The Times Orange County Edition : Coaches’ Survey

The Times Orange County Edition sent more than 1,100 questionnaires to the county’s high schools in an effort to see how varsity coaches viewed their roles. Packets of questionnaires were sent to the athletic directors, who were asked to pass them to coaches of all boys’ and girls’ varsity sports.

About 17%, or 188, of the coaches responded to the eight-question survey; 164 of the respondents were male, 24 were female.

Coaches in all varsity sports sanctioned by the Southern Section responded, but football had the greatest number of responses with 32. Coaches of the aquatic sports (swimming and water polo) had the second-highest total, 21. Boys’ basketball and baseball each had 20 responses, and girls’ basketball had 19.

Here’s a look at the eight questions and results.

1. Is there appropriate media coverage of your sport? (Too much, too little, misplaced emphasis?)

Most coaches (63%) said there was too little coverage of their sport, though the responses differed widely according to sport. In football, for instance, only 5 of the 32 coaches felt there was inadequate coverage, and only 3 of 20 boys’ basketball coaches said they considered coverage inadequate. Conversely, 20 of 21 coaches of water sports said they were unsatisfied with coverage.

2. Is there too great an emphasis placed on winning? (From other coaches, the media, parents?)

Responses to this question were split down the middle. Coaches comments ranged from: “No. Winning is winning! Nobody wants to be a loser!” to “Yes, nobody plays for fun anymore.”

3. Has your role as a coach changed significantly in the time you have been coaching?

A large number, 69%, said yes. Fund-raising and more administrative duties were largely responsible, coaches said.

4. How many hours a week do you spend in your coaching duties?

The majority, 55%, said they spent between 16-29 hours a week coaching; 20% said they spent between 30-39 hours a week; 15% spent 40 hours or more; 7% said they spent 15 hours or fewer; 3% did not answer.

5. Does the time you need to be a good coach significantly affect your personal life?

An overwhelming 86% said yes. Many coaches pointed to time lost with their families, particularly on weekends and the evenings. One coach said he quit coaching for six years while his sons were in high school. Another coach said: “During the season, you have no social life.” Another said that conflict with his personal life was unavoidable “if you do the job right.”

6. What is your coaching salary? Is it commensurate with what is expected of you as a coach?

Salaries generally ranged from about $1,500 per season to $2,500 per season, and 86% said their salary for coaching was not commensurate with their duties. Many, however, added that they coached because they like it and that anyone interested in coaching for money should consider another line of work. Said one coach: “Would you do this for $1 an hour? We must be crazy.” One coach said he wasn’t even sure how much he was paid: “I don’t know, and I don’t care. You don’t coach to get rich.”

7. Do you believe you have any responsibility for how your players act away from the field?

Another sizable majority, 78%, said they did.

8. If you have coached outside the county, can you point to anything that makes coaching here unique?

About 47% of responding coaches have not coached outside Orange County, but of the remaining respondents who had coached elsewhere, 89% pointed to differences involved with coaching in Orange County. Among the differences, they cited a greater pool of athletic talent and outstanding coaches, greater parental involvement, a heightened expectancy for success and increased media coverage. One individual who had coached elsewhere in Southern California said: “Orange County is the center of the sports world.” Another response: “Orange County compared to San Diego County is like comparing the Lakers to the Clippers.”