How To Write a High School Football Coach Resume
To write a high school football coach resume, you must highlight the most compelling aspects of your coaching experience and athletic background. Showcase your ability to mentor and develop student athletes. Illustrate how you enhanced team performance, achieved winning records, and helped athletes succeed academically. This guide provides expert tips and insights to help you translate your work history into an accomplishment-driven resume.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
Due to the high volume of applicants for coaching positions, you’ll have a limited window to make a positive impression on prospective employers during the job search. Craft a compelling career summary at the top of your document to draw the reader in and entice them to read further. Start with an opening sentence detailing your job title, years of experience, and three to four specializations that align with the posting. Highlight your unique qualifications as a head coach, such as win rates and championships. Showcase your background in facilitating the personal and academic growth of athletes.
Professional Profile - Example #1
A head football coach with over 10 years of experience, specializing in game planning, talent scouting, personnel development, and sports management. A strong history of utilizing analytics and film to enhance offensive play calling and achieve winning records.
Professional Profile - Example #2
A high school football coach with five years of experience specializing in game planning, athletic program management, coaching, and talent recruitment. A strong history of achieving winning records and leading teams to state-level championships. Adept at coaching and mentoring high school students to drive athletic, academic, and personal growth.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
To generate interviews during the job search you need to build an accomplishment-driven professional experience section that emphasizes your strongest coaching achievements.
Grab the hiring manager’s attention by highlighting the results of your coaching strategies and game plans. Incorporate numbers, metrics, and data to quantify your professional achievements as a football coach. For example, you could showcase many wins over multiple consecutive seasons. You could also demonstrate how you utilized sports analytics to improve offensive production or defensive stats.
Professional Experience - Example #1
High School Football Coach, Lincoln High School, San Diego, CA | August 2016 – present
- Lead teams of 35 to 40 student athletes for a nationally recognized high school football program, drove personnel development through innovative coaching strategies,
- and increased offensive production by three points per game in 2017
- Collaborate with offensive and defensive coordinators to conduct film review sessions to improve playcalling, resulting in a state championship in 2021
- Provide coaching and mentorship to student athletes to ensure adherence to academic standards and personal conduct expectations
Professional Experience - Example #2
High School Football Coach, Belmont High, Boston, MA | May 2017 – present
- Manage all aspects of football operations for the Belmont High athletic program, coordinate with assistant coaches to develop game plans, and identify strengths and weaknesses of players to increase offensive output from 18 PPG to 27 in 2017
- Create dynamic offensive strategies to maximize player skill sets during game days, resulting in records of 10-6, 11-5, and 12-4 over three consecutive years
- Achieve recognition as the offensive coach of the year in 2020
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Feature your highest level of education and relevant credentials to show hiring managers you’re fully qualified for coaching positions. Include the degree, institution, and graduation date. Consider pursuing additional certifications to demonstrate your advanced knowledge of youth development and coaching strategies. A Certified Personal Trainer credential is especially important, as schools will want to ensure you can train and develop athletes safely.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Sports Administration
University of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY| 2016
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
Certified Personal Trainer, NASM | 2017
Youth Tackle Coaching Certification, USA Football | 2017
4. List pertinent key skills
Most organizations utilize some form of Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to identify qualified candidates for open positions. If your document lacks key terms, the software may reject your application before it reaches the hiring manager. To ensure that your resume advances to the next phase of the hiring process, incorporate key coaching skills that match the job description. You may encounter these keywords in your job search:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Analytics | Athletic program development |
| Athlete development | Coaching |
| Communication | Defensive game plans |
| Football coach | Film review |
| Gameday strategy | Game planning |
| Leadership | Mentorship |
| Offensive game plans | Personnel development |
| Physical education | Program management |
| Recruiting | Sports management |
| Strength training and conditioning | Talent scouting |
| Team leadership | Team management |
5. Highlight Your Athletic Background
When applying for football coaching positions, demonstrate your athletic background if you have hands-on experience playing the sport. This will show prospective employers with first-hand knowledge of the game, which can provide you with deeper insights as a head coach. In the example below, the candidate draws attention to their background playing Division One football for a prestigious university, which may give them an edge over the competition during the job search.
Athletic Achievements
Running Back, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA | September 2007 – May 2011
- Served as a team captain and key offensive player for the California State Bears, generated 400 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards in the 2010 season, and achieved recognition as offensive player of the month in September of 2011
How To Pick the Best High School Football Coach Resume Template
When selecting your template, prioritize organization, structure, and readability over visual appeal. Heavy use of colors and graphics may look nice, but they can distract the reader from your content. Choose a template that organizes your content effectively and fits your brand as a football coach. Keep in mind at the end of the day, hiring managers will always be more interested in your achievements and qualifications than the style of your template.
High School Football Coach Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- #1
- #2
- #3
Joseph Corbin
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Carpenter Street, Philadelphia, PA, 12345
Profile
A Head Football Coach with five years of experience specializing in game planning, athletic program management, coaching, and talent recruitment. A strong history of achieving winning records and leading teams to state-level championships. Adept at coaching and mentoring high school students to drive athletic, academic, and personal growth.
