Coaching Resume Examples in 2023

Coaching Resume Examples

Years of Experience

Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Coaching Resume

Including key skills and action verbs in your resume appropriate for a coaching position can help you get noticed right from the start. Hiring managers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to identify potential candidates. These systems evaluate each resume based on the number of keywords it contains that match what the organization is looking for and forwards high ranking resumes to the hiring manager. This means there’s a greater chance the Athletic Director will see your resume and invite you for an interview.

Tips for Writing a Better Coaching Resume

Quantify Your Coaching Achievements

To generate interviews for head coach positions in your sport, you’ll need to draw attention to your most compelling career achievements. Prospective employers want candidates who have a proven track record of coaching success. In the example below, the job seeker uses a variety of metrics to demonstrate their past success in driving growth for student athletes both on the field and off the field. Although the winning percentage is impressive, hiring managers will also take notice of the coach’s dedication in ensuring that team members succeed on an academic level:

• Serve as the head football coach for the Lowell Knights Football Team, develop offensive and defensive game plans, nurture talent and growth, and achieve Valley Big 12 League Conference Titles in 2021 and 2022
• Deliver coaching and mentorship to support student performance on the field and academically, contributing to a 98% graduation rate among football student athletes
• Achieve a record of 51-9 from 2016-2022 with a winning percentage of 83.35%

Feature Your Unique Coaching Style

Every coach has their own strategies and approach for developing student athletes. Prospective employers will want to understand your coaching style and approach for driving personal and athletic growth of your players. In the example below, the candidate emphasizes their focus on creating inclusive team cultures to facilitate growth. This provides valuable insights for hiring managers regarding how the coach interacts with players and creates an environment to help them succeed:

• Serve as the head coach for the varsity basketball team, develop an inclusive sports program, and provide mentorship to empower female student athletes to achieve athletic goals, academic success, and personal growth
• Implement drill routines to improve zone strategies and player-to-player plays, increasing win percentage by 23% in 2020
• Liaise with students, parents, and colleagues to ensure excellent academic outcomes for all team members, resulting in an 80% passing grade for all subjects

How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs for coaches will rise by 20% from 2021 to 2031. This equates to 48,800 new positions in the sector, which include coaches for professional teams, colleges, and high schools, as well as scouts for these organizations. The growth is primarily due to increased participation in high school and college sports, especially in smaller schools and women’s programs. Although the average growth rate for coaching positions is encouraging, you’ll still need to align your resume with the job description to secure the most lucrative opportunities.

Organizations value candidates who have the necessary qualifications to succeed, but they also want to ensure that you’re the ideal cultural fit. For example, highlighting your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is a way to show prospective employers that you’re a forward-thinking coach and educator. As you apply for job openings, you’ll want to analyze the description carefully to ensure that you’re highlighting the right qualifications for each individual application.