Basketball Coaching Jobs in the United States

Basketball Coaching Jobs Overview

Do you enjoy helping athletes maximize their skills? Have you ever dreamed of using your former playing experience to coach a basketball team? If so, basketball coaching jobs are right for you.

Basketball coaches are tasked with guiding a team of players to the best of their abilities. Your responsibilities include recruiting new players, managing assistant coaches, training the team, and creating effective strategies for the games ahead.

Your hours depend on the time of year. During the off-season, you'll likely work part-time while holding practices for the athletes on your team. During basketball season, you might work more than 40 hours each week for at least a few months. Travel is often a necessity.

Basketball coaches usually work in public schools, private schools, or colleges. Depending on how successful your career is, you may eventually become a coach for a professional team. The job outlook for athletic coaches into the next decade is 20%, far higher than the average for all occupations.

Salaries for Basketball Coaching Jobs

As a basketball coach, you have the opportunity to earn anywhere from $13.98 to $28.85 per hour, with a median salary of $18.54 per hour. However, basketball coaching jobs vary greatly when it comes to pay.

If you get the opportunity to coach at a school with a prestigious basketball program, your salary will likely be higher than what you'd get at a smaller school with a fledgling program. Here are the average salaries in high-demand locations:

• New York, NY - $21.87 per hour
• Los Angeles, CA - $18.84 per hour
• Phoenix, AZ - $18.51 per hour
• Houston, TX - $18.61 per hour
• Chicago, IL - $19.55 per hour

To find more information about possible salaries for coaching jobs, consult Monster's Salary Calculator. This tool gives you salary information based on your location.

How to Find Basketball Coaching Jobs That Fit You

Finding basketball coaching jobs that interest you and give you the salary you're looking for is possible once you define your career interests and goals as well as your strengths and weaknesses. When it comes to basketball coaching, you'll likely begin your career in an entry-level position. However, you have several options regarding your work environment.

While most basketball coaching jobs are available at schools and colleges, you might have the opportunity to coach at the YMCA or an at-risk youth program. Find a job that helps you reach your personal career goals.

Review the Description and Evaluate Your Qualifications

When looking at a job description, carefully read the responsibilities and requirements sections to make sure the job matches your skills and experience. The requirements vary considerably depending on where you're applying.

For instance, landing a job as a middle-school basketball coach might only require extensive knowledge of the sport and a high school diploma. Some schools, however, require a bachelor's degree. Find the job that suits your skill level and qualifications. Skills that coaching jobs often require include:

• extensive basketball knowledge
• attention to detail
• communication
• CPR
• ability to develop basketball strategies
• proficiency in Microsoft Office
• strong analytical skills

If you want one of the basketball coaching jobs that have stricter requirements, consider areas where you might need extra development or training before applying.

Learn About the Team or Program You're Applying To

Before you submit your application, do some research on the team, school, or organization you're applying to. Navigate to the employer's website to gain a better understanding of their sports program and its past successes. You can also search for online articles about basketball games from previous seasons.

Consider Opportunities for Growth

Review the size of the program’s coaching and administrative sports staff. If the position is for an assistant or JV coach, it may eventually open doors to other higher-paying positions. Also, consider the team’s potential and how you can help them become more successful.

Let's say you join a school with a middling basketball program and eventually coach the team to a state championship, or help lead players to sports scholarships. This level of success could generate opportunities for college- or pro-level jobs.

How to Apply for Basketball Coaching Jobs

To prepare for the application process, review the job description to look for any qualifications or skills that you can highlight in your application. Consider the tone of the job listing. Does it highlight specific skills? If so, make those skills your focus.

If your employer has specific instructions about how to fill out your application, make sure to follow them. Look for any formatting guidelines to ensure your resume and cover letter are presented correctly.

Write a Compelling Resume

Write a compelling basketball coach resume that captures the reader's attention. Include resume keywords to help you to get through the applicant tracking system (ATS) and stand out from other candidates.

Use the job description as your guide. Most descriptions for basketball coaching jobs ask for physically fit applicants who are able to withstand the rigors of practice. For example, list things like "strong physical fitness" as attributes to improve your resume.

Your resume needs to be concise and informative at the same time. Include any details that are relevant to basketball coaching jobs, such as youth coaching experience.

Focus on any accomplishments from your past jobs. Consider using the reverse chronological format for your resume. With this approach, you'll detail your latest experience first.