Professional Experience
High School Football Coach, Ridley High, Ridley Park, PA
May 2019 – Present
- Serve as head football coach for the Ridley Raiders varsity football team, oversee the development of the academic program, conduct talent scouting activities, and ensure student-athlete compliance with academic and conduct standards
- Develop game-day strategies and offensive game plans and lead the 2020 varsity football team to a 12-4 record and a state championship appearance
- Manage practice sessions and strength conditioning programs for student-athletes to reduce injury risk and ensure player safety
Assistant High School Football Coach, Penncrest High School, Media, PA
August 2017 – May 2019
- Coordinated with the varsity head coach to create dynamic game plans, plan practice sessions, and aid student-athletes in refining football technique, which reduced average penalties for the team from seven per game to three per game
- Provided support for facility management activities, including equipment purchasing, field maintenance requirements, and inventory management procedures
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Sports Administration
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, September 2013 – May 2017
Key Skills
- Football Coaching
- Offensive Strategies
- Mentorship
- Program Management
- Strength Conditioning
Aliya Jackson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Bridge Street, Boston, MA 12345
Profile
A Head Football Coach with eight years of coaching experience, specializing in offensive strategy, game planning, talent scouting, and leadership. A proven track record of developing and mentoring student-athletes to achieve goals both on and off the field.
Professional Experience
High School Football Coach, Belmont High, Boston, MA
May 2017 – Present
- Manage all aspects of football operations for the Belmont High athletic program, coordinate with assistant coaches to develop game plans, and identify strengths and weaknesses of players to increase offensive output from 18 PPG to 27 in 2017
- Create dynamic offensive strategies to maximize player skill sets during game days, resulting in records of 10-6, 11-5, and 12-4 over three consecutive years
- Achieve recognition as the offensive coach of the year in 2020
High School Football Coach, Bunker Hill High School, Boston, MA
August 2014 – May 2017
- Served as the head football coach for a prestigious athletic program, managed the development of 35 varsity athletes each year, and led the development of new strength and conditioning programs to reduce risk of injury and improve endurance
- Improved points per game from 20 to 28 in 2015 by creating enhanced offensive strategies based on player strengths and defensive play calling
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Sports Administration
Boston College, Boston, MA, September 2010 – May 2014
Key Skills
- Coaching
- Offensive Play Calling
- Game Planning
- Program Management
- Leadership
Raymond Ortiz
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 12345
Profile
A Head Football Coach with 10+ years of experience, specializing in game planning, talent scouting, personnel development, and sports management. A strong history of utilizing analytics and film to enhance offensive play calling and achieve winning records.
Professional Experience
High School Football Coach, Lincoln High School, San Diego, CA
August 2016 – Present
- Lead teams of 35-40 student-athletes for a nationally recognized high school football program, drove personnel development through innovative coaching strategies, and increased offensive production by three points per game in 2017
- Collaborate with offensive and defensive coordinators to conduct film review sessions to improve playcalling, resulting in a state championship in 2021
- Provide coaching and mentorship to student-athletes to ensure adherence to academic standards and personal conduct expectations
High School Football Coach, Westview High, San Diego, CA
September 2011 – August 2016
- Managed the development of student-athletes, conducted game planning, oversaw offensive and defensive play calling, and improved average wins by five per season
- Oversaw all aspects of operations for the football program, which included managing athletic facilities and coordinating game day events with 75-200 attendees
Athletic Achievements
Running Back, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
September 2007 – May 2011
- Served as a team captain and key offensive player for the California State Bears, generated 400 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards in the 2010 season, and achieved recognition as offensive player of the month in September of 2011
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Sports Administration
University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, September 2007 – May 2011
Key Skills
- Football Coaching
- Personnel Development
- Film Analysis
- Sports Analytics
- Offensive Play Calling
Frequently Asked Questions: High School Football Coach Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for high school football coach resumes?+
You may run short on action verbs as you craft your bullet points. Often a limited number of verbs can accurately describe your career experience, especially as a high school football coach. That being said, differentiating your verbiage can greatly enhance the reading experience for the hiring manager. To keep your content fresh, we’ve compiled a list of action verbs you can use to build your resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Achieved | Analyzed |
| Coached | Collaborated |
| Conducted | Coordinated |
| Created | Developed |
| Drove | Educated |
| Evaluated | Improved |
| Led | Managed |
| Oversaw | Planned |
| Prepared | Recruited |
| Reviewed | Scheduled |
| Trained | |
How do you align your resume with a high school football coach job description?+
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average annual salary for high school football coaches was $38,870 in 2021. These positions are projected to experience a 26% increase in growth over the next 10 years. To differentiate yourself from the competition and accelerate your job search, you must align your resume with the job description.
For example, if a school is seeking a coach with a strong background in driving the development of students in athletics and academics, you may provide insights into how you aided your team members in using available resources to improve academic performance.
If the organization seeks a candidate with a strong background managing operations, highlight your expertise in facility management and program management. By tailoring your resume towards individual job opportunities, you’ll greatly increase your odds of landing your next interview.
What is the best high school football coach resume format?+
High school football coaches should opt for a reverse chronological resume format in most instances. This approach places your most recent experience first while showcasing your career progression and achievements. Functional resumes are generally not recommended by most recruiters, even at the entry level, as skill-based formats don’t provide a framework for detailed bullet points. If you’re just starting, you can place key skills above your professional experience, but provide details and insights for your internship programs, college athlete career, or volunteerism.
Expert advice: include a cover letter with your resume
Crafting a matching cover letter can help bolster your application during the job search. Tailor your document towards individual schools and coaching opportunities. In the middle paragraphs, mention something specific about the school’s reputation and football program and why this draws you to apply for the role. For more insights, visit our personal trainer cover letter guide.
