I know it’s wrong to assume. But you’re here because you want to know, do I need a degree to coach high school basketball?. I’m guessing you either don’t have a degree or you’re wondering if your current degree is enough to get the job? The good news is this post will answer the exact question, but also uncovers grey areas for those without a degree, exploring what opportunities exist for you.
Do You Need a Degree to Coach High School Basketball? Government or public schools almost always require a bachelor’s degree, but rarely in a particular field. However, the private school system has different regulations and doesn’t often require a bachelor’s degree to coach. Experience, successful completion of prior coaching and first aid/CPR courses will boost ones application.
Are you ready to teach the game you love to young student-athletes whilst at the same time being their mentor, motivator and biggest supporter? Being a high school basketball coach is an honor and we want to help you get there – with or without a degree.
High School Basketball Coach Qualifications
Do you need a degree to become a high school basketball coach? The answer is mostly yes, but there are some exceptions.
A bachelor’s degree gives applicants the best chance of securing the job, as they have demonstrated via education they have the theory behind their areas of practice. They have written assignments, successfully completed tasks and demonstrated they are competent in a particular topic. Though often not basketball-related…
High schools that require their coaches to have a bachelors degree means that could now become an accredited teacher after they have successfully passed standard background checks and licensing exams (state-dependent).
However, interestingly, not all high school sports coaches have obtained a bachelor’s degree.
Some schools may recognize an associate degree, (which is the level of qualification between a high school diploma or General Educational Development – GED and a bachelor’s degree) which gives coaches with a love for the game an opportunity to still coach without a degree.
Some schools may even hire coaches for non-teaching roles, such as janitorial or secretarial work, that do not require a college degree either. This allows the coaches to experience life at the school as a member of staff, to build relationships and appreciate life outside the basketball court.
On the other hand, some schools in particular districts, may simply have the option of hiring a part-time basketball coach who doesn’t hold any other role at the school. Think Samuel L. Jackson from the movie “Coach Carter”, as he fits this perfectly.
If you don’t have a degree you’re probably thinking, this is pretty darn cool! I can still coach without a degree!
And whilst you’re right, I wanted to highlight that the schools which seem to operate by their own rules are generally private schools. So you need to ask yourself, are there private schools in my area? Do I want to coach in the private school system? etc.
…”public school teachers must be formally certified to teach in their state, whereas private school teachers don’t necessarily need to be certified”.
(source)
Degree requirements for these private schools are often at the discretion of the hiring administrator and don’t follow the same rigid rules as seen within the public school system.
Some schools, such as these private institutions, offer “on the job” coach training. These programs teach new coaches how to work with athletes and develop game plans, boost skill development and how to condition their players whilst avoiding injury.
*Note – If living within the United States, each state may hold different requirements for teachers and sports coaches. Be sure to get in touch with The Board of Education in your state and also your local school to understand the requirements for where you live.
What Degree Do I Need To Become A High School Basketball Coach?
So what if you do want to go back to school, to be able to coach high school basketball in the public school system?
Maybe you want to go and coach back at your local high school, giving back to the community who contributed so much to your own personal development.
Maybe you want to coach at the same school your own children are at, as you’ve always been their coach and it just feels right?
When choosing a degree to study, it may be a logical choice to choose one which is relevant to coaching basketball, but it doesn’t have to be.
To become a high school basketball coach you simply need to hold a bachelor’s degree in something.
But before you rush off and enroll in a mathematics degree because you like maths, it could be a better idea to study something which could educate your athletes.
Think sports medicine, physiotherapy or nutrition. Or maybe you could consider studying something you could use as either a hobby or new career if you’re looking for a change, though this may not be advisable by the school if it’s not relevant to coaching…
It also might be a good idea to see which schools locally are desperate for a particular teacher’s specialty. If you are weighing up multiple areas, this may be a good tool to narrow down your choices.
The interesting thing with choosing a major, such as sports management or physical education, is that the course work for these particular courses often requires you to complete a section in sports coaching anyway. If you have the basketball knowledge but lack the confidence and skills in knowing how to coach it, these courses could be worth considering.
“Although there is no particular degree that gets these big players into coaching positions, the best way to get a good coaching position is with a degree in physical education”.
Top Education Degrees
Within the public system and generally speaking in the private system too, teachers must teach in a field that matches their bachelor’s degree area of study. Science teachers generally have a bachelor’s degree in Science, History teachers generally have a bachelors degree in History – you get the idea.
This means that just because there is an opening for a health teacher, it doesn’t mean you can apply as the basketball coach if you studied Art. Again, don’t rush your choice.
Next, I want to get your brain buzzing. I have constructed a table listing courses closely aligned to basketball coaching and how long they will typically take to complete with links to more information on each course.
| Degree | Time to Complete Degree *full time |
| Exercise Science | Bachelor’s Degree – 4 Years. (source) |
| Physical Education | Bachelors Degree – 4 Years (source) |
| Psychology | Bachelors Degree – 4 Years (source) |
| Sports Medicine | Bachelors Degree – 4 Years (source) |
| Kinesiology | Bachelors Degree – 4-5 Years (source) |
| Sports and Leisure Studies | Bachelors Degree – 4-5 Years (source) |
| Nutrition | Bachelor of Science degrees (in nutrition) – 4 years (source) |
4-5 years – What!?
