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What does an assistant basketball coach do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

An assistant basketball coach helps in the basketball team's conceptualization and guidance to enhance their play and coordination on the court. The assistant basketball coach works closely with the head coach and provides all the necessary information needed to develop plays. There are instances where the assistant coach will research opponent players, coaches, and their strengths and weaknesses. The effectiveness of the team relies heavily on both the players and the team of coaches.

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Assistant basketball coach responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real assistant basketball coach resumes:

  • Develop on of the top academic programs at the high school, achieving a team GPA of 3.62.
  • Develop practice plans for the JV team and run the team in game situations.
  • Aid in a championship win at the end of the season.
  • Influence the program to reach its first ever conference championship and highest winning record in program history.
  • Full duties for an assistant basketball coach at the highest level of the NCAA competing in the Pac-12 conference.
  • Monitor academic progress of student athletes in accordance with university, conference and NCAA rules, regulations, policy and procedures.
  • Develop leadership talent through identification of high level skills and maturity and encourage leadership capability by providing leadership opportunities
  • Offer leadership and operations expertise across core business and operational development functions, including purchasing, finance, and material management.
  • Design and construct a full CrossFit facility inside existing commercial fitness gym.

Assistant basketball coach skills and personality traits

We calculated that 22% of Assistant Basketball Coaches are proficient in CPR, Player Development, and Varsity Girls. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Dedication, and Interpersonal skills.

We break down the percentage of Assistant Basketball Coaches that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • CPR, 22%

    Create and develop a community training program; inclusive of Learn-to-swim classes, lifeguard and CPR training and water safety courses.

  • Player Development, 10%

    Recruited student athletes- Player development- Assist student athletes with exposure to colleges based on academic and athletic ability- Campus visit coordinator

  • Varsity Girls, 6%

    Planned and executed practices for freshman and junior varsity girls' team.

  • Basketball Program, 6%

    Worked collaboratively with the head coach to develop and coordinate a nationally competitive NAIA basketball program.

  • JV, 6%

    Designed daily detailed practice plans (Freshman) and frequently designed or added to practice plans (Varsity & JV).

  • Role Model, 6%

    Serve as a positive role model and mentor for the players to help them grow both on and off the court.

Common skills that an assistant basketball coach uses to do their job include "cpr," "player development," and "varsity girls." You can find details on the most important assistant basketball coach responsibilities below.

Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for an assistant basketball coach to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what assistant basketball coaches do because "because coaches instruct, organize, and motivate athletes, they must be able to convey information clearly." Additionally, an assistant basketball coach resume shows how assistant basketball coaches use communication skills: "initiated open communication with players to discuss game preparation, practice scheduling and classroom needs. "

Dedication. Many assistant basketball coach duties rely on dedication. "coaches must attend daily practices and assist their team and individual athletes in improving their skills and physical conditioning," so an assistant basketball coach will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways assistant basketball coach responsibilities rely on dedication: "coached 7th grade girls basketball enforced punctuality for practice and games emphasized the importance of teamwork and dedication"

Interpersonal skills. assistant basketball coaches are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to assistant basketball coach responsibilities, because "being able to relate to athletes helps coaches and scouts foster positive relationships with their current players and in recruiting potential players." An assistant basketball coach resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "refined skills in interpersonal relations, evidenced by eight years of teaching special education along with eight years of coaching basketball. "

Leadership skills. A big part of what assistant basketball coaches do relies on "leadership skills." You can see how essential it is to assistant basketball coach responsibilities because "coaches must motivate, develop, and direct athletes to help them reach their potential." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical assistant basketball coach tasks: "provided leadership, instruction and counseling to members of the ncaa division ii team encompassing athletic, personal and academic development. "

Most common assistant basketball coach skills

The three companies that hire the most assistant basketball coachs are:

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Compare different assistant basketball coaches

Assistant basketball coach vs. Coach

The main responsibility of a coach is to motivate an individual or an entire team. Coaches are focused on improving the performance and skills of athletes by conducting training sessions, coordinating practice drills, and providing guidance. Their work is conducted both on and off the field - not only while an athletic event is in session. Coaches are sometimes tasked with recruitment activities in order to fill a team's roster to help them succeed. Other duties of a coach include fundraising, overseeing facilities, and promoting a safe environment.

