Hello Fourmites!
I have a question. Please bear with me as a I give a bit of background!
I am currently an age group coach. I coach the more advanced swimmers but not quite senior swimmers and the agegroup level (just above the novice our first year swimmers). I have been coaching for three years now and I am about to graduate college this December. My undergraduate degree is not exercise related in anyway. I have ACSA level 1 and 2 certifications and am a USA certified coach.
My question is this. I want to coach full time as a head age group coach or move into college swimming. I have been considering graduate school for an exercise related degree but I am uncertain if that is the best path. There does not seem to be one way to go about this. I am just uncertain if a grad degree would be worth the time and money however it seems like it would help me get that type of full time job at a university or a larger USA club
What has been your experience with coaches? Do you know of anyone who would be willing to share their experiences as a coach with me?
I really appreicate any help and insight you can provide!
Thanks! :)
Parents
Former Member
Do you want to coach for the pay or teach & coach? You need to get more back ground before someone will hire you to run a higher level program.
If this is your goal ---- GO for it !
I agree here.
What is your current degree in? It seems to me if you want a college level job you're going to need to show experience. If you can't get a paid assistant coaching job, maybe find a regular job and become a volunteer assistant coach. Work your way up the ladder. One of my high school coaches was a grad student (psych), made a few thousand dollars being the head coach of my team, and is now a paid assistant coach at a college. I guess another option is find a school that's working on building a swim program and start there.
Fun story: My great grandfather's brother was a college professor and was involved in coaching football at the school. The school needed a swim coach and asked him to be it, though he knew nothing of swimming. He reluctantly agreed and supposedly built a very good swim program for the school. He didn't know anything about swimming and made off alright.
Reply
Former Member
Do you want to coach for the pay or teach & coach? You need to get more back ground before someone will hire you to run a higher level program.
If this is your goal ---- GO for it !
I agree here.
What is your current degree in? It seems to me if you want a college level job you're going to need to show experience. If you can't get a paid assistant coaching job, maybe find a regular job and become a volunteer assistant coach. Work your way up the ladder. One of my high school coaches was a grad student (psych), made a few thousand dollars being the head coach of my team, and is now a paid assistant coach at a college. I guess another option is find a school that's working on building a swim program and start there.
Fun story: My great grandfather's brother was a college professor and was involved in coaching football at the school. The school needed a swim coach and asked him to be it, though he knew nothing of swimming. He reluctantly agreed and supposedly built a very good swim program for the school. He didn't know anything about swimming and made off alright.
