If you're looking for a 9-to-5 type job, try looking into another field
-- literally!
"During football season, we put in 80 to 90 hours a week," says Mike Van
Diest. He's the head coach of the Carroll College Fighting Saints in Helena,
Montana. Practices and meetings often run into the weekend.
Not all of that time is spent on the football field. Much time and effort
is devoted to reviewing game and practice video, as well as recruiting.
"Over the last 10 years, recruiting has become a big, big part of our jobs,"
admits Brian Towriss. He coaches a university football team. Office work includes
fund-raising, managing the program's finances and organizing other coach's
schedules.
The football coach usually reports to an athletic director, and often also
to the school's vice-president, president or-vice president of student affairs.
Many coaches now also wear (at least) two hats: coaching and teaching.
"At the college level, we have an additional role to play as an academic counselor
as well," says Towriss.
Women are making their mark as football coaches, too. "Because this is
relatively new for women to be in the sport, I feel that's where the next
generation of coaches will come from...from within the ranks of players,"
predicts Christie Martin. She is a defensive coach with the SoCAL Scorpions
of the WPFL (Women's Professional Football League).
Football season, like the academic season, is limited to several months.
The football coach's job, however, is not.
"With off-season programs, weight training, running, conditioning, high
school football camps kids can attend during the summer, it's really a year-round
career," says Van Diest.
During the so-called "off-season," coaches routinely work 40 to 60 hours
a week.
Physical fitness is a must in order to keep up with the demands of this
job.
Mental fitness is a must too, says Van Diest. "There's a mental toughness
about coaching in terms of believe in what you do and not wavering from that
when you're not successful. If you happen to lose, or there's some adversity
that strikes your program, you have to stick with your game plan."