The document provides advice on crafting an effective resume for a coaching position. It emphasizes highlighting relevant coaching experience and skills that would benefit a program. References should be prominently listed with full contact information, as a known reference could help get the resume noticed. The resume should be concise and focus on how the candidate can specifically help the program or coach in order to stand out among other applicants.

1.
Lesson #2 Crafting Your Resume
The motivation for starting this course and business was by looking through resumes. Having
applied for many job myself and hiring coaches as an AD and head coach I felt I knew a thing or
two about resumes.
I learned a great deal over the last couple of years on what makes a good resume, what to put in
and what to take out of a resume. I talked to other people of what they look for when choosing a
candidate for a particular job.
The interest level for me came shortly after I was hired at LSU as the Director of Basketball
Operations. For me it was an adjust since I had been an on the floor coach for the previous 24
years. Now I was taking a new role. It was my chance to get back into the highest level of college
basketball and a league (the SEC) I respected.
This was my second opportunity to be in the SEC and I was willing to take a role which was not
on the floor coaching if I thought it could further my career.
We would get numerous inquires from those trying to break into the business. They either
emailed or wrote letters asking for any position we may have available. These were 98% of the
time young coaches trying to break into the coaching profession.
Before the start of the school year I began to take a different approach on these resumes being
sent into our office. At first, I would just ignore, delete or file them away. Then I began to realize
what an impact we could have on those sending in their information. This was the year Missouri
and Texas A &M both came into the league. Our league now consisted of 14 teams.
I knew what most schools at our level were doing with these inquires. Nothing. I knew our brand
at LSU was important. Even though this would be more time and not part of my job description
I began to read over each resume we received.
At first I would just scan them over and then put them in a file and in a folder on my computer it
came via email.
I started to notice a trend. Most coaches send in the same resume as you would to any other
professional job. I saw how these resumes didn't tell the story of the individual sending or I had
a hard time understanding what made this candidate unique.
They followed a similar path. Listing their school at the top, sharing all there work experience
(every single job), and sadly not listing references.

2. There mostly young coaches would be benefit from a response. I devised an email template
explaining we did not have any positions open at the present time. We would keep the resumes
on file if something comes open. I began sending it out to each individual who wrote our office
about a job.
I kept the resumes for three reasons.
1.
2. We might have an opening although unlikely the following Spring.
3.
4. If I got a head coaching job I wanted to have a further pool of candidates then the ones I
knew already.
5.
6. I could use them to help other coaches when I saw a very good resume to use as an
example. Like most coaches, if I see something that works then I better be ready to use
the idea or concept.
So then began to email these candidates back with somewhat of a form letter. But, I made sure
to personalize the response and then I added a last paragraph. My last paragraph said if you
would like constructive criticism on your resume I would be glad to give it to them.
Very few asked for the criticism. There were some who did, but the number of those not asking
far outweighed those who did ask. Even after being in the profession for 27 years I still want to
get new ideas and looking for ways to improve on a resume. Why? It helps me, but I can help
other coaches and my own children.
My son at this time was thinking of trying to be a Graduate Assistant after he finished his
undergrad degree. He was a student coach at the time. I was trying to find any ways he could get
an edge. If I could help him get his resume noticed I wanted to help.
As the director of the basketball camps at LSU I had to find a way to get our camp staff filled
with solid coaches. If were coaches asking to work our camp then we asked them to send in a
resume.
If no one on our staff knew the coach I had to find out as much background information as
possible.
Again, another chance to look through resumes to get ideas and I made sure to offer feedback if
they wanted.
Here are the important concepts to realize when putting together a resume as a coach.
1.
2. Where to list your education.
3.

