How to hire a head coach

How to hire a head coach, step by step

Here's a step-by-step head 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 head coach job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new head coach
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a head coach do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your head 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 head 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?

   Yes

   No

   A head coach's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, head 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 presents head coach salaries for various positions.

   Type of Head Coach	Description	Hourly rate
   Head Coach	Coaches 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	$14-30
   Girls Basketball Coach	A girls' basketball coach coaches a girls' basketball team in a high school or university. They push girls to develop their basketball skills... Show more	$13-33
   High School Coach	High school coaches are often fondly remembered by student athletes long after they have left high school. A high school coach's primary job is to improve the performance of high school athletes by motivating and instructing... Show more	$13-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CPR
   • NCAA
   • Athletic Program
   • Player Development
   • Softball
   • Leadership
   • Grade Girls
   • JV
   • Volleyball
   • Role Model
   • Training Sessions
   • Championship
   • Soccer Program
   • Community Services

   Check all skills

   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.

   More head coach duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your head coach job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A head coach can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, head coaches' average salary in wyoming is 58% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level head coaches 52% less than senior-level head coaches.
   • Certifications. A head coach with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a head coach's salary.

   Average head coach salary

   $44,062yearly

   $21.18 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level head coach salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average head coach salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$57,822	$28
   2	Massachusetts	$57,078	$27
   3	New Jersey	$53,804	$26
   4	Rhode Island	$53,393	$26
   5	Virginia	$48,105	$23
   6	South Carolina	$47,710	$23
   7	Minnesota	$47,161	$23
   8	California	$47,149	$23
   9	Oregon	$46,487	$22
   10	Texas	$44,164	$21
   11	Florida	$43,822	$21
   12	Arizona	$41,619	$20
   13	Illinois	$41,126	$20
   14	Michigan	$40,180	$19
   15	Colorado	$39,852	$19
   16	Maryland	$39,452	$19
   17	Missouri	$38,235	$18
   18	Ohio	$37,702	$18
   19	Georgia	$35,043	$17
   20	Iowa	$34,003	$16

   Average head coach salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Kern Community College District	$79,476	$38.21
   2	Chicago State University	$71,855	$34.55	2
   3	The Branson School	$66,711	$32.07	8
   4	Northern Illinois University	$65,821	$31.64	2
   5	Ross Institute	$65,437	$31.46
   6	Misericordia University	$64,590	$31.05	3
   7	Regis College	$64,218	$30.87
   8	UMiami Health System	$63,449	$30.50
   9	University of Detroit Mercy	$62,672	$30.13	1
   10	Bunker Hill Community College	$62,416	$30.01	3
   11	Wellesley College	$62,091	$29.85
   12	Mid Michigan College	$61,994	$29.80
   13	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	$61,770	$29.70	1
   14	Saint Louis University	$61,558	$29.60	1
   15	Western New England University	$61,106	$29.38
   16	Santa Fe Public Schools	$60,941	$29.30	1
   17	Skidmore College	$60,668	$29.17	2
   18	Indiana University of Pennsylvania	$59,985	$28.84
   19	Fontbonne University	$59,970	$28.83
   20	Nova Southeastern University	$59,664	$28.68	1

4. Writing a head coach job description

   A head 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 head coach job description:

   Head coach job description example

   Mystic Valley Regional Charter School in Malden, MA was founded in 1998. The school serves over 1,400 students in Kindergarten through Grade 12. Central to Mystic Valley's academics and athletics is the incorporation of selected core virtues and the fundamental ideals of our American Culture, which are embodied in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.

   Mystic Valley annually finds itself among the top public schools not only within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts but in New England and throughout the nation. Our students have attained the highest levels of success at the post-secondary level, a testament to the preparation they received from their time at Mystic Valley.

   Job Summary:

   Mystic Valley Athletics seeks an experienced Winter Cheerleading Club Head Coach for the 2022-23 season. A strong candidate would bring high school level / college level playing or coaching experience, leadership and communication skills, and a positive and energetic attitude daily .

   Responsibilities:

   • Plan and schedule a regular practice program (2-3 days per week)
   • Develop workout and training regiments, oversee program development
   • Choreograph cheerleading routines for boys and girls varsity basketball games (16-20 max per game)
   • Review Equipment / Uniform Inventories
   • Support and adhere to School Policies

   Requirements:

   • Available for evening practices
   • Must take NFHS Concussion Certification Course (within year 1)
   • Must become CPR / First Aid Certified (within yea 1)
   • Understanding of Mystic Valley’s Mission & Philosophy in support to student-athlete success

   Preferences:

   • Past playing experience (college / high school)
   • Coaching experience at the high school or higher level

   The position will be evaluated yearly and will be an annual appointment.

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find head coaches for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your head coach job on Zippia to find and recruit head coach candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit head coaches, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 head coach

   Once you've selected the best head coach candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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 head coach?