Starting a career in teaching and coaching in high school

[metro-dude]

Coaches are hired as teachers and coaching is usually an extra contract because of the tenure laws. Coaches are usually someone who has played the game or has love for the game however I know successful head coaches who never played the game but was able to learn on the job as an asst. coach. Successful or " Hall of Fame " coaches usually coach in traditional high schools and have Athletic Directors who will let the coaches coach.

One could argue that starting a career in coaching would be easier to start in a small school as a head coach then to take position in a larger high school as an asst. coach. As a rule the small school can not compete with the large schools in salaries.

Let's take Clayton high school in St. Louis and Scott County Central in Southeast Missouri. Both of these high schools had opening for a head basketball coaches this year. SCC offers a great chance to win a class 2 state championship ( Low pay when comparing ) while Clayton can offer a great salary ( Top salary schedule about $ 95,000.00 ) with a chance to win about half of their basketball games. I'm not sure what the starting salaries are in these two high schools.

Blake Ahearn has been hired @ Clayton--his father played @ Clayton back in the 70"s and was a great player.

How would you recommend a young coach with little experience---- Take the money or take the wins?

 

[redstrawberry]

Take duct tape and put it over the mouths of over zealous parents!

 

[Green&Black]

Wherever they go, be humble, loyal, and don't cozy up to those loudmouth parents who want the head coach fired cause he kept talented Billy from averaging more than 2.7 ppg and 28% from the field.

 

[thegoldenboy55]

When I was in college (not all that long ago lol) I volunteered to coach basketball at a middle school and worked for a coach/teacher that I grew to look at as a father figure. One of the most talented coaches and teachers I have every been around. The first day I walked into the gym for practice he said this, "Coach, if you got into this for the money or the wins, you better get out."

To this day, that is the best piece of professional advice I have ever received.

Point being, you have to have a passion to coach the KIDS (no matter what sport).

 

[Neutron Monster]

It also matters a lot where you want to live...something tells me Mr. Ahearn (from st. louis) wasn't looking for class 1 jobs in towns with 500 people.

 

[3Rfan]

Coaches are hired as teachers and coaching is usually an extra contract because of the tenure laws. Coaches are usually someone who has played the game or has love for the game however I know successful head coaches who never played the game but was able to learn on the job as an asst. coach. Successful or " Hall of Fame " coaches usually coach in traditional high schools and have Athletic Directors who will let the coaches coach.

One could argue that starting a career in coaching would be easier to start in a small school as a head coach then to take position in a larger high school as an asst. coach. As a rule the small school can not compete with the large schools in salaries.

Let's take Clayton high school in St. Louis and Scott County Central in Southeast Missouri. Both of these high schools had opening for a head basketball coaches this year. SCC offers a great chance to win a class 2 state championship ( Low pay when comparing ) while Clayton can offer a great salary ( Top salary schedule about $ 95,000.00 ) with a chance to win about half of their basketball games. I'm not sure what the starting salaries are in these two high schools.

Blake Ahearn has been hired @ Clayton--his father played @ Clayton back in the 70"s and was a great player.

How would you recommend a young coach with little experience---- Take the money or take the wins?

I'm sure there is big difference in pay at those two schools but there is also a HUGE difference in cost of living in and around those two places.

 

[metro-dude]

It also matters a lot where you want to live...something tells me Mr. Ahearn (from st. louis) wasn't looking for class 1 jobs in towns with 500 people.

I can't believe any coach would be unhappy living in Sikeston, Missouri and coaching @ Scott County Central who has a chance to win another class 2 state championships. The monies @ SCC is not in line with salaries in St. Louis and Kansas City however the results of coaching @ SCC sure would look nice on a resume for the next opportunity.

I must agree with 3rfan and N. Moster, Blake Ahearn is much more suited @ upscale Clayton high school.

 

[3Rfan]

I can't believe any coach would be unhappy living in Sikeston, Missouri and coaching @ Scott County Central who has a chance to win another class 2 state championships. The monies @ SCC is not in line with salaries in St. Louis and Kansas City however the results of coaching @ SCC sure would look nice on a resume for the next opportunity.

I must agree with 3rfan and N. Moster, Blake Ahearn is much more suited @ upscale Clayton high school.

I didn't see where you agreed with me at all. What does it cost to rent or buy a house in Clayton and what does cost to rent or buy a house any where in in Scott County? There HAS to be a huge difference salary to get people to live and work in a place like Clayton because it will cost them a small fortune to live anywhere near their job. There are a LOT of people that wouldn't live and work in the St.Louis area for any amount of money. I would be one of those if I had another choice to make a decent salary compared to the cost of living. How many coaches that have left SCC have gone onto coach in a big city somewhere? You may like the move you made but many people would not.