Return to Play / Rehabilitation & Performance Coach at Real Salt Lake

About Us The Utah Royals FC, Real Salt Lake (RSL), and RSL Training Academy are dedicated to the growth and success of soccer in Utah. The Utah Royals FC is committed to empowerment, while RSL represents the state with pride and fosters a winning culture. The RSL Training Academy nurtures young athletes and instills values of discipline and teamwork. Together, they are committed to inspiring the soccer culture of Utah and creating lasting impressions one winning experience at a time. Summary Real Salt Lake is seeking an experienced Return to Play / Rehabilitation & Performance Coach to bridge the gap between clinical rehabilitation and full first team reintegration for injured players. The role bridges the sports medicine and performance departments, designing and delivering gym and on-field rehabilitation programs while collaborating with medical staff and the sports scientist to guide load management and recovery. When rehab demands are lower, the coach will assist with team conditioning, strength and power training, and individual player development. Responsibilities Include: • Report directly to the Head of Physical Performance • Design and deliver individualized, criteria-based gym reconditioning programs for injured first team players. • Plan and deliver on-field rehabilitation sessions. • Collaborate daily with the Head of Sports Medicine / Head Athletic Trainer to ensure a coordinated, criteria-driven transition of injured players. • Work closely with the First Team Sports Scientist to monitor and manage the external and internal training loads of all rehabilitating players. • Liaise with the Head of Physical Performance to ensure that rehabilitation programming and the return-to-performance continuum are integrated for the RSL first team • Establish and apply objective, sport-specific criteria at each stage of the return-to-play continuum. • Communicate rehabilitation progress, updated return-to-play timelines, and daily player availability status to the Head of Physical Performance and Head of Sports Medicine. • Contribute to the design and delivery of individualized and squad-wide injury prevention programs in collaboration with the Head of Physical Performance and Head of Sports Medicine. • Participate in pre-season and in-season physical testing and profiling cycles. • Maintain accurate and up-to-date rehabilitation program documentation and player progress records within the club’s athlete management system. • Attend and contribute to interdisciplinary medical and performance staff meetings, presenting rehabilitation progress updates and collaborating on integrated care plans for all injured players. • When rehabilitation caseload permits, function as a Performance Coach within the first team environment under the direction of the Head of Physical Performance • Use regular exposure to the fully fit first team training environment to maintain a current, contextualized understanding of the physical demands of first team performance. • Stay current with evolving evidence and best practice in football rehabilitation. • Other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications: • Master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning, Sports Science, Athletic Training, or Physical Therapy. • Minimum of 4 years of experience working in a high-performance sporting environment. • NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) required. • BOC-certified Athletic. • Trainer (ATC) with equivalent performance competencies accepted in lieu of CSCS. • Current CPR/AED certification required. • Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and motivate athletes through challenging rehabilitation processes. • Proven ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary high-performance team that may include sports medicine, sports science, coaching, and technical staff. • High level of organizational skills and attention to detail, particularly in maintaining rehabilitation documentation, monitoring data, and athlete progress records. • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clearly convey rehabilitation progress, expectations, and timelines to players and staff. • Demonstrated ability to build trust and rapport with athletes, supporting them through physically and mentally demanding rehabilitation processes. • Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, with the ability to adapt programs based on medical input, performance data, and player response. • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-accountability professional sports environment, managing multiple athletes and competing priorities. • High degree of professional integrity, discretion, and respect for medical confidentiality. • Growth mindset with a commitment to continuous learning and staying current with evolving evidence and best practices in football rehabilitation and performance training. ...