Is being a teacher a requirement to coach high school basketball?

Question

I would like to coach at the high school level, and am very knowledgable at math. I would be willing to be a math teacher to coach basketball, but it is a requirement? I would rather just keep doing what I'm doing and coach on the side.

Answer 1

Each state has different requirements for public schools. In some states, for example, you must be a certified teacher to be a high school head coach, but the same is not required in order to be an assistant/jv/frosh coach, etc...Some states leave requirements up to the local systems... Private schools are generally not bound by requirements of public schools (at least none that I know of) and may hire at their discretion...Go to your state's high school governing body (for example, in Tennessee that would be the TSSAA - TN Secondary Schools Athletic Association - for the information most relevent for you)...by the way, I was a successful high school hoops coach (and teacher) for nearly a decade, and I may return...terrific fun!

Answer 2

My high school basketball coach last year didn't teach at the school, and neither does my coach this year. It is NOT a requirement, but if you are a teacher they will certainly favor you more as opposed coaches that aren't teachers. There's always a spot for a teacher open at some of the bigger schools, but the thing it comes down to is your experience.

Answer 3

No, being a teacher is not a requirement but most oaches are teachers for a few reasons
- most other jobs don't fit with the schedule in terms of being able to be available late afternoons for practice
-some schools try to favor teachers as a way to help them get a bit of extra money (although the stipend for coaching is really pretty small).
-most particularly, coaches who are teachers have an easier time understanding and promoting the educational aspects of school sports checking on the athletes' progress in their classes, making sure they are behaving appropriately during school, etc.

Answer 4

The answer is "It depends". It really depends on the size of the school and the regulations within the school district. I had a soccer coach in High School that wasn't a teacher. Also a husband of a lady I work with that coaches high school football and he isn't a teacher. But... I'd say the majority of the time coaches tend to be teachers. So really, there is no definitive answer.

Answer 5

U.S. history lesson: At my school, we only had to take gym when we were Freshmen or if we couldn't get exempted from it by filling up our schedules. In order to be allowed study hall, you had to take gym, but it wasn't always that way. It used to be a lot worse. You have it much better. During the time that the U.S. was so scared that the Soviets would attack, a certain amount of gym was mandatory for all students 6th grade and above (perhaps younger, but I only remember my dad talking about how it was when he was in 6th grade-12th grade). Usually it included proving that you could swim. Standards were high. The government wanted to make sure everyone who might be needed to serve the country in war had a certain level of physical fitness. After the Soviet threat subsided, such policies changed very slowly. There are some colleges which even have gym as a requirement for graduation. Generally colleges make such classes more worthwhile then high schools do though by providing education about nutrition and safety at the same time. The university I go to has recently changed its policy about physical education. Most young people have been brainwashed into thinking that gym class is for fitness, weight loss, or even stress relief. You wish! Ask your grandpa about what it's really for. He'll tell you. And maybe he'll also tell you how very unfun it was too. So that's it: the government wanted all young people physically fit enough to fight the Communists. It would've been much better if your history teacher had told you that. Unfortunately, high schoolers usually don't learn much about U.S history. What happened during the Cold War still effects us today; that's the importance of history. But even a old "fart" like Bradley doesn't know about that. And I used to think that he was really old! So tell the school board that the Soviets (or prehaps the Iranians now) aren't going to get us if everyone doesn't take gym!

Answer 6

It's not a requirement, but principals and AD's VERY much prefer the coach to be a teacher at the school. For reasons of organization, management, and legal reasons.

Answer 7

It depends on the school district. Generally, no, but some districts and/or states can make it harder. That's generally the teacher's union making it harder, though.

My husband is a high school track coach and he's not a teacher. It's pretty usual to have "walk on coaches" they are called for popular sports.

Answer 8

Most school systems require their head varsity coaches to be a teacher to give the school system some control of the basketball program. JV and eighth-grade coaches do not have to be employees of the school system but usually are.

Answer 9

I do not think it is a requirement, butt most schools would rather have a coach who is a teacher...about 90% of coaches teach

Answer 10

Not necessary an requirement but with the money problems school districts face today. They could not justify paying someone to just coach unless you volunteer.