How to Get a Job as a Sports Coach
"Teaching skills and techniques is only 5 percent of the job," says Bob Ferraro, founder and CEO of the National High School Coaches Association. "The best coaches have a good mind for business and good people skills." How do you demonstrate these skills? "With background checks, coaching certifications, and the technology to produce a coaching video," says Ferraro. "It's not just a resume; it's a personality test." Candidates should send their materials to the school where they wish to work.
Interview Questions Submitted by Real Sports Coaches
"Do you work well with others?" - OptiMedica Tennis Coach Candidate (Glen Allen, VA)
"Give an example of a leadership role you were in." - Hermitage Country Club Swim Coach Candidate (Richmond, VA)
"Do you like to work with kids?" - YMCA Swim Instructor Candidate (Brooklyn, NY)
What is the Job Like?
A coach's job is always in flux. Public and private schools employ most coaches; therefore, the coaches must work around student schedules. When the sport is "in season," practices and games can be scheduled before school, after school, and on weekends. The intensity and duration of these sessions vary from sport to sport, school to school, state to state. In addition to the time spent with athletes, coaches log additional hours devising strategies and training methods. "Out of season," a coach's job does not stop. He or she can spend time on the road scouting out other teams as well as recruiting athletes. Coaches usually also manage the equipment and facility rental necessary for the sport. In large athletic programs, a coach will start out in an assistant position and move up to a head coaching job.
Real Reviews From Sports Coaches
+ "It's a fun job, good way to spend a Friday night, it is rewarding to work with young people and watch them grow." - State of Kansas Assistant High School Football Coach (Olathe, KS)
+ "They have good pay for starting out, work with a lot of fun people, strong management team, flexible schedule." - Titus Sports Academy Coach (Tallahassee, FL)
- "Management tries to do too much, which interferes with the coach's ability to coach. Difficult to ever make a living working there." - California Sports Center Recreational Gymnastics Coach (San Jose, CA)
- "Employees can sometimes not be team players." - Emler Swim School Swim Instructor (Location Unknown)
Review information and interview questions supplied by Glassdoor.
