This week I'm interviewing for a prospective coaching job. I was wondering what types of questions were asked as well as if there were any questions that were unexpected.
This week I'm interviewing for a prospective coaching job. I was wondering what types of questions were asked as well as if there were any questions that were unexpected.
Why do you want to coach? How do you handle athlete problems? What is your coaching philosophy? What are your strengths? How will you fit into our program (what are you bringing to the table that will complement/enhance)? Why us?
hopefulJ wrote:
This week I'm interviewing for a prospective coaching job. I was wondering what types of questions were asked as well as if there were any questions that were unexpected.
This was all they wanted to know from me...
"We're going to expect you to live at the poverty level and run your team with a substandard budget...We also expect you to win conference titles, can you do that?"
Seriously, whatever they ask, don't rush to answer, pause, think about it and answer confidently. The guy above had some good questions to prepare for. I remember the head track coach who hired me asking about discipline questions, how I'd want to use scholarships, how I determine travel squads, etc... They may also ask a lot of "this is what you will be expected to do...what have you done in the past that prepares you for this" kind of stuff. I say tell them what they need to know but don't tell them any more than that. If you say too much you may say something that hurts. Just say what you need to say.
Good advice from both posters. I'd add be yourself, be confident in both yourself and your ideas, and stay true to your philosophies.
"What are three areas in which you could improve as a coach? What would you do to achieve that improvement?"
"Where do you see yourself in ten years?"
"How do you recruit?"
"What are your hobbies?"
Boy, I wish I'd answered this last one the way I'd wanted to. At the time I was a full-time grad student, working ~20hrs/wk as an academic grad assistant (i.e. not in athletics), and coaching (unpaid) for 40-50hrs/wk with the team that I'd started--I was so pressed for time, I used to write my workouts while I was on the toilet.
I mumbled something about reading or listening to music; what I wanted to say was "Hobbies? My 'hobby' is creating track and cross-country teams and winning with them."
Turns out that the AD who was interviewing me had, when he was still a coach, been asked, "What are your hobbies?" and had answered "Winning football games." It did a lot to get him his job.
I still wouldn't have gotten that particular job--it was earmarked for someone else in advance--but I know I'd have impressed the guy more if I'd answered with complete honesty.
Interviewer: What are your hobbies?
Candidate: Posting to the hotness threads on Letsrun.com.
Interviewer: When can you start???