How To Become a High School Coach

A high school coach teaches student-athletes the skills they need to excel in their sport. Athletic coaches can work with teams and individual athletes in sports like:

• baseball
• softball
• basketball
• football
• tennis
• hockey
• soccer
• golf
• volleyball

Becoming a high school coach often requires earning a bachelor's degree and securing a teaching certificate. However, this is not the only way to coach at the high school level. If you're interested in this career, learning what routes you can take to get started is important.

How To Become a High School Coach

Do you have to be a teacher to be a high school coach? Learn more about this interesting career and what steps you can take to get started.

What Is a High School Coach?

High school coaches are individuals who work with student-athletes. Common coaching positions for team sports include the head coach and assistant coach.

Head coaches take on the primary coaching role, while assistant coaches support the head coach and often work directly with individual players. Some sports like basketball and football might even have defensive and offensive assistant coaches.

What Does a High School Sports Coach Do?

Coaches in high school sports take on numerous duties. They might:

• conduct practices
• select, direct, and encourage team members during competitions
• teach players the fundamental skills of their sport
• pinpoint individual athletes' strengths and weaknesses
• help students condition and build skills and stamina
• track team members' and opponents' performances
• recruit athletes

High school coaches also promote sportsmanship and teach their students the importance of teamwork and chemistry.

Requirements for Becoming a High School Coach

One of the most common ways to become a high school coach is by first working as a high school teacher. Here are steps to becoming a coach through teaching.

• earn a bachelor's degree in education or the content area you want to teach (ex. math, English, or science)
• complete a teacher education program
• earn teacher certification or licensure
• pass a background check

After becoming a high school teacher, you could have additional requirements to meet before coaching like getting trained in CPR and first aid.

You don't have to be a teacher in order to be a coach. Non-teachers who want coaching jobs in high schools might consider the following:

• substitute teaching in physical education to get experience
• look into assistant coaching with an extracurricular team
• earn a coaching credential — the National Federation of State High School Associations provides a 3-level national coaching credential for aspiring and current coaches

Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming a High School Coach

Do you want to learn more about becoming a high school coach? Explore the following frequently asked questions.

What Degree Do Most High School Coaches Have?

Most high school coaches have a college degree (bachelor's or master's depending on the school district) in education. However, some might have a degree in sports science, physical education, or a related field.

Can I Be a Coach and Not a Teacher?

Yes, you can become a coach at the high school level without first working as a teacher. Schools usually hire coaches from their pool of teachers and school administrators; however, they sometimes search for candidates outside the school. A great way to see if a school is open to hiring non-teachers is to contact athletic directors at private and public schools in your area.

What Is the Job Outlook for Coaches?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of coaches and scouts is expected to grow 9% from 2022 to 2032. This is much faster than average when compared to all occupations.