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AFM Magazine


Interviewing for a High School Coaching Job – The Key to the Right Fit

by: Jim Dostal
Defensive Coordinator, Prairie High School, Cedar Rapids, IA
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As anyone that has stayed in the coaching profession for long can tell you there are jobs that will be desired and there are jobs that look good but by taking them it could be the beginning of the end of your coaching career. How do you run the gauntlet of the interview process and find out the true story of what is going on at the interviewing school for the good of your professional opportunity and family considerations?

A job interview is actually two interviews; the school officials are interviewing you and you should be interviewing the school officials. Both groups are looking for the correct fit to match their desired interests.

At the same time there are two types of coaching interviewees; one coach that will say anything to get their first head coaching job and the other that is more reserved because he understands the significance of the situation. Both situations have pluses and minuses. An example of this is the coach that wants to be a head coach for the first time; he is energetic, has an ego, thinks he can turn the program around, and that attitude is exactly what is needed to get the job done. But without the right things in place his opportunity for success will be limited.

The more experienced coach will still have energy, ego, and attitude but will also have wisdom based on the understanding of what is needed to keep a program going or turning a program around. The experienced coach will know what questions to ask in order to possess a proper reflection of the situation and thus a proper analysis in a major career decision for him and his family.

The Day of the Interview
If it is possible to get to the school site a day before and look around the school grounds and the community, then do it. So much can be learned informally about a community and a school by walking, talking, and listening to people concerning your possible new head coaching position. Stop by a local coffee shop or fire station and ask what the perception of the high school football program is and then listen.

On the day of the interview it is important to look and act with confidence. Be on time, early if possible. The reason why being early is important is once again you can evaluate what is happening around your potential new work place. Evaluate how the school is running on a normal day. Once you come on campus you are in an “intelligence gathering” mode.

At the start of the interview make sure to have eye contact with each person in the room. Greet them as if they are all new friends because if you take the job they will be on your “community” team. Some interviews will be one on one, normally with the principal or athletic director. Other interviews will have a committee or panel. If there is a committee format for the interview, then have a piece of paper in front of you and write down the names of the people you just met so you can refer to them by name. Write questions down when there is an explanation or history given on the program by varying individuals on the committee.

Knowing what not to say in an interview is just as important as knowing what to say. Remember, a good interviewer will have your resume in front of them when asking questions. The biggest thing an interviewing coach has to do is decipher what the school administration wants. What the school administration will say is sometimes totally different than what you define based on both parties previous experiences with football programs.

Vocabulary is so important in an interview from the determination that both sides have the same definition for the words that are being thrown around in the interview. For example, what is the definition of “winning” or “success?” A coach might have the definition of winning as consistently challenging for a state championship. The administration might define the word “winning” as having a winning season of 5-4 and graduating all senior football players. Neither answer is wrong, but the severity of the conflict that will come to both the football coach and the administration will be huge if the coach is hired without defining what is winning.

On a personal note, I was hired as a head football coach by an athletic director and we shared the same vision and definition of success for the program. Six months later he took a new job and a new athletic director was hired. The new athletic director had a completely different value structure and vision for the program. There was a lot of wasted time and conflict because philosophically we were so different. If in the interview you can solidify exactly what the school wants then it is easy to answer, “is this professionally the correct fit?”

At the end of the interview make sure to thank everyone for the time they took in showing you around, introducing people to you, and the opportunity to learn about an outstanding school and school district. On the way back home or to the hotel stop by a local discount store and purchase thank you cards for each administrator that interviewed you. Put the card in the mail that day. While email is efficient and affordable there is something about a decision maker getting a physical letter that sits on their desk that tells them they really are valued and shows your consideration of the event.

The following is a list that some colleagues and myself have developed over the years. I have actually take it into my interviews.

Questions for Schools

Budget
* What is the current budget for the upcoming season?

* How is the budget broken down; such as: Reconditioning, new equipment, replacement equipment, uniform schedule, uniform replacement/repair, practice items, new protective equipment, replacement protective equipment, coaching apparel, travel, officials, emergency fund, etc…?

* Is there scouting software already in the school? If not, what are the possibilities of purchasing scouting software and hardware?

* Is there a sideline/press box communication system already in the school? If not what are the possibilities of purchasing a complete set?

* Does the school provide funding for coaching clinics?

* What is the district policy on professional development through coaching clinics? Is the district open to 3 total clinics or 1 in state clinic, 1 out of state clinic, and 1 possible college visit?

* If not, will the district allow coaches to use sick leave to attend clinics without any animosity from the administration?

