Sports Coaching Degree Options

Are you passionate about sports and looking for a career that is rewarding and dynamic? You might consider a career as a coach. Having a sports coaching degree, or a degree in a related field, can help prepare you to enter the exciting world of athletic training. 

Coaching a sports team requires a lot of commitment and drive. From preparing for sporting events, planning practice, and developing regimented players, coaching can go far beyond the typical 9-5 work day. The top coaching education will give you the right foundation and prepare you for a demanding, yet rewarding career as a coach. 

Of course, most sports coaches have some experience playing the sport they coach. However, the right educational background is important if you’re hoping to coach a sports team at a higher level. 

Having a degree in a sports related field can help you know the proper training exercises, effective principles of coaching, and even give you a better understanding of the rules and regulations of your chosen sport. At Concordia, we offer several options when it comes to preparing you as a coach. Studying areas like kinesiology, strength and conditioning, and human movement will prepare students to be top notch sports coaches after their education is completed. 

Excited to learn more? Let’s dive in.

What Degrees are Best for Sports Coaches?

When deciding on a career, you may find that there is not a designated coaching major. Some colleges and universities will offer programs that focus on sports coaching; however, most offer coaching as an area of focus within a more general topic of study. This can be beneficial in helping you develop a more well-rounded and effective coaching style. 

For anyone looking to become a coach, you should consider degrees in related areas of study such as: 

• Kinesiology
• Strength and conditioning
• Sports performance training
• Human Movement Science
• Sports Nutrition
• Exercise Physiology

A degree in a related field can help you develop other important skills such as communication, decision-making, and strategy employment. Having a degree in a broader area of study can help to round out your coaching style and is an important factor in success. 

How Long Do Coaching Education Programs Take?

Depending on the breadth of education you’re looking for, getting a degree in coaching can take as little as 18 months for your bachelors and as little as 12 additional months for your masters. 

Of course, every student is different. Your availability, study habits, and work-life balance may affect the time it takes to get a coaching degree. With Concordia, our online program gives you the flexibility to learn at your own pace so that you can get the most out of your education. 

Coaching Degrees

Choosing the right degree can feel daunting, but it’s an important step if you’re an aspiring coach. The degree you choose should be guided by your interests and career goals. 

Let’s take a closer look at the options. 

Kinesiology

Essentially, kinesiology is the study of how the body moves. This degree is a great option if you’re hoping to pursue a coaching degree as it offers you a broad understanding of essential biomechanics.

While pursuing your undergraduate degree in kinesiology you will learn the fundamentals of physiology, disease prevention, and health promotion. 

The field of kinesiology is interdisciplinary, meaning that you will gain a fundamental understanding of a wide range of topics. You will also delve deeper into certain topics such as exercise physiology, nutrition, and strength and conditioning.

A degree in kinesiology will give you a deeper understanding of the human body as a whole–an essential tool for building your career as a coach. Additionally, a degree in kinesiology can prepare you for a career as a personal trainer, exercise physiologist, or even a fitness entrepreneur. 

Strength and Conditioning

Athletes know that strength and conditioning is a huge part of athletic development. So, getting a degree in a field like strength and conditioning makes sense if you’re looking to pursue a career as a coach. 

In a strength and conditioning program, you will study topics such as strength and conditioning theory, applied exercise physiology, and even nutrition. These degrees can help you become a leader in the development of training programs for your athlete and even give you the expertise to develop your own strength and conditioning theory. 

If you’re looking to take your coaching style to the next level, having a degree in strength and conditioning can prepare you to develop effective training programs for your athletes and support them through their performance development. 

Sports Performance Training

When it comes to getting a coaching degree, pursuing an education in sports performance training is a great option. Unlike strength and conditioning or Kinesiology, this degree can help you refine your leadership, sports management, and wellness skills. It will do so while also reinforcing foundational topics such as nutrition and kinesiology basics. 

Specialized coursework such as program design, advanced exercise physiology, and biomechanics are helpful in providing you with the skills necessary to build competent and effective coaching programs. A concentrated study in sports performance training should be considered by anyone hoping to specifically become a performance coach or anyone interested in coaching at a highly competitive level.

A degree in sports performance training can prepare you for a career beyond coaching. If you are looking to take on a role such as an athletic director or a sports performance specialist, this degree is essential in your preparation. 

Human Movement Science

A degree in human movement science will give students a deeper understanding of injury prevention and athletic functional capacity. For anyone who has a deep interest in exercise patterns, kinesiology, and injury prevention, this is a great degree choice. 

Your coursework will include foundational elements such as kinesiology and biomechanics, while also delving into topics such as corrective exercise training, principles of human movement and other special topics. 

For aspiring coaches, an education in human movement science can help you develop smarter training programs to maximize athletic performance. Pursuing a degree in human movement science can lead to careers beyond coaching such as integrated health specialist or research technician. 

Sports Nutrition

As the saying goes: you are what you eat. As a coach, having knowledge of nutrition and fitness can help you better prepare the players you are training. A degree in sports nutrition will give you a well-rounded understanding of physiology, nutrition, and exercise. 

Your classwork will include topics such as vitamins and minerals, nutrition and exercise for weight management, and other special topics. Science classes like biomechanics will also give you an important understanding of how nutrition and exercise are inextricably linked. 

As a prospective coach, understanding the full physiology of the body is crucial to helping your players be the best versions of themselves both on and off the field. Nutrition also gives you lots of career opportunities for coaching adjacent careers such as sports nutritionist and a virtual health coach. 

Exercise Physiology

The biggest part of coaching is helping your athletes achieve their peak physical wellness. At that point, they will be performing their best and supporting their body through the grueling life cycle of an athlete. A degree in exercise physiology will give you an advanced understanding of body systems and functions. 

If you’re hoping to be a coach, understanding how the body works and how to support it is an essential skill. In your coursework, you will study topics such as anatomy and physiology, sports nutrition, strength training, and even patient behavior. 

When looking to gain a degree in coaching, exercise physiology will give you an understanding of the fundamentals of human wellness and the ability to apply that understanding to your coaching strategy. 

Sports Coaching Jobs

As a coach, you will lead athletes to victory and support them through training. You will take on the role as a leader, mentor, and cheerleader. Having a degree in a sports related field will help you fill all those roles. 

No matter which degree you choose, having a fundamental understanding of the human body and leading training philosophies can help you score more goals both on and off the field. 

If you’re ready to begin the path to a coaching career, our undergraduate programs are a perfect place to start. Additionally, if you’re looking to further your education as a coach or individual in the sports world, our masters programs will help prepare you for your next career move. 

Get started on your application today to see just how far a Bachelors or Master of Science can take you in the world of coaching.