Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 244,300 people employed as coaches and scouts in the United States. The median annual salary is $38,970. Entry level employees earn approximately $22,200 per year and senior employees earn approximately $80,720 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Coordinate travel arrangements and travel with team to away contests.
• Evaluate athletes' skills and review performance records to determine their fitness and potential in a particular area of athletics.
• Monitor athletes' use of equipment to ensure safe and proper use.
• Keep abreast of changing rules, techniques, technologies, and philosophies relevant to their sport.
• Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations.
• Contact the parents of players to provide information and answer questions.
• Arrange and conduct sports-related activities, such as training camps, skill-improvement courses, clinics, and pre-season try-outs.
• Explain and demonstrate the use of sports and training equipment, such as trampolines or weights.
• Perform activities that support a team or a specific sport, such as participating in community outreach activities, meeting with media representatives, and appearing at fundraising events.
• Plan and direct physical conditioning programs that will enable athletes to achieve maximum performance.
• Identify and recruit potential athletes by sending recruitment letters, meeting with recruits, and arranging and offering incentives, such as athletic scholarships.
• Hire, supervise, and work with extended coaching staff.
• Plan, organize, and conduct practice sessions.
• Provide training direction, encouragement, motivation, and nutritional advice to prepare athletes for games, competitive events, or tours.
• Adjust coaching techniques, based on the strengths and weaknesses of athletes.
• Instruct individuals or groups in sports rules, game strategies, and performance principles, such as specific ways of moving the body, hands, or feet, to achieve desired results.
• Plan strategies and choose team members for individual games or sports seasons.
• Monitor the academic eligibility of student athletes.
• Counsel student athletes on academic, athletic, and personal issues.
• Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of opposing teams to develop game strategies.
• Serve as organizer, leader, instructor, or referee for outdoor and indoor games, such as volleyball, football, and soccer.
• Teach instructional courses and advise students.
• Oversee the development and management of the sports program budget and fundraising activities.
• Develop and arrange competition schedules and programs.
• Keep and review paper, computerized, and video records of athlete, team, and opposing team performance.
• File scouting reports that detail player assessments, provide recommendations on athlete recruitment, and identify locations and individuals to be targeted for future recruitment efforts.
• Select, acquire, store, and issue equipment and other materials as necessary.
• Negotiate with professional athletes or their representatives to obtain services and arrange contracts.

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