Don’t think of this study period as “lost time” because it’s not. Next, we will discuss what you can do either whilst studying or in your down-time to make your application stand out.
I Don’t Want to Teach but I Still Want to Coach High School Basketball…
If this sounds like you, some schools both publicly and privately, give roles to staff outside the class along with their title of basketball coach.
Such roles are:
- Principle
- Assistant principle
- Librarians
- Athletic directors
- Co-ordinators
These roles, though I only named a few, almost always hold a degree higher than a bachelor’s. Carrying a Master’s degree is often seen in these jobs and is required by the hiring administrator or state body within the public system.
If you do hold a higher education degree such as a Master’s, this could be a road worth exploring along with coaching the basketball team.
How to Make Your Application Stand Out To Become A High School Basketball Coach
I want you to get the job over the next guy or girl.
Here are a number of ways you can make a huge impact, putting your best foot forward with bright, shiny shoes!
Gain hands-on basketball experience
Be a student of the game.
Go and play the game yourself or start with becoming an assistant coach either through the school system or even at your local recreation center.
Consider working as a team manager, scorer or statistic person for your college sports team. These are great ways to observe different coaches and form new relationships.
Whilst becoming immersed in the game, start studying college games too. Take note of the offense you see used, watch specific defensive rotations, markdown inbounds plays and document particular coaching strategies of interest.
Start One-On-One Coaching
This flows on from point one. In order to gain more experience in the coach’s role, why not start coaching either one-on-one athletes or in small groups before or after practice?
You could even organize private coaching to boost your confidence and form new connections though you will need to find a venue to support this endeavor.
Learn how to watch, break down and report on game tapes
This is a “bonus gold star” on any application as most applicants may not take the time to learn or know it’s importance.
It is a skill to efficiently break down game tape so it can be used to teach and educate both staff and players.
As Daniel spoke about in this post – What is the Best Sports Video Editing Software & Apps? when players see themselves performing a task is it incredibly powerful in changing behavior.
Consider working as a teacher in addition to coaching the basketball team
Just because you don’t see yourself as a teacher doesn’t mean it’s not in the cards for you.
If there is lots of competition in your local area, consider either going back to school to learn a relevant field of study as we discussed earlier or investigate teaching jobs within the private sector.
A coach who is willing to “do more” for the school by teaching a class creates flexibility and is a great asset to the school.
“With limited budgets, many schools rely on academic instructors to coach their sports teams”.
(source)
What’s interesting to note in the hiring process for sports coaches, is that most schools hire internally before the look outside the school.
Complete extra, relevant courses
Want to hit your application out of the park? Successfully complete extra courses which align perfectly with coaching basketball such as:
- Basketball coaching course with the National Alliance For Youth Sports (NAYS) Coaching Youth Sports training – See this link for more information. If you were a professional basketball player in the past, this doesn’t mean you’ll be a top-notch coach. These courses teach you how to coach the skills you know, whilst mentoring and leading your athletes beyond the game.
- Basic life support (CPR certification)
- First aid certificate
- Sports Safety such as ankle and wrist taping
- Officiating/coaching courses for complex rules
- Education courses specifically designed for coaching and education high school athletes.
I should note that some states and particular schools require their coaches to hold a specific coach certification. Before you launch into completing a course of your choice, consult the school and ensure you are completing (and often paying for) the right course.
Join the National Youth Sports Coaches Association
Though not essential, joining as a member of the governing body of youth sports gives you opportunities to attend courses both in-person and on-line to further develop your skills as a coach and mentor.
You are surrounded with like-minded people where you are free to bounce ideas around to become a better coach.
Wait until you’re at least 18 years of age
Certification often requires coaches to be a minimum age (at least 18 years old). If you are under age consider becoming an assistant coach, a team manager or film personnel.
Related Question: What is the salary of a high school basketball coach?
Many sports coaches in junior high or high schools teach the game for fun, on a volunteer basis. They have “day jobs” which pay the bills to make this job achievable. However, we now know there are basketball coaches who both coach the team and also teach or simply work at the school.
According to the US Bureau of Labour and Statistics,
the medium annual salary of Coaches and Scouts was $33,780 per year in 2018.
This number will vary from private to public schools, whether the coach is full time vs part-time and whether they also coach at the school.
If you want to learn more about youth sports coaches salary – take a look at this post – How to Make Money Coaching Youth Sports.
Continue Reading…
How Many Players Should Be On A Youth Basketball Team?
Summary: Do You Need a Degree to Coach High School Basketball?
While some private schools won’t require you to hold a bachelor’s degree, they will likely expect you have an associate’s degree, strong experience in the field of basketball and have completed training programs in coaching and also first aid/CPR.
However, things are a little more strict in the public system. Most basketball coaching jobs will require you to hold a bachelor’s degree in a topic of your choice to obtain a position, as well as successfully completing training, courses and background checks outlined by the state.
So regardless of your current position, there is a real opportunity to coach high school basketball for anyone who want’s it bad enough!
Happy Coaching.
Cheers,
Emma
