No athlete reaches greatness without having a great coach.

You have a gift: a natural ability to coach others. At University of the Cumberlands, we understand your gift and offer an affordable degree program to help you develop it. This Bachelor of Science in Coaching program is designed to help you make the most of your natural coaching ability. Even better, you have the option to earn your coaching degree from Cumberlands either on-campus or online, allowing you the freedom to balance work or other responsibilities with your studies. From innovations in athletic equipment and helpful technology, to improving your communication skills, to handling the time management and leadership responsibilities that coaching presents, we'll give you the insights, information, and practical tactics you need to be the best coach you can be.

Anchor: Stats
Anchor: Programs & Requirements
Programs & Requirements

Programs & Requirements

* The credit hours listed on this page only reference the specific program requirements and is not reflective of the total hours necessary to receive your degree. Cumberlands requires all students obtain a minimum of 60 hours for an associate’s degree and a total of 120 hours for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer and prior learning credits may be counted toward those totals.

To learn more about our General Education Requirements, please visit the page referenced below or explore our Academic Catalog

General Education Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Coaching

This curriculum for this specialized degree program covers a wide range of coaching essentials. Coursework for your coaching degree program can include:

  • Coaching and Leadership
  • Health, Exercise and Sport Science
  • Growth and Movement Development
  • Officiating Games
  • Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries

Plus, our expert faculty truly care about your success. They’ll work with you to help you customize the electives for your degree program so that they fit your coaching career goals. This way, upon graduation from our bachelor’s degree in coaching program, you’ll have a strong foundation in both the academic and practical areas of coaching.

Course Requirements

  • HESS 233 Functional Human Anatomy and Physiology
  • HESS 330 Influences on Contemporary Issues in Health & Performance
  • HESS 333 Nutrition
  • HESS 439 Facilities Development & Management
  • ESS 131 Introduction to Health, Exercise and Sport Science
  • ESS 227 Officiating Games
  • ESS 230 Growth and Movement Development
  • ESS 231 Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries
  • ESS 235 Fitness and Sport Management
  • ESS 335 Coaching and Leadership I
  • ESS 430 Coaching and Leadership II

HESS/ESS Elective Courses: (3 Hours of Upper Division Courses)

A Bachelor of Arts degree requires completing the same courses as a Bachelor of Science with the addition of completing one foreign language sequence through the intermediate level.

  • FREN 131        Elementary French I
  • FREN 132        Elementary French II
  • FREN 231        Intermediate French I
  • FREN 232        Intermediate French II
     
  • SPAN 131        Elementary Spanish I
  • SPAN 132        Elementary Spanish II
  • SPAN 231        Intermediate Spanish I
  • SPAN 232        Intermediate Spanish II

Minor in Coaching

Maybe you have a passion for a different field of study, but you still like the idea of becoming a coach, scout, or athletic administrator someday. At Cumberlands, you can have the best of both worlds by pursuing a minor in coaching! You'll learn important fundamentals about human anatomy and physiology, care and prevention of athletic injuries, leadership skills, and more. Especially if you're hoping for a career in healthcare, athletics, or education, the knowledge and skills you'll glean from this minor will give you an advantage in the workforce.

Course Requirements

  • HESS 233 Functional Human Anatomy and Physiology
  • HESS 330 Influences on Contemporary Issues in Health & Performance
  • HESS 333 Nutrition
  • ESS 131 Introduction to Health, Exercise and Sport Science
  • ESS 231 Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries
  • ESS 235 Fitness and Sport Management
  • ESS 335 Coaching and Leadership I
  • ESS 430 Coaching and Leadership II

Associate of Science in Coaching

So, you want a college degree in coaching, but maybe you don't want to commit to a full four-year program to do so. We get it. And we have options to meet your needs. You can earn an associate degree in coaching from Cumberlands entirely online and finish in as little as one year. If you want to start building a foundation in your knowledge of how the human body functions, how to prevent injuries while training, and some essentials of coaching and leadership, then this is the degree path for you.

