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Coach/instructor vs assistant coach

The differences between coach/instructors and assistant coaches can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a coach/instructor and an assistant coach. Additionally, a coach/instructor has an average salary of $52,182, which is higher than the $43,838 average annual salary of an assistant coach.

The top three skills for a coach/instructor include classroom management, math and instructional support. The most important skills for an assistant coach are CPR, NCAA, and player development.

Coach/instructor vs assistant coach overview

Coach/InstructorAssistant Coach
Yearly salary$52,182$43,838
Hourly rate$25.09$21.08
Growth rate20%20%
Number of jobs40,98614,724
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age3636
Years of experience66

What does a coach/instructor do?

A Coach/Instructor teaches athletes the correct way to play a sport. They offer professional development and improvement guidance to high school students, college students, and other individuals.

What does an assistant coach do?

An assistant coach's role is to provide administrative and organizational support to a coach and team of athletes. Most of the tasks will depend upon the coach's directions. However, their responsibilities primarily revolve around arranging schedules of team events and practices, responding to calls and inquiries, producing and organizing documentation, and taking part in the recruitment and budgeting process of the team. It is also an assistant coach's responsibility to keep records of all players and personnel involved, including data and progress reports.

Coach/instructor vs assistant coach salary

Coach/instructors and assistant coaches have different pay scales, as shown below.

Coach/InstructorAssistant Coach
Average salary$52,182$43,838
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $72,000Between $30,000 And $63,000
Highest paying CitySunnyvale, CABoston, MA
Highest paying stateHawaiiMassachusetts
Best paying companySaint Xavier UniversityThe Branson School
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between coach/instructor and assistant coach education

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

Coach/InstructorAssistant Coach
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorElementary EducationKinesiology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Coach/instructor vs assistant coach demographics

Here are the differences between coach/instructors' and assistant coaches' demographics:

Coach/InstructorAssistant Coach
Average age3636
Gender ratioMale, 41.8% Female, 58.2%Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between coach/instructor and assistant coach duties and responsibilities

Coach/instructor example responsibilities.

  • Manage and schedule local and national soccer competitions.
  • Present information of math program through PowerPoint presentation to parents and community.
  • Teach students in GED program.
  • Serve on district wide PBIS team.
  • Monitor data on ESE, ESL populations.
  • Assist in IEP development and transition plan development.
  • Show more

Assistant coach example responsibilities.

  • Plan practices, lead JV games and practices, assist with varsity practices and workouts
  • Lead the boys and girls teams to strong sectional outcomes, which lead their qualification for the state championship meet.
  • Instruct competitive youth soccer players in basic skill development
  • Train to use see CPR certify
  • Mentor to kids on the team
  • Certify in safety management and CPR.
  • Show more

Coach/instructor vs assistant coach skills

Common coach/instructor skills
  • Classroom Management, 8%
  • Math, 6%
  • Instructional Support, 6%
  • Student Learning, 6%
  • Professional Growth, 6%
  • Curriculum Development, 6%
Common assistant coach skills
  • CPR, 15%
  • NCAA, 13%
  • Player Development, 7%
  • Assist Head, 6%
  • Soccer, 6%
  • Volleyball, 5%

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