The Unpaid Chair: Lessons from Bryant's Volunteer Diving Coach Position

When I read the job posting for a volunteer assistant diving coach at Bryant University, I remembered a story I once wrote about girls standing at the corner of the field waiting for a chance to play. This is not a shocking sports headline - no records, no spectacular goals. But to me, someone who has spent over a decade observing the American collegiate sports system, this job posting tells a deeper story about how we value labor in women's sports. Bryant University, located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, is a Division I program in the America East Conference. The posted position is a volunteer assistant diving coach, a supporting role within the combined swimming and diving program. According to the announcement, the selected candidate will assist with day-to-day training of diving student-athletes, support the head coach in planning and conducting practices, and participate in recruiting efforts. The most notable detail lies in the final line: the role requires compliance with all Bryant University, conference, and NCAA rules and regulations. I have followed many women's sports programs in America throughout my career. From my early days writing about the UCLA women's football team, I recognized a truth: women's sports programs, especially at mid-major institutions, always operate with thin resources. This volunteer position is no exception. In fact, it reflects a deeper structure within the NCAA system, where women's sports programs are often deprioritized in budget and staffing. What caught my attention was not the existence of this position, but what it reveals about the women's sports ecosystem in America. Within the NCAA system, coaching staffs are limited by countable coach limits. Volunteer positions are a way for programs to add capacity without exceeding these limits and without salary costs. This mechanism is widely used, but it raises the question: why must a Division I program rely on unpaid labor? When I examined more closely, I realized this position carries potential risks. Recruiting in the NCAA is a high-compliance-risk area. A volunteer coach engaging in recruiting without proper training could cause serious violations, leading to penalties for the entire program. The posting emphasizes compliance requirements, yet mentions no certification requirements such as USA Diving coaching certification or safety training. I remember an article I wrote about the absence of women's football coverage during the 2026 World Cup. When I interviewed midfielder Jessica Rodriguez, she revealed sponsors had cut 30% of budgets because the men's World Cup schedule dominated media. A similar story is unfolding here, on a smaller scale but no less important. A volunteer coaching position - no salary, no benefits, no clear advancement path - signals how we still undervalue work in women's sports. But I also see another dimension, a potential opportunity within this structure. Volunteer positions are crucial stepping stones for young coaches seeking experience in the NCAA system. This is how they build careers, learn about regulations, and understand program operations. For a newly graduated diving coach, this position could be their first door into professional collegiate sports. I once wrote in an analysis of UCLA goalkeeper Jamie Ortiz that behind the numbers are women who refuse to stop. That statement remains true in this context. Behind the dry job posting is a women's sports program trying to operate with limited resources, diving athletes needing guidance, and a system gradually acknowledging - albeit slowly - that women's sports deserve more investment. The volunteer coaching position at Bryant may be just a small job posting, but it reflects a larger reality: we still have a long way to go before women's sports receive deserved investment. I hope those who apply for this position will see not just a job, but an opportunity to prove their value and continue the story of women who refuse to stop. When a women's sports program must rely on volunteer labor to operate, it says much about our priorities as a society. But it also speaks to the resilience of those working in women's sports - people willing to work unpaid out of passion, for community, and for the belief that women's sports deserve a more prominent place in the American collegiate sports landscape.