Assistant Coaches and Management
* How much involvement will the head coach have in hiring and firing coaches?

* Are volunteer and community coaches allowed to be hired? If not, is it open for discussion?

* Are teaching contracts tied with coaching contracts?

* Do we have a training staff? Do we have a team doctor? If no, do we have a budget for safety and medical supplies and possibly hiring a trainer?

* If you have coaches who worked for the previous head coach, is it automatic that they will work on my staff?

* Were any of the assistant coaches interviewed for the position? If so, how do you feel they will respond to not being hired as the head coach?

* How many coaches are allowed at the varsity level?

* How many coaches are currently at the JV - Fresh - Middle School –

* How is the middle school program set up? How is it as a feeder program?

* How many football coaching stipends or contracts are available? Is it possible to split them to add more coaches?

* What are the possibilities of bringing coaches with me or hiring new staff members? If so, what teaching positions are open now or projected being open?

Weight room Equipment and Program/Facilities
* How is the weight room funded and what is the budget?

* Is there any new equipment ordered or needed?

* Is there any replacement equipment all ready ordered or needed?

* What is needed in the weight room for my program? (after walk thru)

* Why types of off-season programs are available? How or is it funded?

* What facilities & supplies are available?

Practice Fields
Equipment
Game Field (lights)
Basic Football Equipment
Locker Rooms
Sleds
Varsity Room (lounge)
Football Dummies
Training Room
Media Room – Film, Editing
Weight Room
Game day Press box & head phones
Gym or Field House (Bad Weather)
Training supplies (tape, medicines)
Coaches Offices
Uniform game & practice
Personal Office
Storage

* If facilities are not available can compensation be make through a booster or maintenance department. Does administration welcome improvements and ingenuity?

Expectations of Head Football Coach and Program
* What is the evaluation process of the head football coach?

* How will the programs successes be determined? (Wins/loss, academics, socially well rounded, etc…)

* Who do I report to?

* What is expected of my community involvement as the head football coach?

* What is expected of summer commitment by the head coach?

* Will the football program be used to handle classroom problems, if they occur?

* What are your expectations of the program?

* Are there any problems you feel exist currently within the football program?

* What is the administrative feeling towards athletics?

* What part does athletics play in the total educational program?

* How is the continuity among coaches of other sports? Is there any animosity between coaches of different sports?

Scheduling
* Who is in charge of the football schedule?

* Will/May I have input into the schedule the football team will play?

Summer Commitments
* How many camps may we hold? (Max.)

* May we hold or attend a 7-on-7 passing league? (Transportation?)

* Is there a district policy on summer commitments from student athletes? (Summer weights and workouts?)

* Is there a summer district down time or closing of the weight room and locker facilities?

* Can youth camps be held, how many if so, and where do the proceeds go? (Coaches Fundraiser)

* Are there summer weight room stipends or summer school possibilities?

Transportation
* How do the majority of our students travel? (Bus, car, walk, etc… would extra bus help the overall number of students out for sports?)

* Does district own the buses or contract the buses?

* Are there any district vehicles?

* How does the team travel to and from games and district policy on student travel to and from games?

Booster Club
* Is there a football booster club or all sports booster club? If not, may a booster club be established?

* Are community and/or company donations acceptable? Are they acceptable with specific spending or earmarked instructions?

* What are the fundraising policies of the district? Is there a limit on how many we may have?

* When fundraising where do the monies go? (Booster account, School account, account, etc…)

* Is the football program dependant on a booster club for yearly needed items or wish list type items? The difference being items the school should provide on a yearly basis.

* What role does the booster club play in the football program?

Field Maintenance
* Who is responsible for marking, lining, and painting of the game field and practice fields?

* Who is in charge of scheduling the game and practice fields and who has priority of use?

* Who uses the practice and game facilities?

* Who is responsible for in-season care? (Watering, mowing, etc…)

* What is done in the off-season to prepare both the game and practice field for the next season?

* Who is responsible for game day field set-up for all levels?

Miscellaneous Team Items
* How are team meals taken care of during the season? Moms, Booster, Coaches? Pre-game meals.

* Are there any specific criteria for limits on practice time(s) or meeting time(s) for players?

* How is coaching apparel purchased for all coaches during the season?

* Do other coaches from the other sports in the school encourage kids to participate in other sports?

* Why should I come to __________________ High School?

* What will my job description be outside of head football coach and what will my responsibilities be?

* Does the district pay for any kind of moving expenses?

* What are the insurance benefits of the district like, individually and family?

