High School Coaching

Question:
I want to become a high school coach, and I would also like to teach a history class. I do not know what I should major in. Could you please send me some information on what to do in college? Thank you!

Answer:
First, you'll have to become a licensed teacher. To gain licensure, you'll need to earn at least a bachelor's degree and complete student-teaching. Many states require their teachers to earn a master's degree, although this generally can be completed after finding a job.

Some universities don't allow undergraduate students to apply for admission to their Schools of Education until their second year in school. In these cases, your GPA, especially in the area you'd like to teach, weighs heavily on the acceptance decision. But there are programs that admit education majors in the first year, including some online bachelor's degree programs in education. Depending on the program, you should either major in history with an education focus or double major in history and education. Plan to take some athletic electives, and earn (and maintain) a CPR certification, too, for future coaching.

As a teacher, your chances of finding coaching jobs should be excellent. School districts around the country are often scrambling to find enough coaches, so much so that they frequently hire non-teachers to coach. Clearly, it's in the school's best interest to hire teachers who also want to be coaches. If being involved in high school sports is more enticing to you than teaching, you might consider continuing in school with a master's degree in education administration. This could make you eligible for an athletic director position.