Course Requirements

  • HESS 233 Functional Human Anatomy and Physiology
  • ESS 131 Introduction to Health, Exercise and Sport Science
  • ESS 231 Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries
  • ESS 235 Fitness and Sport Management
  • ESS 335 Coaching and Leadership I
  • ESS 430 Coaching and Leadership II

Six hours (2 classes) of HESS/ESS electives

Anchor: Mission & Goals

Mission & Goals

The mission of the coaching program at Cumberlands is to give you the tools you need to pursue a wide variety of careers in sports. We'll teach you to integrate content knowledge and practical skills appropriate to the given setting.

Effective management, evaluative, analytical, and communication skills to navigate various situations.

Meet the requirements for professional positions in the field of sports and athletics.

Become a competent and caring professional with a servant-leadership mentality.

Impactful leadership skills that benefit your team and society as a whole.

An understanding of the human body's needs, functions, and necessary training to prevent and heal injuries.

Anchor: Career Outcomes

Coaching Careers & Outcomes

All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Coaches and Scouts: $38,970

Coaches and Scouts: $38,970

Coaches teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport. Scouts evaluate athletes as possible recruits.

Nutritionist: $61,650

Nutritionist: $61,650

Create healthy nutrition plans for others, to help them live a healthier life.

Athletic Administrator: $96,910

Athletic Administrator: $96,910

Postsecondary education administrators oversee student services, academics, and faculty research at colleges and universities. Athletic administrators oversee the logistics that pertain to the school's athletic teams and events.

Athletic Trainer: $48,420

Athletic Trainer: $48,420

Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses.

Professional Athlete: $77,300

Professional Athlete: $77,300

Athletes and sports competitors participate in organized, officiated sporting events to entertain spectators.

Referee/Sports Official: $35,860

Referee/Sports Official: $35,860

Umpires, referees, and other sports officials preside over competitive athletic or sporting events to help maintain standards of play.

Anchor: FAQs

Common Questions

All programs at University of the Cumberlands are offered at some of the lowest rates in the nation – and we even include free textbooks through our One Price Promise! For more information on how affordable this program would be for you, visit our Financial Aid page.

Your bachelor’s degree in coaching, along with relevant industry experience, will give you the training and confidence you need to pursue mentoring and coaching careers in any organized sport, including positions as a:

  • Head Coach
  • Assistant Coach
  • Athletic Director
  • Recreation Center Manager
  • Sports Director
  • Physical Education Instructor
  • Sports Management Professor

Sports aren't going away anytime soon; they provide entertainment for millions and careers for thousands around the U.S., so the industry itself is in good shape and likely will be for a long time. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the projected growth in demand for coaches and scouts is 20 percent, which is much faster than the national average.

We think so, since the material taught in this program can benefit many other careers besides coaching. The world of athletics is vast, meaning there is a wide variety of career paths you can choose from. If the job you want would benefit from better communication and leadership skills, an understanding of how the human body functions, and a people-focused mentality, then, yes, this degree can definitely benefit you!

Each course lasts eight weeks, called a bi-term. There are two bi-terms per semester, and three semesters per year (fall, spring, and summer). Classes are asynchronous, meaning there is no set login time; you can work on schoolwork whenever you find time. Cumberlands provides free rental textbooks to online students as part of its One Price Promise. 

Absolutely! Put your knew knowledge and skills to work as a work-study in Wellness Center, Office of Sports Information, or athletic training room. You can also ask our coaches if they'd like a manager, or perhaps you'll try out for a sports team yourself! We also host campus events and ministry opportunities in which students need to lead groups of their peers in community service events or lead local children through recreational activities. Long story short, there are a plethora of options for you to practice what you're learning. If you ask around and put in the effort, you'll find a worthwhile position.

Anchor: Faculty

Faculty Experts in Coaching

Learn more about your future coaching professors!

Cody Durbin

Assistant Track and Field Coach | Adjunct Professor
Athletics
Health, Exercise and Sport Science

Cody Durbin

Contact Information

cody.durbin [at] ucumberlands.edu
Rollins Center

Kandace West

Adjunct Professor
Health, Exercise and Sport Science

Kandace West

Contact Information

kandace.west [at] ucumberlands.edu
Remote
Julia Chaney

Julia Chaney

Adjunct Professor
Health, Exercise and Sport Science

Julia Chaney

Contact Information

julia.chaney [at] ucumberlands.edu

Request Information

You have questions? We have answers.

Loading...