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How to hire a basketball coach

Basketball coach hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring basketball coaches in the United States:

  • There are currently 101,726 basketball coaches in the US, as well as 14,517 job openings.
  • Basketball coaches are in the highest demand in Billings, MT, with 7 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a basketball coach is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new basketball coach to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a basketball coach, step by step

To hire a basketball coach, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a basketball coach:

Here's a step-by-step basketball coach hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a basketball coach job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new basketball coach
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a basketball coach do?

A basketball coach is responsible for training players for school or basketball tournament leagues. A basketball coach prepares the players by providing them game techniques, developing their maximum potential through a series of practice and games. Basketball coaches identify each player's strengths and weaknesses, creating unique strategies during the mentorship. They must be highly knowledgeable of basketball's disciplines and rules, guiding them to improve their stance and movement. A basketball coach must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in handling the team's performance.

Learn more about the specifics of what a basketball coach does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your basketball coach job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a basketball coach for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A basketball coach's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, basketball coaches from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of basketball coaches.

    Type of Basketball CoachDescriptionHourly rate
    Basketball CoachCoaches teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport. Scouts look for new players and evaluate their skills and likelihood for success at the college, amateur, or professional level... Show more$13-32
    Youth Soccer CoachA youth soccer coach is responsible for helping aspiring professional soccer players in reaching their full potential and skills to win soccer competitions. Youth soccer coaches teach different training tactics and identify each player's core competencies and weaknesses and strategize techniques for them to overcome difficulties... Show more$12-34
    Swim CoachA swim coach is someone who teaches and trains people how to swim. A swim coach provides tips and techniques for people to follow if they want to learn how to swim... Show more$11-22
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • CPR
    • Student Athletes
    • Role Model
    • Teamwork
    • Basketball Program
    • Grade Girls
    • JV
    • Varsity Girls
    • Skill Development
    • Grade Boys
    • Youth Basketball
    • Leadership
    • Game Strategies
    • Basketball Players
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Develop on of the top academic programs at the high school, achieving a team GPA of 3.62.
    • Lead a team of twelve to win the 13-15 year old league championship; act as mentor and teacher.
    • Lead team to consecutive championship victories
    • Teach the fundamentals of basketball, football, track, soccer, volleyball and baseball.
    • Oversee Hudl video software usage and data.
    • Scout talent and opposing competition within the AAU circuit.
    More basketball coach duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your basketball coach job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A basketball coach salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a basketball coach in Utah may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level basketball coach usually earns less than a senior-level basketball coach. Additionally, a basketball coach with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average basketball coach salary

    $44,858yearly

    $21.57 hourly rate

    Entry-level basketball coach salary
    $29,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 22, 2026

    Average basketball coach salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$58,006$28
    2California$54,222$26
    3Connecticut$49,224$24
    4Texas$47,843$23
    5Illinois$43,336$21
    6Oregon$42,693$21
    7Colorado$42,289$20
    8North Carolina$42,058$20
    9Arizona$42,057$20
    10Maryland$41,741$20
    11Indiana$40,997$20
    12Michigan$40,657$20
    13Florida$40,343$19
    14North Dakota$39,022$19
    15Washington$38,171$18
    16Georgia$38,053$18
    17Arkansas$35,642$17
    18Montana$27,012$13

    Average basketball coach salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Success Academy Charter Schools$65,029$31.267
    2Quincy Public Schools$57,534$27.66
    3Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES$54,633$26.27
    4The St. James$54,096$26.0110
    5Santa Rosa City Schools$51,926$24.96
    6Ball Arena$51,115$24.572
    7Montgomery County Public Schools$51,072$24.558
    8Broward County Public Schools$50,913$24.4824
    9Newton Public Schools$50,745$24.4011
    10The University of Texas at San Antonio$50,530$24.292
    11Esparto Unified School District$49,856$23.974
    12Miles Community College$48,595$23.36
    13Anderson Community Schools$48,556$23.3419
    14SDST Spartans$48,541$23.345
    15Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District$47,878$23.021
    16YMCA of Metro Knoxville$47,217$22.7029
    17South Windsor Public Schools$46,657$22.434
    18Amazing Athletes$46,611$22.41264
    19DUNLAP CO/THE$46,419$22.32
    20JumpBunch$46,232$22.2316
  4. Writing a basketball coach job description

    A basketball coach job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a basketball coach job description:

    Basketball coach job description example

    The Coach fulfills the mission of the Catholic school by developing, initiating, and administering the program in a particular sport that adequately prepares the student-athlete for interscholastic competition. The Coach is recommended to the principal by the athletic director, hired by the principal, and evaluated in consultation with the athletic director.

    Coaches plan, organize, and run practices and competitions throughout the season. All coaches are required to complete Diocesan EIM training and are highly encouraged to be CPR and First Aid certified.
    Ministerial Character

    The pastor and the principal are the visible foundation of the school which the Bishop has entrusted to the pastor and principal. Together with the pastor, the principal makes Christ's mission present and enduring in the school. In order to fulfill this mission, the principal employs suitable, chosen collaborators. The principal shares with them Christ's mission and entrusts various responsibilities to them.

    Positions employed in the school help to extend the ministry of the pastor and the principal in particular ways as outlined in the job description. Therefore, the employee in this position is closely connected to and assists the pastor and the principal in the performance of their ministry and thereby engages in ministry for the Church.

    Essential Duties

    * Supports and upholds the philosophy of Catholic education and the mission of the school
    * Acts as a witness to Gospel values by modeling the teachings of the Catholic Church
    * Supports and adheres to the Code of Conduct and policies and procedures of the school and Diocese
    * Maintains confidentiality regarding school matters
    * Models professional conduct and sensible sportsmanship while instilling these characteristics within team members
    * Conducts practice sessions and games according to local diocesan policy and league regulations
    * Schedules practices and games in consultation with the athletic director
    * Verifies student eligibility to practice and participate by completion of physicals, release/hold harmless, and registration
    * Monitors the physical condition and fitness of participants and reports injuries to parents and school officials
    * Continually monitors and supervises all activities of the participants at all practices and games
    * Teaches essential safety skills and strategies to student-athletes; monitors safety compliance
    * Follows school and diocesan policies regarding academic eligibility, safety guidelines, and transportation rules
  5. Post your job

    To find basketball coaches for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any basketball coaches they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level basketball coaches with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your basketball coach job on Zippia to find and recruit basketball coach candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit basketball coaches, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new basketball coach

    Once you've found the basketball coach candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new basketball coach. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a basketball coach?

Before you start to hire basketball coaches, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire basketball coaches pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

Basketball coaches earn a median yearly salary is $44,858 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find basketball coaches for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $13 and $32.

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