College Soccer Coach Job Description
A college soccer coach recruits, organizes and directs a soccer team. College soccer coaches assemble assistant coaches, scouts and players. They direct men's and women's teams at all levels of the NCAA, which consists of Division I, Division II and nonscholarship Division III programs. Others coach community college or NAIA programs.
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Basics
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College soccer coaches are responsible for developing a strategy, planning and running practice sessions, and motivating their teams. Depending on the level of the program, they may also perform everyday tasks such as washing uniforms, calling results into the newspaper, driving the team bus and promoting the program. All college soccer coaches are responsible for recruiting players and finding ways to make best use of those recruits once they are members of the program. College soccer coaches also spend time analyzing game film to correct problem areas and put their teams in the best position to win.
Traits
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A college soccer coach must be a strong communicator and motivator, as he needs to find a way to mesh a variety of personalities and skill levels. He should be organized and able to delegate, with a firm grasp of how to improve both individuals and the team as a whole. He will also need good analytical skills, considering he spends much of his time observing potential recruits, as well as the competition, in attempting to build a successful program.
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Background
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Most college soccer coaches need a bachelor's degree, though some can coach at the junior-college level with a high school diploma, provided they have displayed a thorough knowledge of the sport. Many are former players, having worked their way up through the ranks as college assistants or directors of scouting. Before that, they may have coached middle school or high school programs. The majority of colleges seek candidates who have had success coaching soccer at another level.
Prospects
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Jobs for coaches are expected to increase by 23 percent through 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That is a considerably faster rate than for all occupations. While the BLS offered no data specific to college soccer coaches, it is believed that their jobs will grow at a rate similar to the rest of the industry.
Earnings
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College soccer coaches earn from $26,000 to $100,000 a year, according to PayScale.com, as of April 2010. Salary depends on the size of the program, a coach's experience and previous success.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit soccer ball image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
