What does a high school coach do?
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. Coaches should be well educated in the sport they teach, and they should be able to communicate their ideas to their athletes in an easily understandable way. They must be committed to the student community.
High school coach responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real high school coach resumes:
- Lead the boys and girls teams to strong sectional outcomes, which lead their qualification for the state championship meet.
- Certify to perform CPR and transport team.
- Create and implement the curriculum/lesson plans for the school's first freshman geography program.
- Train in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and all necessary training and education programs require by the state.
- Assist players in selecting schools for attendance for collegiate careers and getting paperwork together nor the NCAA clearinghouse requirements.
- Select players with great potential, provide training, organize soccer camps, and participate in various local soccer competitions.
- Create highlight films and contact college coaches to assist athletes in getting opportunities for college scholarships for both volleyball and academics.
- Work with a group of eleven students, providing them with instruction in both softball and school relate subjects when need.
- Teach students how to play softball; check players' academic statuses and find them help when need; mentor the youth
- Develop and facilitate programs focuse on the core areas of football knowledge, character, building physical strength, and sportsmanship.
- Design and implement proper football training
- Demonstrate and teach fundamental volleyball skills.
- Provide leadership and instruction in the personal and athletic development of student-athletes.
- Experience in of all facets of competitive soccer programs including organization direction and administration.
- Motivate and encourage youths' individual progress with an emphasis on promoting teamwork and strategic development.
High school coach skills and personality traits
We calculated that 45% of High School Coaches are proficient in CPR, Student Athletes, and Kids. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Dedication, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of High School Coaches that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- CPR, 45%
Completed Mandated Reporter Training and CPR certification.
- Student Athletes, 13%
Mentored student athletes on academics, personal/emotional guidance, and anger management through adolescence.
- Kids, 6%
Worked with kids-Managed emergency contact forms-Game Planned-Worked on a coaching staff-Managed kids at events
- Public Schools, 5%
Created and developed reports for CISA and the Atlanta Public Schools via Microsoft Excel and Word software.
- Volleyball, 4%
Coached Junior Varsity volleyball and assisted with Varsity.
- Soccer, 3%
Experienced in of all facets of competitive soccer programs including organization direction and administration.
Most high school coaches use their skills in "cpr," "student athletes," and "kids" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential high school coach responsibilities here:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a high school coach to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "because coaches instruct, organize, and motivate athletes, they must be able to convey information clearly." High school coaches often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "coordinate weekly practice schedules manage game day decisions using coaching skills and effective communication skills with students, coaches and parents. "
Dedication. Another essential skill to perform high school coach duties is dedication. High school coaches responsibilities require that "coaches must attend daily practices and assist their team and individual athletes in improving their skills and physical conditioning." High school coaches also use dedication in their role according to a real resume snippet: "planned and implemented skills to teach volleyball techniques while instilling dedication and teamwork. "
Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for high school coaches to perform their duties. For an example of how high school coach responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "being able to relate to athletes helps coaches and scouts foster positive relationships with their current players and in recruiting potential players." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a high school coach: "learned valuable interpersonal communication and leadership skills by collaborating with fellow marines and youth programs. ".
Leadership skills. A big part of what high school coaches do relies on "leadership skills." You can see how essential it is to high school coach responsibilities because "coaches must motivate, develop, and direct athletes to help them reach their potential." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical high school coach tasks: "provide leadership in responding to student needs and school issues related to athletic program. "
The three companies that hire the most high school coachs are:
- Deloitte15 high school coaches jobs
- Denver Public Schools11 high school coaches jobs
- Tamalpais Union High School District11 high school coaches jobs
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Compare different high school coaches
High school coach vs. Coach/instructor
A Coach/Instructor teaches athletes the correct way to play a sport. They offer professional development and improvement guidance to high school students, college students, and other individuals.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, high school coach responsibilities require skills like "cpr," "student athletes," "kids," and "volleyball." Meanwhile a typical coach/instructor has skills in areas such as "classroom management," "math," "instructional support," and "student learning." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Coach/instructors earn the highest salaries when working in the government industry, with an average yearly salary of $56,932. On the other hand, high school coaches are paid more in the education industry with an average salary of $45,782.On average, coach/instructors reach higher levels of education than high school coaches. Coach/instructors are 19.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.9% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.High school coach vs. Assistant head coach
An assistant basketball coach helps in the basketball team's conceptualization and guidance to enhance their play and coordination on the court. The assistant basketball coach works closely with the head coach and provides all the necessary information needed to develop plays. There are instances where the assistant coach will research opponent players, coaches, and their strengths and weaknesses. The effectiveness of the team relies heavily on both the players and the team of coaches.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that high school coach responsibilities requires skills like "student athletes," "kids," "public schools," and "soccer." But an assistant head coach might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "assist head," "soccer program," "jv," and "championship."
Assistant head coaches earn a lower average salary than high school coaches. But assistant head coaches earn the highest pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $45,074. Additionally, high school coaches earn the highest salaries in the education with average pay of $45,782 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Assistant head coaches tend to reach similar levels of education than high school coaches. In fact, they're 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.High school coach vs. Assistant basketball coach
A basketball coach is responsible for training players for school or basketball tournament leagues. A basketball coach prepares the players by providing them game techniques, developing their maximum potential through a series of practice and games. Basketball coaches identify each player's strengths and weaknesses, creating unique strategies during the mentorship. They must be highly knowledgeable of basketball's disciplines and rules, guiding them to improve their stance and movement. A basketball coach must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in handling the team's performance.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, high school coaches are more likely to have skills like "student athletes," "kids," "public schools," and "volleyball." But a assistant basketball coach is more likely to have skills like "jv," "assist head," "grade girls," and "championship."
Assistant basketball coaches earn the highest salary when working in the education industry, where they receive an average salary of $44,765. Comparatively, high school coaches have the highest earning potential in the education industry, with an average salary of $45,782.Most assistant basketball coaches achieve a similar degree level compared to high school coaches. For example, they're 1.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.High school coach vs. Basketball coach
Types of high school coach
Updated January 8, 2025
