Athletics: General – Coaching Staff Responsibilities

The development and maintenance of a sound professional relationship with the student-athlete is vital. As a member of the NCAA, St. Mary’s ascribes to the ethical issues of this governing organization. Adherence to all rules and regulations as they pertain to ethical, moral and financial matters is to be followed to the letter. As a member of the Lone Star Conference, St. Mary’s adheres to all rules and regulations that govern our programs. If you have any doubts, consult the Executive Director of Athletics prior to taking any action.

Coach Responsibility

Mission Statement

St. Mary’s University Athletics recognizes athletics is an integral part of the total education experience.

The Athletics Department’s primary responsibility is to the student-athletes’ academic success and overall health and well-being. Consistent with the mission of the institution, the intercollegiate athletics program philosophy serves to support the Marianist approach to education:

• Educate for formation in faith
• Provide an integral quality education
• Educate in the family spirit
• Educate for service, justice, and peace
• Educate for adaptation and change

St. Mary’s University will maintain institutional control of intercollegiate athletics at all times by vesting with the President the responsibility and authority for the administration of the Athletics Department including all basic policies, personnel, and budget. The intercollegiate athletics program shall be conducted with the highest ethical standards as well as standards reflecting good sportsmanship by practicing such values as respect, fairness, civility, honesty, and responsibility.

Athletics policies and procedures are committed to enhancing the lives of St. Mary’s stu-dents, promoting awareness of athletics, and fostering positive interactions between faculty, staff, and student-athletes, as well as promoting and enhancing support and pride among students, faculty, alumni, and friends of the intercollegiate athletics program. At the conclusion of their well-rounded academic and athletic career at St. Mary’s University, student-athletes will be prepared for meaningful personal and professional lives.

Additionally, St. Mary’s University subscribes to the NCAA Principles for Conduct of Inter-collegiate Athletics listed in NCAA Bylaw 20.10.

Vision

Each day our focus is on our student-athletes’ experience

• To provide the best environment possible for our student-athletes while preparing them for life after sports.
• To succeed academically by achieving a 90% ASR and 3.4 program GPA culminating at a 75% graduation rate.
• To strive to win Lone Star Conference regular-season and tournament championships and consistently finish in the top third in every sport in the Lone Star Conference.
• To be in the top 100 in the Learfield Directors Cup standings for NCAA Division II.

Foundational

Promote St. Mary’s University Athletics, its mission, and vision with integrity in a profes-sional and ethical manner.

Mandatory Reporting

• You are required by Texas law to notify the Office of Human Resources promptly upon receiving information about any possible sexual harassment, sexual miscon-duct, stalking or sexual/domestic violence. (https://www.stmarytx.edu/compliance/title-ix/ or in-person at the Human Resources Office, St. Louis Hall Room 012)
• Coaches are campus security advisors (CSA) and required by federal law to report allegations of Clery Act crimes to the St. Mary’s University Police Department. (Clery Act crimes include homicide, manslaughter, sexual assault, rape, fondling, incest, statutory rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, hate crimes, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and arrests and referrals for disciplinary action for violations of weapons, drug, and liquor laws). Non-emergency reports can be made to STMUPD at 210-436-3330, or in person at One Camino Santa Maria, Treadaway Hall.
• Promptly report any issues regarding student well-being, including those involv-ing serious physical or mental health concerns or allegations of bullying, hazing, harassment, racist or sexist behavior within athletics to the Director of Athletics, Associate Athletic Director, SWA or Faculty Athletics Representative.
• The head coach is responsible for recruiting student-athletes who enroll at St. Mary’s University University and is required to conduct a thorough background review through the exercise of reasonable due diligence to identify PSA miscon-duct issues. Any concerns should be brought to the Administrator with team over-sight or the Director of Athletics.

Compliance

• Comply with university and departmental rules, laws, policies, and procedures, and attend all required trainings and meetings within the specified time frames.
• Comply with NCAA rules (letter and spirit), attend rules education sessions, fulfill monitoring requirements and report known or suspected rules violations to com-pliance staff or Faculty Athletics Representative.
• Cooperate fully in the NCAA infractions process and be subject to investigation, adjudication, and penalties, up to and including discharge.

Fiscal

Personally exhibit, and actively promote a culture of responsibility regarding all decisions that have a financial or budgetary impact. Maintain a financial designee within your sport with focus on advanced planning and open communication with athletics administration on decisions that affect current and future budget years.

Student-Athlete Experience

St. Mary’s Athletics strives to create and maintain an environment committed to:

1. Elevating the student-athlete’s academic and athletic experience;
2. Supporting the student-athlete’s physical and mental health; and
3. Strengthening relationships with our student-athletes.