If we compare the average assistant basketball coach annual salary with that of a coach, we find that coaches typically earn a $1,760 lower salary than assistant basketball coaches make annually.Even though assistant basketball coaches and coaches are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require cpr, jv, and role model in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an assistant basketball coach are more likely to require skills like "player development," "varsity girls," "basketball program," and "assist head." On the other hand, a job as a coach requires skills like "customer service," "food handling," "customer satisfaction," and "mental health." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Coaches earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $48,931. On the other hand, assistant basketball coaches are paid more in the education industry with an average salary of $44,765.The education levels that coaches earn slightly differ from assistant basketball coaches. In particular, coaches are 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an assistant basketball coach. Additionally, they're 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Assistant basketball coach vs. Soccer coach

A soccer coach manages a team of players, guiding and providing them with strategies to win as a team. Moreover, a soccer coach is primarily responsible for developing programs and plans that will help players better understand and appreciate the game, facilitate training and practice sessions to sharpen their skills and discipline, and emphasize the value of teamwork and sportsmanship. Furthermore, they closely watch the game to identify areas that need improvement, evaluate players' progress as a team and individuals, and maintain a safe and healthy environment for everyone.

Soccer coach positions earn lower pay than assistant basketball coach roles. They earn a $860 lower salary than assistant basketball coaches per year.A few skills overlap for assistant basketball coaches and soccer coaches. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "cpr," "player development," and "jv. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real assistant basketball coach resumes. While assistant basketball coach responsibilities can utilize skills like "varsity girls," "basketball program," "assist head," and "grade girls," soccer coaches use skills like "student athletes," "kids," "girls soccer," and "soccer program."

On average, soccer coaches earn a lower salary than assistant basketball coaches. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, soccer coaches earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $46,054. Whereas assistant basketball coaches have higher pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $44,765.In general, soccer coaches achieve similar levels of education than assistant basketball coaches. They're 0.4% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Assistant basketball coach vs. Head coach

A head coach is responsible for managing teams, monitoring each player's performance, conditioning the team's skills by conducting training sessions, and encouraging the trainees to reach their full potential. Head coaches assess the team's coordination during training or a game, adjusting strategies and improving techniques as needed. A head coach evaluates the team's strengths and weaknesses while educating them on the proper sports ethic. A head coach must have strong leadership and organizational skills to develop plans and reach set goals.

On average, head coaches earn lower salaries than assistant basketball coaches, with a $414 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on assistant basketball coaches and head coaches resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "cpr," "player development," and "basketball program.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from assistant basketball coach resumes include skills like "varsity girls," "assist head," "head coaches," and "academic eligibility," whereas a head coach is more likely to list skills in "athletic program," "softball," "volleyball," and "soccer program. "

Head coaches make a very good living in the education industry with an average annual salary of $47,322. On the other hand, assistant basketball coaches are paid the highest salary in the education industry, with average annual pay of $44,765.Most head coaches achieve a similar degree level compared to assistant basketball coaches. For example, they're 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Assistant basketball coach vs. Athletics assistant

An athletic assistant provides administrative support to the athletic director and coaching staff. Athletic assistants function as a liaison to the faculty, support staff, students, parents, members of the athletic department, and alumni. They help in communicating with faculty, support staff, students, and parents, complete documents, and uphold confidential information especially student grades and health concerns. It is part of their job to make record-keeping for future use. In addition, they must be able to handle multiple projects and shifting priorities during stressful circumstances without losing focus.

Athletics assistants tend to earn a lower pay than assistant basketball coaches by an average of $1,000 per year.While their salaries may vary, assistant basketball coaches and athletics assistants both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "cpr," "ncaa," and "championship. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between assistant basketball coaches and athletics assistants, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an assistant basketball coach might have more use for skills like "player development," "varsity girls," "basketball program," and "jv." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of athletics assistants require skills like "athletic events," "soccer," "athletic equipment," and "sports programs. "

Athletics assistants enjoy the best pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $48,659. For comparison, assistant basketball coaches earn the highest salary in the education industry.In general, athletics assistants hold similar degree levels compared to assistant basketball coaches. Athletics assistants are 3.1% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of assistant basketball coach

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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