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Coach vs assistant coach

The differences between coaches 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 and an assistant coach. Additionally, an assistant coach has an average salary of $43,838, which is higher than the $42,716 average annual salary of a coach.

The top three skills for a coach include customer service, CPR and food handling. The most important skills for an assistant coach are CPR, NCAA, and player development.

Coach vs assistant coach overview

CoachAssistant Coach
Yearly salary$42,716$43,838
Hourly rate$20.54$21.08
Growth rate20%20%
Number of jobs16,68814,724
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age3636
Years of experience66

What does a coach do?

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.

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 vs assistant coach salary

Coaches and assistant coaches have different pay scales, as shown below.

CoachAssistant Coach
Average salary$42,716$43,838
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $66,000Between $30,000 And $63,000
Highest paying CityPiscataway, NJBoston, MA
Highest paying stateHawaiiMassachusetts
Best paying companyAEA InvestorsThe Branson School
Best paying industryTechnologyEducation

Differences between coach and assistant coach education

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

CoachAssistant Coach
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorBusinessKinesiology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Coach vs assistant coach demographics

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

CoachAssistant Coach
Average age3636
Gender ratioMale, 48.3% Female, 51.7%Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.4% 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 and assistant coach duties and responsibilities

Coach example responsibilities.

  • Provide guidance for individual athletes and assist them in achieving spots within elite summer rowing programs in Philadelphia.
  • Develop / implement IEP's, prepare / lead ARD meetings, and supervise/ manage students in special education.
  • Manage and schedule local and national soccer competitions.
  • Perform additional responsibilities as deemed appropriate by school and district supervisors such as organizing and managing elementary school mathematics information nights.
  • Supervise designated swimming areas and enforce safety rules and regulations as a lifeguard.
  • Coach U10 and U8 recreational soccer teams.
  • 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 vs assistant coach skills

Common coach skills
  • Customer Service, 24%
  • CPR, 10%
  • Food Handling, 8%
  • Safety Rules, 6%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%
  • Mental Health, 4%
Common assistant coach skills
  • CPR, 15%
  • NCAA, 13%
  • Player Development, 7%
  • Assist Head, 6%
  • Soccer, 6%
  • Volleyball, 5%

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