* How many years do you have to teach in _____________ to be fully vested in the retirement system? _______ how is the retirement system here?

* Why did the last two head coaches’ leave?

* If soccer is a sport here do they allow a soccer player to play football and to used as a kicker if needed?

The Job Offer
This is the time that the coach is the most powerful in the interview process. The school has decided that they want your skills as a football coach. Now is the time to negotiate anything that you might have had concerns with before, during, or after the interview process. Some of this should have been done in the interview but if it wasn’t, now is your last chance to get concrete answers to what you think is necessary to be successful. This could be what will be your teaching schedule? How many coaches can you bring to this new school? How many years of experience will be transferred on the pay schedule?

School districts have a lot of leeway in allowing certain benefits if they really want you. Obviously they cannot break the law but they can give you a benefit that is normally a custom but has never been defined by board policy. It is the job of the coach to see how far the school will go for your services. Once you commit to taking the position your power to negotiate phase for the most part is over at this specific school.

Understand the situation that you are getting into such as the differences in some school districts based on their contracts. A coaching friend that was new to the Texas high school football scene was telling me a story about how his head coach was under a lot of pressure to win. I asked him if they did well go by going 8-3, or 9-2 would that be okay to keep their jobs. He replied back, “No. The athletic director told the head coach we had to win the conference or all the coaches would be released of their coaching and teaching jobs by a clause in our contract that stated, “…, action unbecoming of a professional”. When I said, “What does that mean?” He said, “Real simple, we’re football coaches. We’re expected to win. Anything else is action unbecoming of a professional”. As long as you understand what was agreed upon then it is okay-- just make sure you understand.

Obviously there has to be compromise by both parties but at the end of the day you as the coach will have to live with what was agreed upon through the interview phase and the negotiation phase. Sometimes the hardest thing to do, but the best thing, is being able to say, “No thank you, this is not the right fit for both parties involved”.

Do’s of an Interview
- Be Positive
- Be Honest
- Be Excited to be there
- Have a vision and be able to communicate it
- Be a listener
- Be an observer of the non-verbal communication that’s taking place in the room
- Be a negotiator

Do Not’s of an Interview
- Be late
- Be on a personal vendetta of your current or previous boss
- Talk too much and/or dominate the conversation
- Use a computer for a PowerPoint (the interviewer wants to talk and listen to you)
- Make negative comparisons to where you are vs. the interview school
- Let your cell phone ring (keep it in the car)

Financial Aspects
High school coaching is in most cases different from the college scene where the colleges have a lot more flexibility and methods of paying their coaches. High schools normally have districts where there are levels for pay based on years of experience and the highest level of education for the employee. There are some high school situations where the summer camp money can go to the head coach In turn, he can keep it all or split it amongst the other coaches that are working the camp.

Additionally, there are high school booster clubs that can supplement a coaches’ income. WARNING, what is given can be taken away. It is the coaches’ responsibility to ethically and legally earn money within the perimeters of state law and school district policy. While taking money under the table could be tempting, it is the fastest way to end your coaching employment.

The interview process is where you find out exactly what you will be making (the coach should make a phone call before the interview to find out exactly what is the district salary for years of experience). That is the time to define every dollar that will come to you so all members in the interview process understand each other. All guaranteed income comes through a district paycheck and this amount is secured payment. Everything else is additional dollars that can change dramatically from one year to another so it is best not to count on it when making a comparison on moving.

Below is a simple excel spreadsheet that helps determine if the move is feasible from a financial perspective. This analysis should be done preferably before the interview so there is still time to withdraw and not waste your time nor the interviewers time if it is not feasible financially take the job.



Some items on this chart are not explained. Fort example, Florida currently has no state income tax while Missouri does. Depending on what the salaries are for your family that could be additional dollars if you are potentially moving from Missouri to Florida.

Some websites that will help with additional analysis:
https://swz.salary.com/costoflivingwizard/layoutscripts/coll_start.asp
https://www.mydreamlocale.com/Best_Places-population.php
https://coli.org/calculator/calculator.asp?guid=

There is nothing wrong about discussing the financial aspect of coaching. At the end of the day the coach needs to feed and house their family. If your family is not meeting the minimal financial obligations, is the head coaching position a good fit for any long term length, even if you are winning football games?

The interview is the start of determining the right fit for your coaching career. It is important to look at everything in analyzing your decision if the position if offered to you. Give yourself time to analyze all the information that came throughout your interview process and then make the winning decision for you.

Jim Dostal is the Special Teams Coordinator for Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA.






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