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What is a head football coach and how to become one
The head football coach serves as the leader of the football team. From game preparations to the actual game itself, the head football coach provides guidance and instructions to help the team succeed. They are in charge of formulating game plans, designing training programs, holding team meetings, and managing team members.
Apart from game-related activities, a head football coach may also be responsible for managing outreach programs, hosting sports camps, and establishing team-building sessions off the field. When an individual player needs additional coaching, the head football coach is also there to help.
For most employers, the basic requirements for a head football coach are a bachelor's degree in sports science, sports medicine, kinesiology, or a similar field and experience in sports coaching. To become successful in this career, one must have strong discipline, patience, good sportsmanship, and strong management and leadership skills. Since they are working with a team and other sports professionals, a head football coach also needs great interpersonal and communication skills.
In exchange for leading a team to success, a head football coach earns $47,000 a year, on average.
Avg. Salary $46,351
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 20%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.22%
Asian 5.40%
Black or African American 8.73%
Hispanic or Latino 13.03%
Unknown 5.77%
White 66.85%
Genderfemale 3.31%
male 96.69%
Age - 34American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 34Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Head football coach career paths
Key steps to become a head football coach
Explore head football coach education requirements
Start to develop specific head football coach skills
Skills Percentages CPR 30.40% Student Athletes 22.68% Athletic Program 5.39% NCAA 4.62% Physical Education 4.08% Complete relevant head football coach training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New head football coaches learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a head football coach based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real head football coach resumes.Research head football coach duties and responsibilities
- Provide guidance for individual athletes and assist them in achieving spots within elite summer rowing programs in Philadelphia.
- Provide instruction on leadership, physical development and group management for adolescent football athletes.
- Scout opponents and break down film on HUDL system.
- Coach freshman to a conference championship (8-2) record.
Prepare your head football coach resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your head football coach resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a head football coach resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable head football coach resume templates
Build a professional head football coach resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your head football coach resume.
Apply for head football coach jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a head football coach job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first head football coach job
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Average head football coach salary
The average head football coach salary in the United States is $46,351 per year or $22 per hour. Head football coach salaries range between $29,000 and $72,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do head football coaches rate their job?
Head football coach reviews
I like to motivate kids into becoming acting and follow their dreams on sports they love to do. I'm always encourage kids they can do anything they want if they try hard enough and would most likely succeed in athletic activity if I'm there coaching for them. Want them to have fun and experience how fun it is being the best team in school.
Not much I don't like but if I have to decide then I would say my dislike would be kids who don't think qualified or not good enough for sports since parents don't encourage them enough, which I would help them see how much fun and talented they can be not matter what anyone says
Working with individual players in one on one lessons. That's when I get a real chance to find out what knowledge the athlete is bringing to practice, who taught him that, and how and why it may work or not be the best technique available. I am about as nuanced a coach as you could get. The game of football is one of mental fortitude, discipline, and preparation. Raw athleticism, circus catches and big hits or helmet to helmet collisions.
I don't like parents getting involved or attempting to persuade coaching decisions such as play playing time and depth chart seeding. What I would allow for is any of my concerned parents (at any potential public school) who wouldn't ordinarily come watch practice and see the way the coaching staff interacts with your student athlete as we will go through a proper tackling methods clinic for LB/defensive backs, different types of blocking for the offensive and even the multiple defensive pash rush techniques that are now able to be implemented by a modern football coach.
Updated January 8, 2025
