NJ S3041

Head coaches at New Jersey public high schools who are tenured district employees or out-of-district employees must receive 3-year employment contracts, while assistant coaches who are tenured employees must receive 2-year contracts.

Coaches are automatically reappointed for another contract term unless the board of education provides written notice of non-reappointment at least 90 days before the current contract expires.

Coaches can only be dismissed or have compensation reduced during their contract term for just cause, not for arbitrary, capricious, or unlawful reasons; tenured coaches dismissed based on poor evaluations must be given one year to correct deficiencies with district support.

Dismissed coaches are entitled to written notice within 5 days, may request a formal hearing within 10 days with legal representation and cross-examination rights, and the school district must pay for a court reporter.

Board of education decisions on dismissals may be appealed to the Commissioner of Education within 90 days, and the bill explicitly does not grant tenure to coaching positions or interfere with collective bargaining agreements.