Is it more prestigious to be a head high school football coach or a division 2 or 3 college assistan

Lou,

I agree with coach Campbell. Anytime you can work at a higher level AS FAR AS YOUR COACHING CAREER GOES, be it as an assistant or not can only prove beneficial to you in later stages of your career.
You and I have had many discussions pertaining to the necessity of building a resume with SOLID CREDENTIALS prior to getting a good Head coaching job. Any time a HC prospect interviews on the High School level, it is always impressive to the search committee to see COLLEGE COACHING EXPERIENCE on his resume. But, also be prepared for the down side of coaching at the college level ( extensive time away from the family, ungodly working hours, extensive travel, etc.) but with your desire to be a high school head coach as strong as it is, I would definitely recommend that if you can coach at the college level now, by all means do so. Just my opinion as always.

Coach Easton

Coach Zuck,

You bring out very salient points in your post. I did not mention these to Lou as I know him on a personal basis and knew that he is single and plans to stay that way for a good while yet. Coaches who are really serious about making our profession theirs, should most emphatically apprise their wives to be, of the great sacrifices on the part of the wife and family of any full time coach, long before they are married. I have known several really great coaches who had the potential to be able to rise to the top of the coaching ranks, yet gave up after a few short years because of unhappy wives. It is probably the single most important aspect of any young coach, to have the complete support of his life's companion. After 42years on the coaching field, I will be celebrating my 46th year of marriage come August 8, 2006. We were married in 1960 and I started coaching in 1964. From that year on I was either coaching practice or a preseason game and never one time had an anniversay dinner until very late in the evening. At anniversary time my wife's favorite question was: What are we going to do after practice for our anniversary? It takes a very special woman to be a coache's wife.

Coach Easton

Coach Campbell,

GREAT POINT MY BROTHER! Most young guys never even think about that. I know I didn't but was able to mature in that area before it was too late.

Coach Easton

Coach Easton
My wifes birthday is when WE (the team) are away at football camp in Upstate NY (nearly 200 miles from home) and our Anniversary is Septemeber 4th. Our anniversary was similar to yours, when will you be home after practice so we can cleebrate...or the new one (she's learning) can you leave the other coaches there while the boys run sprints and get dressed after prctice.

Seth

You all have a great topic going here! As a young coach I am always thinking of different things that I want to do with my career. One month I think I want to become a head high school coach ASAP...then the next month I think about trying the college gig out. I am within a year of graduating from college and I wonder every day what I will do and where I will go when that time comes in just 12 short months or so.
Will I get an assistant job at the high school level? Will I go for a small college job? Will I find a job as a G.A and gain my masters degree? There are just so many possibilities and they are all going to be on my plate very soon! At this point I am thinking about trying the college route after my college graduation b/c I am young and sinlge therefore I have the ability to move anywhere! But, who knows what I will be thinking 12 months from now! All I know is I will do my best to keep you guys updated on the ongoing Soap Oprah that is "The life of Coach Nicholson". LOL

I really appreciate all that you coaches on here have done for me and I just wish I had more time to post on here.

Retirement is an issue that I take VERY seriously. My first job out of college was a teaching/coaching job at a high school in Maryland. Once I found out that their pension plan was RAISED to 40 percent (if I teach 30 years, I will get 40 percent of my salary at that time) I got out of there fast and came back to Pennsylvania, where I get 2 1/2 percent/year. My intentions are not to be a full-time college coach, but work as a Library Media Specialist and coach after school. The division 2 and division 3 schools at which I would potentially coach, would allow me to serve in this capacity. After reading the above stated posts, I am more convinced that the college route is a better avenue for me at this point in my career. I've been a head varsity football coach, an offensive coordinator, a defensive coordinator, a position coach, and a gopher in my career... it's time to move on to the next level. Coach Campbell, Rev. Easton, Coach Zuck, and John... I will keep you posted on what transpires as I am interviewing in the next few weeks. Thank you and God Bless.