ACADEMICS

• Promote an environment of academic progress and success through effective communication with theCompliance Office staff while adhering to all NCAA, LSC, and St. Mary’s policies and procedures.

STUDENT-ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT

• Uphold and endorse the principles of leadership and personal development by utilizing the University and Athletic Department’s resources within theareas of career development, personal development, leadership development and community outreach.

HEALTH and WELLNESS

• Promote a culture of Physical and Mental Health by recognizing the Sports Medicine Staff’s (Medical Director, Team Physician, Athletic Trainer) unchallenge-able authority to make all medical decisions regarding a student- athlete’s participation and return to play decisions. Refrain from initiating, circumventing, or interfering with a student-athlete’s medical care (including mental health care).

Sport Program

Establish athletic performance expectations from everyone in the program that focus on consistent improvement, with goals of competing for championships and establishing/maintaining national relevancy.

Coach or Volunteer Staff On-boarding

The Director of Athletics and the Compliance Officer must approve all coaches with our teams prior to the start of employment. Anyone affiliated with a St. Mary’s sports program must be made aware of the rules and regulations of the NCAA and Lone Star Conference.

• A background check and meeting with the Director of Athletics will be required of perspective volunteer coaches prior to his/her involvement with the team.
• Submission of the Athletic Volunteer Form to the Assistant Athletics Director of Administration and Business Operations and required HR forms (background check, vehicle authorization) must be submitted and approved prior to beginning any activities with the team to the Assistant Athletics Director of Administration and Business Operations.

Personal Relationships

At no time, should there exist, a personal relationship with a student-athlete that may compromise you, your integrity, or your program and the institution. It is imperative that this be made clear to all staff, and affiliates, as well. Additionally, at no time should any member of the athletic department staff be placed in a situation that may prove to be inappropriate; including consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Supervision on Team Travel

The Head Coach or assistant coach must accompany team members to and from all competition. There is to be no consumption of alcohol by players while on team travel. Coaches should make sure that players are supervised at all times during trips. Examples: at the mall or hotel, a coach or assistant should be with the team to make sure if any emergencies develop, a responsible adult is available. Coaches traveling separately from the team should be limited.

Alcoholic Beverages

At no time will the department sanction the consumption of alcoholic beverages by student-athletes representing their team. In light of the fact that there is a need for consistency, this rule should apply to all athletes, even those who are of legal age for consumption. This policy is in effect any time student-athletes are representing the university (e.g. away games, banquets, conference tournaments, fundraisers, etc.)

• The Director of Athletics and or Associate AD for Internal Operations should be immediately notified in writing when a coach is required to remove a player from his/her team due to a violation of this policy. The writing should state the dates, name, witnesses and rationale for the action taken.
• At no time shall a coach or staff member be drinking with a currently rostered student-athlete, even if that student-athlete is of legal age. This applies to all events, regardless of whether the coach, staff member and/or student-athlete are representing the university in an official capacity at the event.

Vacation Period Housing

Coaches must make team arrangements for the early return of student-athletes from breaks between semesters and holidays when dorms are closed.

• Compliance must approve student-athletes planning to return to campus prior to other members of the student body being able to do so.
• The Compliance Office is the campus contact for pre-season housing and meals.  All requests must filter through this office.

Employment of Student-Athletes

The head coach is responsible for ensuring that any service, benefit and temporary employment of financial compensation made to a student-athlete is within the guidelines of the NCAA rules.

• The members of senior staff (Director of Athletics, Assoc. AD for Compliance and Internal Operations) must approve personal employment of student-athletes.

Game and Practice Environment

Coaches should conduct all practices and competitions in a safe and controlled environment. Any unsafe conditions detected with the facility or fields being used should be reported immediately to the Director of Operations. (E.g. fields with exposed sprinkler head, unsafe bleachers, etc.)

Special Requests

The head coach is to be present with the travel party at all times during the trip. It is mandatory that the travel party remain as a group thought the entire trip. All members of the travel party must leave from campus and return to campus following the contest. Requests for special consideration must be submitted to the Director of Athletics and/or Associate AD for Compliance and Internal Operations in writing at least two days prior to the occurrence of the event for which the special consideration is sought.

Community Service

Coaches are expected to encourage their student-athletes to track their community service hours using the GivePulse website. Not only can service hours be logged here, but student-athletes can also use the site to find available community service projects seeking volunteers. The GivePulse website is linked within the Athletics portal on Gateway.