Strength and Conditioning Coach

The Colorado Rapids are looking for an energetic, engaged, innovative, and highly organized Strength and Conditioning Coach who has a soccer background, playing or coaching. The Strength and Conditioning Coach will be directly responsible for collaborating with the Director of Performance to create and execute all pre-activation, S&C, and return to play programming, remaining alignment with our Player Health & Performance Department systems and protocols.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

• Design and administer individualized pre-training activation/injury-prevention protocols based on evidence-based practices and movement evaluations, injury history, positional demands of the game, and any other biopsychosocial factors that need to be addressed.
• Perform activation/regeneration sessions, supporting the Director of Performance as needed.
• Design and execute periodized training plans in collaboration with Director of Performance in the gym using technology and data to help best prepare athletes to reach their true potential
• Provide individual and small group training programs & sessions for those non-rostered, not traveling, or injured, running on field technical/fitness session that is specific to player needs, positional demands, and stage of rehabilitation to replicate a match load, using specific metric thresholds to facilitate an appropriate training session when necessary
• Support Director of Performance & medical team individualize Return to Play (RTP) Protocols that allow each athlete to progress safely back to full training as guided by existing PHP processes
• Work with First Team Player Development Coach and PHP Staff to monitor and manage training loads for High Potential Players participating across various teams, playing an active role in the Academy – Rapids 2 – First Team player movement continuum.
• Required to track individual player progress at each stage of the developmental lifecycle (Academy – R2 – First Team), identifying high potential homegrown players to make a positive impact on First Team results and overall return on investment.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Strength & Conditioning, Sports Science, or equivalent.
• 3+ years’ experience working as an S&C Coach, Performance Coach, Hybrid Role (ATC & Performance Coach), or equivalent in an elite soccer environment (e.g., MLS First Team Environment, 2nd Team, Academy, NCAA Division I Program, etc., elite professional training centers), minimum.