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Serious question.

Started by no mascot, June 15, 2017, 12:41:09 am

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no mascot

I got to thinking about this today. What % of administrators are former coaches? Sure seems like a lot to me! And maybe the real question is why is that the case? I have my thoughts on the subject but would like to hear yall's!

Moonshiner

Coaches are leaders of teams.  That experience can't be overlooked.  They are accustomed to working with parents.  Angry parents at times.  They usually are good with discipline.   They are comfortable with being in the spotlight and have been dealing with criticism for years.  They are also familiar with the long hours.
It's just a natural fit.

4real

Very well said and that's why the best admin are usually former coaches

Head Lion

It is actually quite a bit less now than 20 years ago. Last year over 80% of the people in specialists programs in the state were women. You still see a lot of former coaches in admin, but it is down over 20% in last 10 years and will continue in a decline by sheer numbers.

sevenof400

Quote from: Moonshiner on June 15, 2017, 11:01:26 am
Coaches are leaders of teams.  That experience can't be overlooked.  They are accustomed to working with parents.  Angry parents at times.  They usually are good with discipline.   They are comfortable with being in the spotlight and have been dealing with criticism for years.  They are also familiar with the long hours.
It's just a natural fit.

I am going to disagree with these points emphatically. 

While I see where you're going, what coaches lack is the dealing with state and federal programs - which comprise a considerable portion of an administrators job duties.  And the type of discipline a coach has (exercises) is from his / her position of authority over their players - who are there voluntarily. 

It's not that a coach cannot be a good administrator, it's just the demands of the present day make the required skill sets (to serve as a coach, vs to serve as an administrator) quite a bit different.   

4real

Talented leaders look to hire talented people who have strengths in areas they don't.  A strength of the academia types is knowledge of theory...
One thing admin that are former coaches are good at is making adjustments to fit their own context
Of course these are not absolutes

Moonshiner

June 15, 2017, 11:29:10 pm #6 Last Edit: June 15, 2017, 11:31:21 pm by Moonshiner
Quote from: sevenof400 on June 15, 2017, 08:39:05 pm
I am going to disagree with these points emphatically. 

While I see where you're going, what coaches lack is the dealing with state and federal programs - which comprise a considerable portion of an administrators job duties.  And the type of discipline a coach has (exercises) is from his / her position of authority over their players - who are there voluntarily. 

It's not that a coach cannot be a good administrator, it's just the demands of the present day make the required skill sets (to serve as a coach, vs to serve as an administrator) quite a bit different.   

Coaches learn this just as any other former teacher learns it.  I guess I'm speaking more for smaller schools.  Larger schools hire former teachers or former "academic coaches". This would explain the rise in female admin. 

4real

Your point about coaches not being familiar with federal and state guidelines and programs is moot...
Never met a classroom teacher or band director that had extensive knowledge and experience implementing those federal and state programs lol

no mascot

I don't think I've met an administrator with EXTENSIVE knowledge of federal programs!

sevenof400

Quote from: 4real on June 16, 2017, 10:45:08 am
Your point about coaches not being familiar with federal and state guidelines and programs is moot...

As someone who works in the education sector, well - you're wrong.  Every day - and in many ways - what one does and cannot do is effected by federal and state regulations.  Regulations that change like the wind.   


Quote from: 4real on June 16, 2017, 10:45:08 am
Never met a classroom teacher or band director that had extensive knowledge and experience implementing those federal and state programs lol

You're doing an excellent job at undercutting your own position here.

Moonshiner

Quote from: sevenof400 on June 16, 2017, 06:18:29 pm
As someone who works in the education sector, well - you're wrong.  Every day - and in many ways - what one does and cannot do is effected by federal and state regulations.  Regulations that change like the wind.   


You're doing an excellent job at undercutting your own position here.

Are you trying to say that coaches don't make good administrators?

sevenof400

Quote from: Moonshiner on June 17, 2017, 11:39:00 am
Are you trying to say that coaches don't make good administrators?

Just to be clear, we're talking in generalities here so generally speaking the answer to that question is yes - coaches tend to NOT be good administrators.   

Are there exceptions?  No doubt.  And to be fair to smaller schools, where people are more likely to have to serve in multiple roles, people who can successfully serve as a coach and an administrator become very valuable.  But the fact that someone wears both (or more) hats does not mean they are performing their roles at the level needed for the district to best operate - sometimes you just have to do the best you can. 

But to do both jobs right (at the highest level) in both roles concurrently borders on an unrealistic expectation. 

Wonderdog

Quote from: sevenof400 on June 16, 2017, 06:18:29 pm
As someone who works in the education sector, well - you're wrong.  Every day - and in many ways - what one does and cannot do is effected by federal and state regulations.  Regulations that change like the wind.   


You're doing an excellent job at undercutting your own position here.
A coach AND a regular classroom teacher/academic coach have to learn those regulations in order to be good administrators. Neither has a "leg up" on the other in that respect. Coaches do have a good deal of experience in dealing with people and "teams" that translate to admin duties, especially if they have multiple years of head coaching experience. Bottom line, most of the learning takes place on the job and collaborating with other admins in your district in order to reach the best decision at times. The person matters more than the previous title (coach/teacher) when hiring an administrator.

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