Home > Coaching Minor

Coaching Minor

Format: In person at the Statesboro or Armstrong Campus
Credit Hours: 15

Get ready to be a leader in coaching. With the coaching minor you’ll learn to be a positive and winning influence on your athletes at the recreational, travel, middle school, high school, collegiate and professional level.

Are you looking to break into coaching? Maybe you need certification. Or are you ready to take your coaching career to the next level? Get ready because Georgia Southern has been preparing coaches of all sports and levels for years. The coaching minor prepares you for the psychological, physiological and managerial principles you need to win — and win again.

We are a US Center for Coaching Excellence (USCCE) and NCACE Accredited Program (National committee for the accreditation of coaching education). Our program is accredited for quality coach education practices.

The ONLY National Committee for the Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE) accredited coaching program in the entire University System of Georgia, and the second university in the United States to be nationally accredited at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

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Who is the Coaching Degree Minor Typical Student?

Many types of students elect the coaching minor to complement their coursework. Often, we see students who major in psychology, education, business, sociology, psychology, exercise science, health science, kinesiology, human performance, and interdisciplinary studies.

Coaching Certifications and Licenses We Prepare You For:

GHSA Community Coach Certification
Five National Federation of State High School Associations certificates
Seven Human Kinetics Coach Education certificates

Coaching Minor Curriculum

Core Courses

KINS 3430 Principles of Coaching: Introduces the student to the sport science principles of coaching. Topics include philosophy, psychology, pedagogy, physiology, management, first aid and injury prevention. Successful completion of the course leads to certification by the National Federation Interscholastic Coaches Education Program.
KINS 3431 Psychology of Coaching: Provides the prospective coach with the science and practice of various sport psychology principles as applied to coaching and athletic performance.
KINS 4420 Sport Conditioning Laboratory: Prepares students to undertake responsibilities in the areas of coaching, fitness programming and or related areas.
KINS 4730 Coaching Practicum #3: Provides the student with supervised coaching experience in a sport.

Choose Two Elective Courses

KINS 3125 Technology in Sport: This course is designed to introduce coaching behavior students to existing technologies in sport and how those technologies can enhance sport performance.
KINS 3426 Coaching Baseball and Softball*: Provides the prospective coach with the knowledge and understanding of basic skills, fundamentals, techniques, team organization, team strategy and conditioning in baseball and softball.
KINS 3427 Coaching Basketball*: Provides the prospective coach with the knowledge and understanding of basic skills, fundamentals, techniques, team organization, team strategy and conditioning in basketball.
KINS 3428 Coaching Football*: Provides the prospective coach with the knowledge and understanding of basic skills, fundamentals, techniques, team organization, team strategy, and conditioning in football.
KINS 3429 Coaching Olympic Sports: Provides the prospective coach with the knowledge and understanding of basic skills, fundamentals, techniques, team organization, team strategy, and conditioning in three of the following sports: golf, soccer, tennis, track and field, volleyball and other Olympic sports.
KINS 4421 Principles of Officiating: Provides the prospective coach with the knowledge and understanding of principles and basic techniques of officiating selective sports.

* 2 of the 4 elective hours must be either KINS 3427 Coaching Basketball, KINS 3428 Coaching Football or KINS 3426 Coaching Baseball and Softball

Program Testimonials

“The Coaching Education minor is honestly one of the most rewarding programs Georgia Southern has to offer. Not only did I receive hands-on experience, but this minor led me to coach my own basketball team.”
– Patrice Butler, Class of 2017

“The classes are so fun and engaging that you’ll never think of it as going to class. Also, not only will this program prepare you for your on-field duties as a coach, but it will also prepare you for your off-field duties, such as molding your coaching philosophy, creating a mission and vision statement for your program, and the professors are extremely dedicated to ensuring your success in this profession. In fact, I was able to land a varsity coaching job right after graduation.”
– Taylor Dollar, Class of 2019

“These classes helped me in so many ways and a lot more than just X’s and O’s. I learned new ideas about philosophies, practice planning, and most importantly, relationship building.”
– Matt Dobson, Class of 2015

Recognized as a NYSS Champion by ODPHP and the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition for our work promoting youth sports and supporting National Youth Sports Strategies (NYSS) in our communities and helping to achieve the NYSS vision: that one day, all youth will have the opportunity, motivation and access to play sports.

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Official National Youth Sport Strategy (NYSS) Champion web badge

Have Questions? Contact Us

Dr. Charles “Hal” Wilson, Jr.
charleswilson@georgiasouthern.edu

How Do I Declare the Coaching Minor?

Students can declare a coaching minor by going into My.GeorgiaSouthern.edu and clicking on the change major/minor link. Students will work with their current major advisor to be advised for their minor. Students should be sure to take the courses listed in the minor as found in the University Catalog.

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Professional License Disclosure

The Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology anticipates that some graduates of this program will seek the following professional state licenses or certifications: GHSA Community Coach Certification, NFHS Coaching Certificates (NFHS Coaching Football, Concussion in Sports, Heat Illness Prevention, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, COVID-19 for Coaches and Administration), and Human Kinetics Certificates (Coaching Principles, Sport First Aid, Coaching Baseball Technical and Tactical Skills, Coaching Strength and Conditioning Principles, Coaching Volleyball Principles, Officiating Principles, Coaching Youth Tennis, and Coaching Track and Field Principles)

The Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology has determined that the required class KINS 3430 will qualify a graduate of this program to apply for a GHSA Community Coach Certification in the state of Georgia.

For required disclosures on whether this program satisfies the certification requirements for a GHSA Community Coach Certificate of all states and territories, check the requirements of your state or territory for GHSA Community Coach Certificate.

For required disclosures on whether this program satisfies the certification requirements for Human Kinetics certificates of all states and territories, check the requirements of your state or territory for Human Kinetics Certificates.

For required disclosures on whether this program satisfies the certification requirements for NFHS certificates of all states and territories, check the requirements of your state or territory for NFHS Certificates.

Last updated: 12/19/2023

Clinical Internship/Practicum Experience Update

Many of the clinical programs offered by the Waters College of Health Professions require a clinical internship or practicum experience to fulfill degree requirements. Pursuant to the University's legal agreements, participants in clinical experiences are required to abide by the workplace rules of the clinical site. The University is aware of recent federal requirements that would mandate vaccination against COVID-19 for those working in certain settings, including health care. At this time, we expect that these new requirements may significantly impact our ability to locate a placement for students who remain unvaccinated. As always, WCHP will continue to make every effort to place students at clinical sites. However, please be aware that we may be unable to locate a site to accept unvaccinated students, which may cause a delay or inability to progress and complete the program of study.

Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology • hk-office@georgiasouthern.edu