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Head basketball coach education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a head basketball coach. Head basketball coaches usually study kinesiology, health education, or business. 72% of head basketball coaches hold a bachelor's degree, and 13% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 5,891 real head basketball coach resumes to see exactly what head basketball coach education sections show.

The most common colleges for head basketball coaches are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online head basketball coach courses to help get the education required to be a head basketball coach.

There are certain head basketball coach certifications that you should consider. These head basketball coach certifications include Master Certified Coach (MCC) and Certified Adapted Physical Educator (CAPE).

What education do you need to become a head basketball coach?

What degree do you need to be a head basketball coach?

The most common degree for head basketball coaches is bachelor's degree, with 72% of head basketball coaches earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 13% and master's degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 72%
  • Master's, 13%
  • Associate, 8%
  • High School Diploma, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a head basketball coach?

You should major in kinesiology to become a head basketball coach. 16% of head basketball coaches major in kinesiology. Other common majors for a head basketball coach include health education and business.

Most common colleges for head basketball coaches

Head basketball coaches often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Liberty University, and California State University - San Bernardino. Here are the most common colleges for head basketball coaches in the US based on their resumes.
Head basketball coach common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix10.41%
Liberty University6.85%
California State University - San Bernardino6.30%
Bowling Green State University5.48%
Western Michigan University5.48%

Best majors for head basketball coaches

RankMajorPercentages
1Kinesiology16.3%
2Health Education14.7%
3Business13.7%
4Education7.9%
5Communication5.6%

Best colleges for head basketball coaches

The best colleges for head basketball coaches are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

A head basketball coach with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for head basketball coaches. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become head basketball coaches.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

6. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

7. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,099

Enrollment

21,404

8. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

9. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

10. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

20 best online courses for head basketball coaches

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Top 10 most affordable universities for head basketball coaches

The most affordable schools for head basketball coaches are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for head basketball coaches are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for head basketball coaches.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

6. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

7. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

10. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for head basketball coaches

The hardest universities for head basketball coaches to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

Some great schools for head basketball coaches are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for head basketball coaches based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

7. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

8. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

9. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,398

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for head basketball coaches

The easiest schools for head basketball coaches to get into are Barry University, felician university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a head basketball coach without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for head basketball coaches.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

5. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

6. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

7. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

8. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

9. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

10. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

Average head basketball coach salary by education level

Head basketball coaches with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $48,364 annually. With a Master's degree, head basketball coaches earn a median annual income of $48,112 compared to $43,253 for head basketball coaches with an Associate degree.
Head basketball coach education levelHead basketball coach salary
Master's Degree$48,112
High School Diploma or Less$41,383
Bachelor's Degree$48,364
Some College/ Associate Degree$43,253

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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