Become An Assistant Coach

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Working As An Assistant Coach

Performing General Physical Activities
Coaching and Developing Others
Training and Teaching Others
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Deal with People
Stressful
$47,583
Average Salary

What Does An Assistant Coach Do

An Assistant Coach is responsible for motivating, guiding, and instructing sport teams, working under the supervision of a head coach. Another duty is to make sure players, equipment, and facilities are well-prepared and organized.

How To Become An Assistant Coach

Coaches and scouts typically need a bachelor’s degree. They must also have extensive knowledge of the sport. Coaches typically gain this knowledge through their own experiences playing the sport at some level. Although previous playing experience may be beneficial, it is not required for most scouting jobs.

Education

College and professional coaches must usually have a bachelor’s degree. This degree can typically be in any subject. However, some coaches may decide to study exercise and sports science, physiology, kinesiology, nutrition and fitness, physical education, and sports medicine.

High schools typically hire teachers or administrators at the school for most coaching jobs. If no suitable teacher is found, schools hire a qualified candidate from outside the school. For more information on education requirements for teachers, see the profile on high school teachers.

Scouts must also typically have a bachelor’s degree. Some scouts decide to get a degree in business, marketing, sales, or sports management.

Other Experience

College and professional coaching jobs also typically require experience playing the sport at some level.

Scouting jobs typically do not require experience playing a sport at the college or professional level, but it can be beneficial. Employers look for applicants with a passion for sports and an ability to spot young players who have exceptional athletic ability and skills.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Most state high school athletic associations require coaches to be certified or at least complete mandatory education courses.

Certification often requires coaches to be a minimum age (at least 18 years old) and be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid. Some states also require coaches to attend classes related to sports safety and coaching fundamentals prior to becoming certified. For information of specific state coaching requirements, contact the state’s high school athletic association or visit the National Association of State Boards of Education.

Although most public high school coaches need to meet these state requirements in order to become a coach, certification may not be required for coaching and sports instructor jobs in private schools.

Some schools may require coaches to have a teaching license and complete a background check.

Certification requirements for college coaching positions also vary.

Additional certification may be highly desirable or even required in order to become an instructor in scuba diving, tennis, golf, karate, or other individual sports. There are many certifying organizations specific to the various sports, and their requirements vary.

Part-time workers and those in smaller facilities or youth leagues are less likely to need formal education or training and may not need certification.

Advancement

To reach the ranks of professional coaches, a candidate usually needs years of coaching experience and a winning record at a college. Some coaches may not have previous coaching experience but are nevertheless hired at the professional level due to their success as an athlete in that sport.

Some college coaches begin their careers as graduate assistants or assistant coaches to gain the knowledge and experience needed to become a head coach. Large schools and colleges that compete at the highest levels require a head coach with substantial experience at another school or as an assistant coach.

Other college coaches may start out as high school coaches before moving up to the collegiate level.

Scouts may begin working as talent spotters in a particular area or region. They typically advance to become supervising scouts responsible for a whole territory or region.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Because coaches instruct, organize, and motivate athletes, they must have excellent communication skills. They must effectively communicate proper techniques, strategies, and rules of the sport so every player on the team understands.

Decisionmaking skills. Coaches must choose the appropriate players to use at a given position at a given time during a game and know the proper time to utilize game-managing tools such as timeouts. Coaches and scouts also must be very selective when recruiting players from lower levels of athletics.

Dedication. Coaches must attend daily practices and assist their team and individual athletes in improving their skills and physical conditioning. Coaches must be dedicated to their sport, as it often takes years to become successful.

Interpersonal skills. Being able to relate to athletes helps coaches and scouts foster positive relationships with their current players and recruit potential players.

Leadership skills. Coaches must demonstrate good leadership skills to get the most out of athletes. They also must be able to motivate, develop, and direct young athletes.

Resourcefulness. Coaches must find a strategy and develop a game plan that yields the best chances for winning. Coaches often need to create original plays or formations that provide a competitive advantage and confuse opponents.

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Assistant Coach jobs

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Assistant Coach Career Paths

Assistant Coach

Assistant Baseball Coach Head Baseball Coach Head Coach

Assistant Athletic Director

5 Yearsyrs

Security Officer Safety Officer Executive Officer

Assistant Director Of Operations

5 Yearsyrs

Head Coach Physical Education Teacher

Athletic Director

5 Yearsyrs

Coach Driver Instructor

Director Of Instruction

6 Yearsyrs

Instructor Trainer Training Manager

Director Of Training

7 Yearsyrs

Instructor Case Manager Special Education Teacher

Education Director

7 Yearsyrs

Personal Trainer General Manager

Regional Director

9 Yearsyrs

Average Length of Employment

Athletic Coach 4.0 years
Head Basketball Coach 3.3 years
Wrestling Coach 3.0 years
Head Coach 2.9 years
Assistant Varsity Football Coach 2.8 years
Assistant Football Coach 2.7 years
Assistant Wrestling Coach 2.6 years
High School Coach 2.6 years
Tennis Coach 2.6 years
Softball Coach 2.6 years
Girls Basketball Coach 2.5 years
Assistant Head Coach 2.5 years
Personal Coach 2.3 years
Assistant Track Coach 2.3 years
Coach 2.2 years
Assistant Baseball Coach 2.1 years
Assistant Basketball Coach 2.1 years
Middle School Coach 2.1 years
Volunteer Coach 2.0 years
Volleyball Coach 2.0 years
Assistant Softball Coach 2.0 years
Assistant Coach 2.0 years
Assistant Swim Coach 1.9 years
Assistant Tennis Coach 1.6 years
Assistant Soccer Coach 1.6 years
Assistant Volleyball Coach 1.6 years
Assistant Lacrosse Coach 1.4 years