3. 4. Accentuate your coaching experience or other skill which may help a program.
5.
6. List out your references with all their contact information.
Unless you went to an Ivy league school or a prestigious academic school put your education last
(before your references). Some professions or books you read on resumes will tell you to list
education first. Why at the end? For a coaching job your education is important, but not your
most valuable asset. Your most valuable asset is your experience.
When you list your education, unless you made a 4.0 do not list your GPA. If you received
academic honors put them on your resume.
Any other awards beside academic or athletic be wise in putting them on paper. You do not want
to clutter your information. A great way to evaluate your resume is to ask yourself, “Is this
information valuable to the person doing the hiring or am I doing it for myself?”
Your major is fine to list. If you have a Master's degree list that first before your undergrad
degree. If you are certified to teach make sure to put that down.
The average time spent looking over a resume is anywhere between is usually less than 10
seconds according to most recent studies. You want your resume to be read. Keeping it clean and
concise gives you a better chance to have it read by a prospective employer.
What can you do to help a team, a program or most importantly a coach? If you are trying to get
an assistant coaching job the head coach wants to know one thing. The head coach is
asking­”How can you help me?” The higher the level the more this is true. What can you do to
help the head coach wins, get players, market his or her program or take care of which is not
presently getting done.
An athletic director is looking more big picture. Whether they are hiring you as a head coach or
as an assistant what do can you do to make our program or programs better.
Small College or High School
If you are going for a job a the high school or small college level you will have to do more than
one job. Most high schools and small colleges are looking for quality help, but also those who
can do more than one specific job.
If you are going for a head coaching job you need to be able to bring more to the table. Can you
do public speaking? Can you raise money? Can you help with any administrative duties?
Unless you get a job right off the gun at a high major level you need to think of how can I add
value to a certain school. I've worked for three different high schools and three different small

4. colleges. Here is the common theme at each school: They are not interested in prima donnas.
Each person on staff or in the athletic department must be able to help in areas besides there
own sport.
A president or principal is not interested in having someone in their athletic department who is
not willing to help.
Major College
You must be able to show on your resume why you can be a nice addition to their staff. If you are
going for an entry level position show you can add to their program. Your ability to work with
Powerpoint, Photoshop and other computer applications may be just what they need. If you can
edit tape make sure to list the editing software you know well.
I suggest using logos of the programs you can use. I saw a resume with this and thought it made
the resume stand out.
All the teams and sports you have coached are important to list. Please don't list you record as a
camp coach. That can be a giveaway to not get hired.
Any level, any team is credible. Your coaching experience and who you have coached is the most
important item on your resume. Those looking to hire a coach want to know your experience on
the field and on the court. Who have you learned from? Who have you been around on a daily
basis?
Experience, Experience, Experience.
Your References.
List them. You can put as many as six, but make sure to have at least three.
This can be the biggest key to get you noticed on your resume. Always give a coach or athletic
director a resume with the contact information for your references. Why? You never know who
the coach or athletic director may know on your list. If you have done your homework on how to
get that information you will be ahead of the game. We teach that technique in another course.
Have the contact information readily available. No coach or athletic director wants to take the
time to look up numbers or email address for your contacts. Make it easy for them. They may
pick up the phone or write an email once they see a name on your list. It may be someone they
know well and have not talked to in a while. It could be a close friend of theirs. Give your
references a chance to go to work for you just by having them on paper.

5. Make sure to call anyone you will put down as a reference. Tell them the job you are applying for
and see if the conversation leads anywhere. A reference you have may know someone at the
school or may have someone they know who has contacts at that school. Again, use your
references to help simply by listing them and then calling ask their permission to use their
name.
Remember you are crafting a story. You are presenting yourself to a prospective employer. If you
look over your resume and it looks too stale, then probably your resume is too stale.
Find ways to show your personality.
Volunteer groups you are a part.
Articles you have written.
Accomplishments from your past.
Answer this important question: What do they need to know about me that they may not know
already?
A professional scout asked me this when trying to get more information about two of the players
in our program. I thought his question was so good. What do we (the pro team he was
representing) need to know that no other teams knows?
Fantastic question. Game changer for me when recruiting players, interviewing clients, helping
individuals with their career choices. “What do we need to know that no one else knows?” You
must answer that question while crafting your resume. Help those reading your resume to know
something about you that separates you from the rest of the crowd.
How well your craft your story and tell your story can make a dramatic difference in how people
see you when viewing your resume.