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How to hire a head football coach

Head football coach hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring head football coaches in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a head football coach is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new head football coach to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a head football coach, step by step

To hire a head football coach, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a head football coach:

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

What does a head football coach do?

A head football coach leads the team during competitions, is in charge of game plans, and gives tactics and instructions to the players during practices and training on the field. Aside from on-the-field football activities, you may also have to do other activities like promote programs, manage outreach, and host sports camps. Generally, you are required to ensure the athletes follow the highest standard possible in their training.

Learn more about the specifics of what a head football coach does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a head football coach, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a head football coach to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a head football coach that fits the bill.

    The following list breaks down different types of head football coaches and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Head Football CoachDescriptionHourly rate
    Head Football CoachCoaches 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$13-34
    Swim CoachA swim coach is someone who teaches and trains people how to swim. A swim coach provides tips and techniques for people to follow if they want to learn how to swim... Show more$11-22
    CoachThe 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... Show more$12-31
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • CPR
    • Student Athletes
    • Athletic Program
    • NCAA
    • Physical Education
    • Role Model
    • Leadership
    • Championship
    • Alumni
    • Head Varsity
    • Academic Performance
    • III
    • Practice Schedules
    • Offensive Line
    Check all skills
    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.
    • Coach the team to an 8-0 season and a league championship.
    • Work with college recruiters to secure scholarships for athletes, and keep Scarborough NCAA compliant.
    More head football coach duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your head football coach job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A head football coach salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, head football coaches' average salary in wyoming is 59% less than in massachusetts.
    • Seniority. Entry-level head football coaches earn 60% less than senior-level head football coaches.
    • Certifications. A head football coach with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a head football coach's salary.

    Average head football coach salary

    $46,351yearly

    $22.28 hourly rate

    Entry-level head football coach salary
    $29,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 23, 2026

    Average head football coach salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Massachusetts$61,421$30
    2New Jersey$58,891$28
    3New York$56,881$27
    4Texas$50,969$25
    5Oregon$49,106$24
    6California$48,425$23
    7New Mexico$48,267$23
    8Washington$46,952$23
    9Arizona$46,287$22
    10Maryland$46,184$22
    11Colorado$42,280$20
    12Michigan$42,056$20
    13North Carolina$41,869$20
    14New Hampshire$41,841$20
    15Kansas$34,203$16
    16Indiana$33,465$16
    17Ohio$32,681$16

    Average head football coach salary by company

  4. Writing a head football coach job description

    A good head football coach job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a head football coach job description:

    Head football coach job description example

    The University of Saint Mary is a Roman Catholic, liberal arts university located in Leavenworth, Kansas, just 25 minutes away from Kansas City. For over 90 years, the University of Saint Mary has helped students find their way to meaningful lives and careers through an education that blends the liberal arts and a focus on critical thinking with the development of key professional skills. USM serves about 1,400 students at its main campus in Leavenworth, its satellite location in Overland Park, as well as online.

    POSITION SUMMARY:

    Plans and directs the activities of the USM Women's Flag Football program ensuring that the team follows the direction and mission of USM and the Athletic Department.

    ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

    • Oversee the conduct, discipline and positive character development of student-athletes by using the guidelines and principles of the USM Mission and the NAIA Champions of Character initiative
    • Teach and promote the USM Mission values of community, respect, justice and excellence
    • Responsible for the recruitment of student athletes with recommendation for athletic financial aid awards
    • Responsible for administering NAIA, KCAC and USM policies pertaining to recruitment and student-athlete eligibility.
    • Responsible for Women's Flag Football team schedule as well as coordination of team travel
    • Assesses player skills and assigns team positions
    • Field a competitive team through evaluation of own and opposition team capabilities to determine game strategy
    • Assists in inventory management, distribution, and collection of equipment and uniforms
    • Supervises all practices and competitions
    • Hire, evaluate and supervise team managers and assistant coaches
    • Works with the Athletic Department in all sport promotions, fundraising, and recruitment efforts
    • Assist with USM Athletic Department game and event management
    • Perform other job-related duties as assigned


    REQUIREMENTS:

    • Must have working knowledge of NAIA and KCAC rules and regulations
    • Bachelor's Degree, Masters preferred
    • 3-5 years related experience

    TO APPLY:
    Submit a cover letter, resume and contact information for at least three current professional references.

    Saint Mary is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find head football 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 football coach job on Zippia to find and recruit head football coach candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with head football coach candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    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 football coach

    Once you have selected a candidate for the head football coach position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new head football coach. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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 football coach?

Before you start to hire head football coaches, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire head football coaches pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $46,351 per year for a head football coach, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for head football coaches in the US typically range between $13 and $34 an hour.

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