For those who are still out interviewing and thinking about a job change, this template should be useful for helping you decide on a job offer that you have. A friend of mine sent me something similar to this about five years ago. I tweaked it, added to it some things I thought to be important and deleted some others.
Of course, this checklist will differ from state to state and even school district to school district in the same state.
I can’t tell you how important it is to consider a WHOLE LOT of these things! I don’t want you to end up like this Head Coach!
I wrote 99 Questions To Ask Before Taking Your Next Coaching Job. Read it here.
And here is another one about 6 Questions You Can Ask In Your Interview.
1. TEACHING POSITION
A. JOB DESCRIPTION
1. Course(s) to teach?
2. Number of periods?
3. Prep period?
4. Football class? Do I get to teach the football class?
5. Prep period for football? Or is the prep period for my teaching assignment?
B. MY EVALUATION
- Who is evaulating me?
- How will I be evaluated?
- Is there more value placed on me as a coach or a teacher?
- Is there a union or not? How long until I get tenure?
2. FOOTBALL POSITION
A. ASSISTANTS
1. How many stipends?
2. Can I split up stipends?
3. Can we pay coaches from other funds?
4. Can I fundraise for coach stipends?
5. Teaching jobs for coaches?
6. Policy for hiring coaches?
7. Do I have to keep any assistants?
8. Assistant coach politics I need to know about now?
B. EQUIPMENT
1. Field equipment
a. What do we have?
b. What do we need?
2. Player equipment
a. Current inventory? How many kids can we dress out per level?
b. What do we need to buy ASAP?
c. Who pays for equipment?
d. Spirit Packs – can we order them? Can we charge? How much per player?
3. Game Uniforms
a. Current inventory? How many can we dress with what we have per level?
b. Rotation for new jerseys/pants?
4. Footballs
a. How many do we currently have?
b. Who buys them? How many does school buy each year?
C. FACILITIES
1. Where do we play?
a. Do we share stadium with anyone?
b. Locker room situation? Anything to update it? How many lockers?
2. Where do we practice?
a. Do we share practice facility with any during season? Out of season?
3. Equipment storage
a. Where is it? Is it organized? Do we need to update anything here?
4. Weight Room
a. Condition of it?
D. MEDICAL
1. Do we have an Athletic Trainer?
2. Do we have a Team Doctor?
3. Where do the kids rehab?
4. Facilities on campus for treatment?
E. BUDGET
1. Who pays for:
a. Officials
b. Transportation
c. Pregame meals
d. Banquet facility, food, etc.
e. Coach’s gear
f. Extra equipment/balls needed
g. Staff development
h. Reconditioning helmets/shoulder pads
i. Uniforms
j. Headsets
k. Hudl or some type of video library subscription
l. Sideline video tools
m. Computers for sideline video system – staff/players
F. SCHOOL POLICIES
1. Cut/no cut policy?
2. Practice policies? Length? Conflicts with other programs?
3. Does everyone support multi sport athletes? How is this handled?
4. Spring Football – can we have it?
5. Summer Football – practice regulations?
6. Attendance policies? Any that are athletic department wide? Can I remove a kid from team if he isn’t showing up?
7. Chain of command for parent communication?
G. CONTRACT
1. Salary for teaching
a. How many years will they transfer in?
b. Masters stipend?
c. Salary scale?
2. Salary/stipend for coaching
a. How much is it for the Fall?
b. Spring/Summer Stipend? If not, can I raise money for it?
3. Benefits
a. Health, Vision, Dental?
b. Can I include dependents?
c. Total cost for my family per month?
4. Retirement
a. How is it structured? My contribution? Employer contribution?
H. CONCLUSIONS
1. Teaching position
a. Strength of position:
b. Weakness of position:
c. Do you want this position?
d. Impact of teaching position on family?
2. Coaching position
a. Strength of position:
b. Weakness of position:
c. Do you want this position?
d. Impact of teaching position on family?
3. Negotiation
a. Is there room for negotiating salary, stipend, schedule?
b. If so, what needs to be negotiated?
COMPLETE A SWOT ANALYSIS OF THIS FOOTBALL PROGRAM
SWOT is: Strengths? Weaknesses? Opportunities? Threats?
Sit down and write these out. Talk to as many people as you can so that you have a great overview of the football program before making your final decision.
Last but not least, good luck!! Take your time!
Chris Fore has his Masters degree in Athletic Administration, is a Certified Athletic Administrator and serves as an Adjunct Professor in the M.S. Physical Education – Sports Management program at Azusa Pacific University. He serves as the President of the California Coaches Association. Fore also runs Eight Laces Consulting which specializes in helping coaches nationwide in their job search process. Fore has been named to the Hudl Top 100 Coaches, and the Top 5 Best High School Football Coaches to follow on Twitter by MaxPreps. Follow him!
