- Supervisor: Jimmy Walker
- Title: Director of boys Coaching
- Organization / Company: Pacesetter Soccer Club
- E-mail: [email protected]
Personal information:
- General responsibilities: working closely with the players, ensuring they are doing what they need to do on and off the field that will progress their development.
- Working and communicating with other directors, to further the development of the club as a whole.
- Setting up and organization of drills is also a responsibility of mine, the majority of the time I am in my office looking at drills and new ideas that could bring us further as a program.
- Likes: working hands on with the teams is definitely a strong like for me. As I get to see the team go from strength to strength, and young players come on in leaps and bounds, it is really rewarding as a coach. Being heavily involved in the team builds strong relationships and you feel as if it’s not work that you are attending every day, you are working toward a dream with a family.
- Dislikes: dealing with frustrated parents that believe their child deserves more playing time on the field.
- Pay/ Benefits/ Perks: $60,000 is the normal pay, insurance is normally covered so is meals, hotels and gas when travelling.
- Education: bachelor degree is the minimum requirement for a director’s position, but experience can be just if not more important.
- Related experience: coaching experience is very important, as this is what you are going to be using once you get the job. The degree is just to ensure you have a general knowledge about what day-to-day things such as writing documents or working out budget sheets.
Industry information:
- Salary Range $50,000- $90,000
- Turnover
- Opportunity for advancement: the opportunity to move up toward a Director of Coaching job was not always the plan. The end game is normally the head coach position, as this is what we are all aiming for if we’re being honest. The opportunity to move onto a bigger school is also the option if you have a great year with a team and a position opens up somewhere else. For example, I was the Tiffin Women’s Head Soccer Coach and fortunately got offered the Penn State Women’s Head Soccer job. After having a family, it was in my best interest to have a more securer job that wasn’t as demanding in terms of travel. So, I leaped at the opportunity of becoming the Director of Soccer at Pacesetter Soccer Club. Furthermore, It is all about timing and the people you know that puts you in these careers, so meeting new people and doing well is always great.
Tips for Students Aspiring Towards a Similar Position:
Networking and meeting new people is a great way to get your foot in the door. You often have to send a load of E-mails basically asking for an opportunity to work. Experience is also a great thing, so I would advise doing lots of voluntary coaching with kids of all ages; this will give you a good feel for coaching different ages and skill levels. Reach out to friends at different colleges, they often will put in a good word for you, or will hear about employment opportunities before they’re put online.