I am a soon to be college grad with a teaching degree and a business degree and would like to ask some people who have experience how to get started when I graduate. I have been coaching softball in Texas for about 7 years at the rec and select (a-ball) levels. I also played football and baseball all through high school and 1 year of baseball at the junior college level. I guess what I am wondering is were I should start looking for job postings and is it possible to get a gig as an assistant or even volunteer now without my teaching degree, so I can gain some experience at the HS level. I have a serious passion for sports and know this is were I want to be. I am just curious how difficult this will be to get started because it is always the hardest step to get your foot in the door with little experience.

If you truely want to be a "great" softball coach you should try to sign on as an assistant coach with a good gold level travel ball team. In most cases, reputable gold ball teams are established and the coaches have been with them for years. The guys/gals have learned over the years and have gained the respect of their peers.

I am not saying that you wont be good if you don't do this buy way to many times High school softball coaches are put in the position with no experience and little understanding of the of the game. And.......contrary to what many want to believe it is a different game. If you want to be one of the best then learn from one of the best!

Good Luck!

And there are just as many summer ball coaches that are definitely not worth watching... If you are going to pursue a carreer in coaching at the high school level you should find a successful older softball coach that has done it in the public school ranks and be their assistant...there are lots of great summer league coaches that wouldn't make it long in a public school setting because of the many, many "other" duties responsibilities and politics that you have to learn to handle...there are quite a few in the area that I would recommend. You cannot "volunteer" in the public schools because of UIL regulations...you have to be a full time employee to be an assistant (on the field)...private schools are a completely different story...but again...if you are going to devote your life to coaching...learn how the good ones do it in the setting that you are going to coach in...spending your time with a summer league will help you learn the mechanics of softball but it won't help when you are hit with all the stuff that comes with coaching in the public schools...been there...done both...and they are worlds apart!!! Good luck and please feel free to send me a PM if you have any questions...I would be glad to help.

Thanks for the advise. The main worry that I have is after graduating, getting my foot in the door will probably be difficult but I know that is the case with just about any job. Even with the 6 to 7 years experience that I have coaching unless you have the right connections it will prove to be difficult. I am from about 60 miles south of Houston in a very small town and the teams that come out of this town are usually just coached by parents therefore my connections are limited. I am sure I would have to look more towards the Houston area for a good head coach and travel team to coach with. The thing is I wouldn't even know where to begin looking. I am willing to do what it takes I guess I just need a little advise on where to look. Any advise especially from someone that has been through both will be soaked up I promise.

You have mail.

You have PM!

If you are certified to teach at the secondary level (and in smaller schools, any level) you would have no problem finding a softball coaching job across texas. For some reaseon on the coaches job board those tend to be the most posted on the girls side, and the least amount of interest. If you are going to volunteer, I advise you do so at the collegiate level to get optimum experience and exposure. Good luck and it will all work out...

Great advice logjammer...colleges are desperate for free help. Especially the smaller ones. That's exactly what i did and it payed off greatly, eventually leading to a head college coaching job. Also with that on your resume many doors will open that would otherwise be shut...and like you said, a softball job shouldn't be hard to get. Especially if you love the sport and actually WANT to coach it...so many are MADE to coach it and the girls are shortchanged in the process.

I thank you all for the advise and I know exactly what you are talking about when you say that girls get shortchanged by some coaches that are made to do it. My sister is one of those right now......its just to bad that I am not certified to teach otherwise I would love to coach at my former HS plus my sister is the reason I started coaching to begin with. THANKS!!

Where are you coaching at Blessed and what sport?

I would like to add that if you are going to coach at the 3A and below, you better have some knowledge of a second sport: basketball, volleyball, or football are the best three to have. You will be MUCH more marketable that way.