance and rigging

  • Managing boathouse operations

Other Support Roles

  • Academic oversight and student-athlete well-being

  • Course maintenance (setting buoy lines, minor repairs, installation/removal, etc.)

Experience and recruiting

Of the 16 institutions that participated in this section…

  • 5 second assistant coaches were in their first year at their institution

  • The average number of years at an institution for a second heavyweight assistant is currently 2-3 years.

  • The average total number of years of full-time collegiate coaching experience for a current second heavyweight assistant is 4-7 years.

Is the heavyweight 2nd assistant USRowing certified?

How many total years of full-time, collegiate coaching experience does the heavyweight 2nd assistant have?

Of the 16 institutions that participated in this section…

  • 7 second heavyweight assistants indicated that they are involved with 25% or less of all recruiting responsibilities

  • 6 indicated that they roughly split recruiting duties with one or more coaches within the program and are involved with ~50% of all recruiting responsibilities

  • 3 indicated they take the lead on all recruiting efforts for the heavyweight team and manages ~75% of all recruiting responsibilities

The average number of days that a heavyweight second assistant spent traveling for recruiting purposes was 14.5 days. 6 indicated that they do no international traveling for recruiting but of the 10 that do, they average around 15 days per year of international recruiting.

In FY25, how many days did/will the heavyweight 2nd assistant spend traveling for recruiting purposes?

Of the days spent traveling for recruiting purposes in FY25, how many of those were/will be international?

Salaries, contracts, and bonuses

Of the 16 institutions that participated in this section…

  • 10 indicated that the heavyweight second assistant is a full-time position

  • 1 indicated that the heavyweight second assistant is a 10-month contract

  • 5 indicated that the heavyweight second assistant is a part-time position

The pay structure for all of the full-time and 10-month contract positions were listed as “salaried”, whereas two of the part-time positions were listed as “salaried” (making less than $30k per year) and three were listed as “hourly. The average hourly rate was $21/hour.

The average FY25 salary range for second heavyweight assistants was ~$48k-$55k.

The breakdown below shows each range grouped by division, IRA qualifier, and cost of living.

If salaried, what is the base range for FY25?

Less than $30k per year

$40,000-49,000 per year

$80,000-89,000 per year

Of the 16 institutions that participated in this section…

  • 10 indicated that the second assistant coach’s salary was university funded

  • 3 indicated that the second assistant coach’s salary is funded through fundraising

  • 3 indicated that the second assistant coach’s salary was funded through a combination of two or more of the above options

The breakdown below shows each range grouped by division, IRA qualifier, and cost of living.

University funded

Fundraising

A combination of two or more of the above options

Of the 3 second assistants whose salary is funded through a combination of multiple funding sources, the splits included…

  • University funding (90%) and fundraising (10%)

  • University funding (40%), endowments, though it is not an endowed position (30%), and fundraising (30%)

  • University funding (30%), endowments, though it is not an endowed position (40%), and fundraising (30%)

On average, how frequently does the second assistant coach do a compensation review with their supervisor?

Of the 16 institutions that participated in this section…

  • 13 indicated that they annually review their compensation with their supervisor

  • 1 indicated that they review their compensation every 2-3 years

  • 2 indicated that they review their compensation every 4+ years

The breakdown below shows each range grouped by division, IRA qualifier, and cost of living.

Annually

Every 4+ years

Every 2-3 years

Generally speaking, does the heavyweight second assistant perceive that they are overpaid, fairly paid, or underpaid for the amount and quality of work that they do?

Of the 16 institutions that participated in this section…

  • 10 feel as though they are underpaid relative to their peers

  • 5 feel they are paid fairly

  • 1 feel that they are overpaid

The breakdown below shows each range grouped by division, IRA qualifier, and cost of living.

Underpaid

Overpaid

Tuition reimbursement

Paid vacation/sick leave

Paid fairly

How long is the second assistant coach’s contract?

Of the 41 institutions that participated in this section…

  • 15 coaches indicated they have a 1 year contract, with the option to renew

  • 1 coach indicated they have a 2 year contract, with the option to renew

Of the 4 coaches who indicated that they have bonuses built into their contract, the average total (anticipated) additional income ranged from $1750-$2500. 

1 coach said yes in response to the question asking if anything anything about receiving performance-based bonuses or the structure of those bonuses changed in the last three years, with the reason being that the department just started awarding bonuses to assistant coaches.

The sole condition listed for all four second assistant coaches was race results.

  • $1500 for a top 8 team finish at the IRA

  • Set amount based on team result at Eastern Sprints/IRAs

  • Based on race results, can earn up to 20% of base salary

  • Unspecified amount for Sprints and IRA performance

Does the heavyweight 2nd assistant have a performance-based bonus built into their contract?

In an average year, how much *total additional income* do these performance-based bonuses provide on top of the heavyweight 2nd assistant's base salary?

Does the heavyweight 2nd assistant earn additional income from coaching over the summer?

Of the 16 institutions that participated in this section…

  • 7 coaches said yes, through one-day/weekend clinics or short-term school-sponsored camps (either your own or at other institutions)

  • 3 coaches said yes, through summer-long club programs such as Vesper, Penn AC, Craftsbury, etc.

  • 3 said yes, through coaching with the USRowing JNT/U23 team or ODP camp

  • 5 said no, they do not earn any additional income through coaching over the summer

One average this provides an additional $5800-$6600 in income.

Traditional and non-traditional benefits

With regards to traditional benefits offered to full-time employees and of the 41 institutions that participated in this section…

  • 11 second heavyweight assistants indicated they health insurance was part of their benefits package

  • 10 indicated vision/dental insurance was part of their benefits package

  • 8 indicated life insurance was part of their benefits package

  • 11 indicated retirement contributions/401k match was part of their benefits package

  • 7 indicated tuition reimbursement for themselves or their dependents was part of their benefits package

  • 5 indicated paid family leave was part of their benefits package

  • 6 indicated paid vacation time/sick days were part of their benefits package

  • 5 indicated short/long term disability was part of their benefits package

  • 5 indicated that employee assistantance programs, mental health/wellness initiatives, etc. were part of their benefits package

5 second heavyweight assistants indicated that their position was not benefits-eligible, although one indicated that they are a graduate student who receives full tuition.

The breakdown below shows each response grouped by division, IRA qualifier, and cost of living.

Health insurance

Life insurance

Employee assistance programs

Vision/dental insurance

Retirement contributions/401k match

Paid family leave

Short/long term disability

Not benefits eligible

With regards to non-traditional benefits and of the 16 institutions that participated in this section…

  • 2 second heavyweight assistants indicated they have access to childcare reimbursement, fertility/adoption assistance, etc.

  • 1 indicated they have access to subsidized commuting or parking

  • 6 indicated that they have access to a dedicated work phone or are reimbursed for their cell phone

5 indicated that none of the non-traditional benefits listed were available to them.

The breakdown below shows each range grouped by division, IRA qualifier, and cost of living.

Childcare reimbursement, fertility/adoption assistance, etc.

Dedicated work phone or cell phone reimbursement

Subsidized commuting or parking