Coach Development: Making Your Next Move

Summer is the time when many rowing coaches are contemplating their next move. The coaching carousel is spinning, and some coaches are doing everything they can to get on, or off, the ride. But a decision made in haste or out of desperation can do much more harm, personally and professionally, than no decision at all.

Coaching is viewed commonly as a linear hierarchical profession. You begin as a volunteer or low-level assistant. You move up to a full-time assistant, then first assistant at a better team. Then, you become a head coach somewhere and eventually a head coach at a more big-time team.

But this isn’t the only path. And it’s not usually the most fulfilling or sustainable one. Moving from collegiate to junior coaching is sometimes the best move, and sometimes making an outwardly lateral move is really the best one for you.

Coaches can lose themselves running on this treadmill constantly looking for the right next move. What is “right”?

Only you can define that. Sometimes, you have a good thing going in your current position or you have outside life factors that make this the best option for the time being, so the right move is staying put. When it’s time to look for the next opportunity, thoughtful coaches would be well served by trusting themselves, not external evaluations, to identify the “right” position.

Some things to consider when looking for your next position:

– Philosophical alignment with leadership: Do your values align with whomever is in charge? If your priorities aren’t similar from the jump, they aren’t going to shift much over time.

– Job responsibilities: What is the actual job description? What will your responsibilities be? If the position doesn’t offer the opportunity to work on the areas you’re most passionate about or want to develop the most, maybe it’s not the best fit.

– School culture and location: Look beyond the rowing. Does the culture of the university or club, if you’re looking at a college position, align with your values and interests? Is the job in a location you want to be in? This is a simple but often overlooked factor.

– Development opportunities: Make sure you’ll have real opportunities for professional development. Can you take on new responsibilities with which you’re unfamiliar? Will you be able to attend conferences? Will you have access to more experienced coaches within the department or boathouse?

– Fit: Don’t forget about this ever-elusive factor. This may be a feeling in your gut, or your chest. Don’t ignore it. When you talk to your potential future colleagues, are you excited or does something feel off? When you walk around campus or the boathouse, can you see yourself there? You may feel nervous or doubt your readiness (you’re ready!), but you shouldn’t feel off.

Good luck to those trying to hop on the spinning carousel, and congratulations to those who are satisfied with where they are.

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