Before you submit your resume, make sure it has no spelling or grammatical errors. If you're unsure about writing it, hire our experts through the Monster Professional Resume Writing Service.

Create an Effective Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter gives you an edge over other applicants. Make sure it’s specific to the job you wish to obtain. Take this opportunity to show that you're a great candidate for the position by sharing your ability to engage and motivate players as well as your expert knowledge of basketball rules and regulations.

Cover letters aren't usually as formal as resumes, making it possible for you to display some of your personality. Many schools want their coaches that show an earnestness for coaching athletes.

Keep your cover letter short and concise. Get more guidance on how to create the ideal cover letter with these cover letter tips.

Submit Your Application

If you're confident about the quality of your cover letter and resume, apply by creating a free Monster account. By making a personal profile with Monster, you can also get a free professional resume review as well as recommendations for other jobs that match your interests.

Following Up With Your Prospective Employer

Correctly timing your follow-up increases your chances of getting an interview. Wait for one to two weeks before you follow up.

How to Follow Up

Reach out by phone or email to follow up on the application with the employer. You might find a phone call more effective. During the call, emphasize your enthusiasm for the job. But, keep your message brief. Mention your skills and how hiring you would help the basketball team succeed.

Who to Follow Up With

Contact the hiring manager in charge of the application process. You should find the name of this person on the school's website. If you're unable to get this information, call the front desk.

Interviewing Tips for Basketball Coaching Jobs

It's a wonderful feeling when you receive a call back to attend an interview. It gives you confidence that your potential employer views you as a strong candidate for the job.

If you have yet to do so, research the school and the position to make sure you learn everything you can about the basketball team. Keep in mind that a private school's values and culture might differ from those of a public school.

Prepare for your interview by having someone else ask you practice questions. With enough practice, you can deliver your answers to common interview questions on cue. Questions you're likely to receive during an interview for a basketball coaching job include the following:

• What do you believe is the best way to motivate players?
• How do you scout your opponents?
• How would you react if your star player had an injury?
• What is your preferred method for managing player minutes?

The Interview Process

The interview process for a basketball coaching job can involve several rounds of interviews. While the initial interview will probably be by phone, any additional ones should occur in person. The person conducting the interview is often the principal or hiring manager.

You'll likely receive a combination of behavioral and competency-based questions. Both formats give you the opportunity to detail how you'll respond to future situations and if you have the skills necessary to do the job.

Interviewing Tips

To improve your interview skills, consider the STAR technique, which stands for “Situation, Task, Action, Result.” The goal is to emphasize your experience and skills with relevant examples in your responses.

The STAR approach is especially helpful when answering behavioral interview questions. These questions are designed to give the hiring manager an idea of how you would respond to common situations that occur with a basketball team. Some examples of behavior questions include:

• How do you handle a difficult athlete who won't practice like everyone else?
• What’s your approach to overcoming high expectations or player complacency?
• How would you handle cutting a good player who can’t quite make the team?
• What would you do if a player gets a serious injury during practice or a game?
• How would you address a player who is having off-the-court problems?

Follow Up

Follow up with your potential employer by writing a thank-you email within 24 hours of the interview. Reiterate your passion for the coaching job, and state that you're thankful for the opportunity. Consider mentioning something that you spoke about during the interview too.

If you don't hear back, make a call to the hiring manager after 10 to 14 days. Remind them of your qualifications and that you have what it takes to garner success as a basketball coach for the school or association.

What to Do When You Get an Offer

Once you receive an offer, give a prompt reply that thanks your employer. But take some time to evaluate the details before saying yes. Let the employer know how much time you need to consider the offer.

Assess every detail to make sure you understand the job responsibilities, salary, and benefits. If you have any questions, seek clarification from the hiring manager.

Put your needs at the forefront of the decision-making process. If you want to negotiate the pay or benefits, speak with the hiring manager professionally, and explain why you deserve more.

Career Paths

There are several different career paths you can take as a basketball coach. Many high school or college basketball coaches move on to teaching or sports-related administrative positions.

Eventually, you might apply for a job as the school's athletic director. This position often requires a bachelor's degree in physical education or sports management.

You can also use the experience you gain to obtain better coaching jobs. While many people begin as assistant coaches, you can eventually work your way to landing a job as a head coach.

You might also choose to advance your career by seeking jobs at prestigious schools with stronger basketball programs. Eventually, your experience could help you earn a job with an elite college or pro basketball team. Consider your career goals, talents, and interests when figuring out what path you want your career to take.

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