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Assistant football coach vs head coach

The differences between assistant football coaches and head coaches can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an assistant football coach and a head coach. Additionally, an assistant football coach has an average salary of $45,329, which is higher than the $44,062 average annual salary of a head coach.

The top three skills for an assistant football coach include CPR, football program and NCAA. The most important skills for a head coach are CPR, NCAA, and athletic program.

Assistant football coach vs head coach overview

Assistant Football CoachHead Coach
Yearly salary$45,329$44,062
Hourly rate$21.79$21.18
Growth rate20%20%
Number of jobs14,75422,027
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age3636
Years of experience66

What does an assistant football coach do?

An Assistant Football Coach helps the head coach train non-professional or professional athletes to enhance their playing skills and abilities. If they coach a school or college team, they also monitor student-athletes academic performance and athletic eligibility.

What does a head coach do?

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.

Assistant football coach vs head coach salary

Assistant football coaches and head coaches have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assistant Football CoachHead Coach
Average salary$45,329$44,062
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $69,000Between $30,000 And $63,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyPoly Prep Country Day SchoolKern Community College District
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between assistant football coach and head coach education

There are a few differences between an assistant football coach and a head coach in terms of educational background:

Assistant Football CoachHead Coach
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorKinesiologyKinesiology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Assistant football coach vs head coach demographics

Here are the differences between assistant football coaches' and head coaches' demographics:

Assistant Football CoachHead Coach
Average age3636
Gender ratioMale, 97.2% Female, 2.8%Male, 66.3% Female, 33.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 5.5% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 5.5% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between assistant football coach and head coach duties and responsibilities

Assistant football coach example responsibilities.

  • Implement 4-3 defensive game plan strategies that lead to championship performance.
  • Organize and manage NCAA recruiting weekends as well as maintained an active log of parent and coach contact information.
  • Coordinate and call the offensive plays for the freshman football team.
  • Coach QBs and WR's.
  • Teach WR fundamentals and techniques.
  • Write and implement IEP's CWC participant
  • Show more

Head coach example responsibilities.

  • Coach and lead a group of 50 kids between 10 and 12 years old.
  • Manage JV squad during practice and games, preparing them to move to the varsity level.
  • Lead a professional hockey player camp during the summer consisting of NHL, AHL, NCAA hockey players.
  • Teach young student-athletes to relentlessly pursue their goals and achieve academic success while establishing an exemplary foundation of leadership.
  • Serve in a primary leadership role to manage training academy program logistics and to coordinate team participation in national tournaments.
  • Certify in CPR to ensure the safety of athletes.
  • Show more

Assistant football coach vs head coach skills

Common assistant football coach skills
  • CPR, 25%
  • Football Program, 15%
  • NCAA, 12%
  • Role Model, 6%
  • Athletic Program, 5%
  • JV, 5%
Common head coach skills
  • CPR, 31%
  • NCAA, 7%
  • Athletic Program, 5%
  • Player Development, 4%
  • Softball, 4%
  • Leadership, 4%

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