The St. James is the premier sports, wellness, and active entertainment destination in the country, with 450,000 sq. ft. of developmental and competitive programs, teams, and opportunities in more than thirty sports, and a wide range of premium fitness, wellness, and entertainment experiences.
The Sports Business Development professional is responsible for identifying and cultivating new business opportunities within the sports industry. This role involves building strategic partnerships, generating revenue through sponsorships and partnerships, and driving the growth of the organization through innovative business strategies.
Position Overview
The Lacrosse Recruiting Coordinator is responsible for identifying, engaging, and enrolling high-potential student-athletes (grades 5 through Post-Graduate) into The St. James Performance Academy. This role sits at the intersection of athletics, admissions, and relationship management –driving both roster development and Academy enrollment growth.
The ideal candidate has deep connections within the lacrosse community, understands the recruiting landscape, and is passionate about guiding student-athletes and families through the Academy pathway.
Key Responsibilities
Recruiting & Talent Identification
- Build and manage a robust pipeline of prospective lacrosse student-athletes (grades 5–PG)
- Evaluate talent across club, school, and showcase environments
- Attend tournaments, showcases, and recruiting events to identify prospective athletes
- Develop relationships with club directors, high school coaches, and recruiting influencers
Admissions & Enrollment Support
- Serve as the primary point of contact for lacrosse prospects and families throughout the admissions process
- Partner with Admissions and Enrollment teams to convert prospects into enrolled student-athletes
- Guide families through application, interview, and financial aid processes
- Maintain consistent follow-up and communication cadence to drive yield
Relationship Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with current families, alumni, and external partners to generate referrals
- Act as an ambassador for The Academy within the lacrosse community locally, regionally, and nationally
- Collaborate with internal sport directors, coaches, and High Performance staff to align recruiting needs
Strategy & Pipeline Development
- Develop and execute a year-round recruiting strategy aligned with Academy enrollment targets
- Track and report recruiting activity, pipeline health, and conversion metrics
- Identify key markets (local, national, international) for expansion and targeted recruiting efforts
- Support and participate in Academy events including Open Houses, Evaluation Days, and Discovery Days
Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience in lacrosse recruiting, coaching, or club program leadership
- Strong network within youth, high school, and/or club lacrosse
- Deep understanding of the lacrosse recruiting landscape (NCAA pathways, showcases, club structures)
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
- Highly organized with ability to manage multiple prospects and timelines
- Passion for student-athlete development both academically and athletically
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in a boarding school, academy, or sports performance environment
- Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., HubSpot) and enrollment tracking
- Experience recruiting or placing athletes at the collegiate level
About The St. James Performance Academy
The St. James Performance Academy is an innovative college-preparatory sports conservatory that integrates academic excellence with elite athletic development. Student-athletes benefit from a structured daily schedule that combines guided learning, sport-specific training, and high-performance programming – all within a world-class training environment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
All employees are eligible for the following:
- Competitive salary based on experience.
- Professional development opportunities.
- Access to world-class facilities and resources at The St. James.
This job description is intended to describe the general requirements for the position. It is not a complete statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Other duties not listed here may be assigned as necessary to ensure the proper operations of the department.
For more information, please visit our website: www.thestjames.com
The St. James is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome qualified applicants from a variety of backgrounds inclusive of their race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, expression or orientation, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran.
Skills Required
- 3+ years of experience in lacrosse recruiting, coaching, or club program leadership
- Strong network within youth, high school, and/or club lacrosse
- Deep understanding of the lacrosse recruiting landscape (NCAA pathways, showcases, club structures)
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
- Highly organized with ability to manage multiple prospects and timelines
- Passion for student-athlete development both academically and athletically
- Experience working in a boarding school, academy, or sports performance environment
- Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., HubSpot) and enrollment tracking
- Experience recruiting or placing athletes at the collegiate level
What We Do
The St. James is a national sports, performance, wellness and active-entertainment platform that builds and operates large multi-sport complexes and premium fitness clubs. Its flagship venue in Springfield, VA spans ~450,000 sq ft and houses turf fields, courts, pools, ice rinks, a health club, spa, and family entertainment. The company runs youth programs, camps, performance academies and is expanding a network of clubs and training destinations nationally.