Top Careers Before Assistant Coach

Top Careers After Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach Demographics

Gender

Male
59.4%
Female
38.7%
Unknown
1.9%

Ethnicity

White
80.7%
Hispanic or Latino
10.4%
Asian
6.8%
Unknown
1.4%
Black or African American
0.6%

Languages Spoken

Spanish
55.0%
French
10.8%
German
5.1%
Portuguese
4.3%
Russian
3.2%
Mandarin
3.1%
Italian
2.8%
Chinese
2.7%
Arabic
2.7%
Cantonese
1.2%
Greek
1.2%
Korean
1.1%
Japanese
1.1%
Polish
1.1%
Croatian
0.9%
Urdu
0.9%
Vietnamese
0.7%
Thai
0.7%
Bulgarian
0.7%
Serbian
0.7%

Assistant Coach

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

Assistant Coach Education

Schools

Liberty University
8.0%
University of Phoenix
7.7%
Michigan State University
6.8%
Southern New Hampshire University
6.6%
West Virginia University
5.7%
Grand Canyon University
4.9%
Florida State University
4.8%
Pennsylvania State University
4.8%
Ball State University
4.7%
Temple University
4.6%
State University of New York College at Cortland
4.5%
University of Delaware
4.4%
University of Connecticut
4.4%
California University of Pennsylvania
4.2%
Illinois State University
4.1%
Towson University
4.0%
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
3.9%
Central Michigan University
3.9%
Arizona State University
3.9%
University of Texas at Austin
3.9%

Majors

Degrees

Bachelors
52.8%
Masters
21.6%
Other
17.2%
Associate
4.8%
Doctorate
1.6%
Certificate
1.6%
Diploma
0.3%
License
0.1%

Assistant Coach

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

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Real Assistant Coach Salaries

Job Title	Company	Location	Start Date	Salary
Assistant Coach--Coach/Sports Professional I	University of Oklahoma	Norman, OK	Jun 10, 2015	$90,000
Assistant Coach, Men's Ice Hockey	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Troy, NY	Aug 03, 2016	$80,000
Assistant Coach, Men's Ice Hockey	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Troy, NY	Jan 06, 2016	$76,294
Assistant Coach, Men's Ice Hockey	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Troy, NY	Sep 04, 2015	$71,271
Assistant Coach, Men's Tennis	Arizona State University	Tempe, AZ	Aug 22, 2016	$70,000
Assistant Coach	University of Oklahoma	Norman, OK	Jan 06, 2016	$70,000
Assistant Coach	University of Virginia	Charlottesville, VA	Jan 07, 2016	$63,045
Assistant Coach	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Madison, WI	Jul 06, 2016	$62,833
Assistant Academy Coach	Jersey Premier Soccer, LLC	NJ	Mar 15, 2015	$61,859
Assistant Coach	The Ohio State University	Columbus, OH	Feb 17, 2015	$60,573
Assistant Coach-Men's Soccer	West Virginia University	Morgantown, WV	Jan 04, 2016	$60,000
Division 1 Assistant Coach	State University of New York at Binghamton	Binghamton, NY	Nov 08, 2016	$50,550
Assistant Coach-Women's Rowing	The University of Southern California	Los Angeles, CA	Jan 06, 2016	$50,073
Assistant Coach	The Ohio State University	Columbus, OH	Feb 16, 2015	$50,000
Assistant Coach	The University of Akron	Akron, OH	Apr 13, 2015	$50,000
Assistant Coach-Men's Basketball	University of North Dakota	Grand Forks, ND	Jul 09, 2016	$48,719
Assistant Coach-Women's Basketball	University of San Diego	San Diego, CA	Jul 28, 2015	$48,652
Assistant Coach for Women's Soccer/Instructor	Syracuse University	Syracuse, NY	Jan 03, 2016	$48,500
Assistant Academy Coach	Massachusetts Premier Soccer, LLC	MA	Mar 15, 2015	$44,286
Assistant Academy Coach	New Hampshire Premier Soccer, LLC	NH	Oct 01, 2015	$42,533
Assistant Coach	Columbia College	Columbia, MO	Aug 22, 2016	$42,180
Assistant Coach, Softball	University of Central Florida	Orlando, FL	Oct 01, 2015	$42,000
Assistant Coach, Softball	University of Central Florida	Orlando, FL	Jan 10, 2015	$42,000
Assistant Conditioning Coach	University of Oregon	Eugene, OR	Jan 07, 2016	$41,820
Assistant Coach	The Trustees of Princeton University	Princeton, NJ	Jul 24, 2016	$41,776
Nscf-Fxc Assistant Coach	Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks	Fairbanks, AK	Jan 06, 2016	$41,740 - $45,914

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Top Skills for An Assistant Coach

Top Assistant Coach Skills

Prospective Student-Athletes
Player Development
Girls

You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:

Recruited and met with prospective student-athletes to discuss their experience and goals.
Provided specialized post player development.
Served as the Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Team R.I.E.N.G girls' basketball for 2 summers.
Coached and taught Varsity, Junior Varsity and Freshman teams comprising approximately 82 athletes each year.
Constructed exercise and performance programs for the male, female soccer team, and the swim team.