| Coaching a college sports team can be a rewarding | | | | coaches work for minimum wage, be prepared with |
| experience for a coach, it can also be quite stressful | | | | an extensive list of coaching drills to implement into |
| and challenging if you do not understand what you | | | | your programs. |
| might be getting your self into. | | | | Some of the benefits of Being a College Coach |
| When you make that career decision to coach at the | | | | Include: |
| college level you are about to take on a wide array | | | | Gaining valuable experience in leadership and coaching |
| of responsibilities. | | | | large numbers of athletes, it can be very rewarding |
| You Will Be Responsible For: | | | | when you succeed as a team, you can progress |
| Representing your school in an appropriate way while | | | | from a smaller school to a larger one that is more |
| trying to succeed as a team, all of the players on | | | | challenging a lucrative, you will develop a bond with |
| your team, handling all of the extra requirements for | | | | your athletes, you will have a support system in |
| your international players such as visa concerns, | | | | place from the sports program, you can often |
| organising holiday accommodation, transport, language | | | | negotiate accommodation into your contracts. |
| barriers and much more. | | | | Other benefits include getting discounts on tuition for |
| You will also have to monitor your athlete's academic | | | | yourself or family members, some of your living |
| status and maintain eligibility requirements, safely | | | | costs are paid by the school, you can make a lot of |
| transport your team when on a road trip. This often | | | | money from running summer clinics and camps, you |
| requires you to drive a bus for long distances to | | | | can find financially lucrative positions, you feel a sense |
| unknown locations. | | | | of belonging, experience the fun of being involved |
| Other areas of responsibility include being in | | | | with young motivated athletes with possible desires |
| compliance with NCAA rules, organising and | | | | of being professional athletes once their college years |
| conducting team practices, administration issues, | | | | are over, you have sponsors providing you with free |
| attending school events and meetings, co-operating | | | | equipment and clothing, you will gain respect from |
| with the media and providing results, attracting alumni | | | | athletes and peers, you will develop other skills of |
| support, scheduling matches and tournaments, | | | | recruiting, managing, administration and promoting. |
| recruiting athletes, scholarships, intra-team issues, | | | | When choosing a college you will want to research |
| facility management and maintenance and the list | | | | the following areas as they will help you decide if the |
| goes on and on. | | | | position is right for you: |
| Being a college coach can be very satisfying and | | | | Salary and benefits |
| rewarding from the other more traditional roles as a | | | | Job security |
| coach (eg. Club, High School or YMCA Coach) | | | | School location |
| You will develop a bond with your players but will also | | | | Family issues |
| experience the pressure of being successful and | | | | Accommodation availability |
| having a winning record. College sports programs | | | | Scholarships available to you for recruiting the best |
| seek titles, whether they are Conference, regional or | | | | players |
| National Titles. These are often used by coaches and | | | | The report amongst the other coaches |
| schools in helping to recruit the best players. | | | | Training facilities (fitness centre, sporting fields) |
| Obviously a top athlete will want to go to a | | | | What division are they in (Division 1, 2, 3) |
| successful program rather than one that fails to win | | | | Do you have to share the playing courts, field with |
| year in and year out. | | | | other teams? |
| A successful program can often be the deciding | | | | Will you have an assistant coach? |
| factor for a lot of students when deciding between | | | | How much money is in the budget? |
| schools. Many students have chosen schools primarily | | | | Can you afford to take the team on long trips over |
| because of the success of their football or basketball | | | | spring / fall break? |
| teams ands want to be associated with a winning | | | | Does the school have a high standard of academics? |
| school for bragging rights. This pressure to succeed in | | | | Is there room to progress or climb the coaching |
| the big sports often falls onto the coach and their | | | | ladder? |
| staff. The life of a college coach is not a very secure | | | | What is the reputation of the Athletics Director? Is |
| one. | | | | he / she easy to work with? |
| The Best Ways to Prepare For Being a College | | | | Do you have your own office or do you have to |
| Coach Are: | | | | share? |
| Experience playing the sport you want to coach, | | | | What is the condition of the playing facilities? |
| playing on a college team when you were a student, | | | | Do you have to do your own maintenance on the |
| spending several years working as an Assistant | | | | facilities? |
| Coach under an experienced Head Coach in a | | | | Coaching a college team is fun, rewarding, financially |
| successful program, find a mentor. | | | | lucrative at the highest levels, challenging, can be |
| Many schools require coaches to have a Masters | | | | stressful, requires working week-ends and odd hours, |
| Degree or college degree at minimum. | | | | lots of organising, dealing with many issues and much |
| You will also need to build a good resume, acquire | | | | more. It is a personal decision for each individual and |
| leadership skills while going through school, study in | | | | the best advice is to gain experience as an assistant |
| advance and get a good understanding of the NCAA | | | | coach before plunging into the position as a head |
| rules and regulations, have a plan to present to your | | | | coach. |
| employer, understand your style of coaching and the | | | | Remember - you have to love what you are doing, if |
| leadership style you will follow, do some research to | | | | you don't love coaching and your sport then it can |
| see if coaching at the college level is viable for you | | | | end up being a miserable experience! It's is up to you |
| from as financial perspective, know that many | | | | to do your homework! |