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Job Preparation Tips for Coaches
By Coach Randy Brown

In today's high school and college climate, jobs have become increasing more difficult to get and keep. There are some key strategies that can be used to your advantage in this competitive pursuit. This article addresses the components of a good resume and supplementary material needed for the job application. Once your foot is in the door, the rest is up to you.

Before you embark on this journey, you must honestly evaluate your interest in the job. This will affect everything you do in pursuit of the position. Going after a job in a lukewarm fashion is not fair to the school or yourself. You lack of commitment will come out in the interview to athletic directors and administrators. Once you have established that, you can prepare for the interview.

The first step is to prepare a resume for the job. Here are some important elements to keep in mind.

RESUME

--Keep them short and to the point.

--Use a font that is pleasing to the eye, but not fancy or outrageous.

--Keep it to no more than two pages (see supplementary materials).

--Should tell basically who you are, what your experiences have been, and information about your accomplishments (briefly) and some personal information.

--Approach this as a teaching position, TOO!

--Give the academics as much focus as the coaching position.

--Using the "Coach is a teacher" is always a good idea and can be backed up with examples from past coaching experiences.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

This is where you can expound on your strengths, accomplishments and experience. Use your past coaching and accomplishments in a solid, positive way without glorifying yourself.

---Length can be from 2 pages to 25 pages.

---Use titles, subtitles in fairly large font. The material should have an "open" look to it and should not look busy. Do not squeeze everything you have ever done into this presentation.

---Use color pictures of your team, a packed gym, and possibly of your family. Use a shot of you on the sideline instructing your players but limit it to ONE picture. Make this about the job and not about you.

---The goal of this material is to give them a good idea of who you are and your ability to lead their program.

---IMPORTANT--Include a section on the VISION you have for this program and how you will implement it. Make it realistic yet positive.

---Come up with a title and a title page.

---Again, include both academic and athletic topics in this document and include photos of engaging with students or of you teaching in the classroom.

In the end, you want to portray the image of a teacher and coach who:

---Wants the job!

---Is dedicated to teaching and coaching to the best of your ability.

---Has a solid and well thought our philosophy

---Knows a lot about the school, its history, and some of its troubles and successes.

---Has a vision for success for the basketball program.