Coach Resume Example & Writing Guide

Coaches are, first and foremost, teachers. They guide athletes and help them learn not just a sport, but how to achieve. Coaches often hold several positions depending on the season. That means they may be in the job hunt more often.

To ensure you’re working in every sports season, you need a coach resume that’s always up-to-date and at its best so you’re always ready to impress the athletic director. A coach’s focus is on athletes and teams, and using a service such as Resume.io to aid your job hunt will free up more time for what’s most important. We offer resume guides and resume examples for 350+ professions, plus a resume builder that stores your information for next season. 

In this guide, you will find a coach resume example and information to smooth the creation of your application package including:

• What does a coach do?
• How to write a coach resume (tips and tricks)
• The best format for a coach resume
• Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
• Professional resume layout and design hints

What does a coach do?

There are many types of coaches, but you’re a coach in the traditional sense: You work with athletes either individually or as part of a team. Yes, the goal is to win – after all, athletes are competitors, but you are also teaching a host of skills, especially if you work with school-age athletes.

Among their responsibilities, coaches:

• Instill sportsmanship
• Teach healthy nutrition
• Explain the rules of the game or sport
• Planning practices
• Developing specific plays and strategies for winning
• Encourage teamwork
• Help athletes reach their personal bests, and then reach higher.

In addition to their direct work with athletes, coaches may be responsible for scheduling matches and games, hiring and managing assistant coaches, transportation to and from competitions, and any administrative tasks. 

Coach job market and outlook

Here’s the great news: Coaches have many job opportunities as the demand is expected to grow by 20 percent over the next decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts. That figure includes all levels of coaching from amateur to professional.

Salaries for coaches vary widely, from college and professional coaches, who may earn millions of dollars, to those who work part-time in schools or local leagues and earn anywhere from $20,000 on up. Full-time coaches typically earn between $44,925 and $59,949, according to Salary.com. 

How to write a coach resume

Coaches help structure their athletes’ lives, so they should be familiar with the benefits of consistency. A coach resume should also follow a structure that athletic directors and other hiring personnel are familiar with.

To do that, they need to understand what sections to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Choosing the best resume format for a coach

The award you’re looking for with your coach resume is an interview. The best way to get there is to present your career details in the manner that is easiest for your readers and that typically means reverse chronological order or latest job first, first job last.

One other option for coaches who coach multiple sports is to group experience in each sport separately (but still start with your most recent position in each sport). The athletic director wants to know what you’ve done lately plus, it’s most likely that your position of most responsibility will be the latest position you’ve held.

Resume summary example 

Think of the summary of your coach resume as the pregame pep talk. You pump up the players, give them an overview of the game strategy, and tell them why they are winners. Within your summary, you do the same for your career.

First, you pump up your overall career (without veering into bragging), then you give an overview of your greatest achievement as a coach, and finally, you tell the athletic director what you can do to turn the program into a consistent winner. And you do it all in about 4 sentences.

Employment history sample

Whether you’ve decided to organize your coach resume strictly chronologically or by sport, you need to impress in your employment history. What are your greatest achievements? Has an athlete or team under your guidance won a championship or greatly improved their record?

Coaches are judged on their won-loss records, so make sure you highlight yours (if it’s impressive!). 

CV skills example

Athletic directors have a lot of responsibility and spending time reading your coach resume may not be high on the list. That’s where your skills section comes in. Choose the attributes you believe are most important for the position and that match well with the job listing.

This at-a-glance section may be the first (and only) element of your resume that anyone sees, so be thoughtful. Paying attention to the skills the athletic department seeks will not only show that you understand the job, but may boost your resume in the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) rankings.

Coach resume education example

Most coaches have a bachelor’s degree in a field related to athletics. They must also prove that they have detailed knowledge of the sport(s) they wish to coach. Highlight these qualifications in the education section of your coach resume. Include any seminars or certifications you have completed.

Resume layout and design

The layout and design of your coach resume should complement, not outshine, the content. You’re a professional, so steer clear of sporty icons or other imagery. Instead aim for clean lines, easy-to-read fonts, and crisp organization.

Not an artist? Try one of our customizable and expertly designed resume templates to take the pain out of formatting and ensure a professional impression. Make sure you use spellcheck and a grammar check such as Grammarly to avoid errors. To be doubly sure, have a friend proofread before you hit send.

Key takeaways for a coach resume

1. Opportunities abound for coaches, so be ready in any season with an up-to-date and impressive resume.
2. Coaches need a winning record, but they also need rapport with athletes, teaching skills, and expert knowledge in their sports.
3. The summary of a coach resume is akin to a pregame pep talk.
4. Organize your application document chronologically or by sport.
5. Present a professional image with an uncluttered and easy-to-read design.