Best 20 Online Master’s in Coaching in 2024

The online master’s in Coaching from Greenville University lets students earn a Master of Arts in Education: Coaching. Graduates of this program are qualified to work as Athletic Coaches or Directors. They can also work as Athletic Administrators for the high school or college of their choice. Other career possibilities earning this degree opens up include scouts, private sports instructors, and recruiters.

The Master of Education in Coaching Education and Athlete Development (CEAD) program at Xavier University focuses on the art and science of coaching and addresses the true purpose of the profession: athlete development. This in-depth approach to coaching education includes character development, promoting sport participation throughout a person’s lifespan, and the pursuit of excellence through sport. Designed as a two-year fully online Cohort Model, the program utilizes the Integrated Coaching and Sport Education (I-CaSE) model developed by Dr. Ron Quinn, Xavier University’s CEAD program director.

It should be noted that completing this program does not give graduates a teaching license to practice in any state in America.

The Master of Education program at The University of Central Missouri lets students earn a degree in Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership. The university’s College of Education belongs to the Teacher Education Accreditation Council, making it a great place for students to study. The program is ideal for Athletic/Performance Coaches, Athletes, Educators, and even eSports coaches.

The Master of Education program at Southwest Minnesota State University offers a Master in Science in Physical Education: Coaching of Sport. Courses for this program were created to comply with the National Association of Coach and Physical Education NASPE) standards.

Students participate in practicum experiences and project-based learning while enrolled in this program. They also create a portfolio that reflects their knowledge of the standards the NAPSE expects.

The online master’s in coaching program at Adams State University contributed to it being named as one Top Performer in Social Mobility, by US News & World Report. Completing the Master of Science program prepares graduates to work in a variety of settings that include professional, recreational, intercollegiate, and interscholastic.

College Choice named West Virginia University‘s Master of Science in Sport Coaching program the #3 Most Affordable Online Master’s in Coaching Degrees and the #9 Best Online Master’s in Coaching Degrees. In addition, the Center for World University Rankings named West Virginia University in the top 1.5% of the world’s best universities.

The curriculum for this program was created to comply with the International Council for Coaching Excellence’s International Sport Coaching Framework. While students don’t complete a thesis as part of the program, they practice analyzing information that will help them improve the outcomes of their coaching efforts.

As the top online graduate program for coaching, Concordia University Irvine‘s Master of Science in Coaching & Athletics Administration degree is extremely valuable to its graduates. The program has been so successful that the university recently expanded it and now offers students the opportunity to earn a Master of Science in Coaching And Exercise Sciences. However, the Coaching & Athletics Administration degree is recommended for students who already work as athletic administrators or coaches.

Students even have the option of earning either a Master of Science or a Master of Art. This type of flexibility is not seen in similar programs at many other universities. The flexibility isn’t the only thing that makes this program unique and valuable. Benefits of enrolling in this program include an online clinic, National Conference Courses, and the Coach’s Playbook.

The Master of Science in Sport Coaching Education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi is considered to be among the country’s best programs for coaching education. Students enrolled in the program can choose the thesis or non-thesis option. Those who opt out of writing a thesis are required to complete a practicum in order to graduate.

Students that have graduated from this program have gone on to work as assistant, or strength and conditioning coaches, kids fitness coaches, youth sports instructors, college scouts, and athletic performance coaches.

The University of Northern Colorado had an online master’s in coaching program before most other universities did. The university leads the sports education industry throughout the U.S. Their program model is now used by many other universities, to offer their students degrees in coaching.

While the Master of Arts in Sports Coaching program is taught completely online, students must use their own coaching job to complete an action research project in order to earn their degree. The project requires students to test a concept or technique they learned about in the program, at their job. They then analyze the concept or technique and report their findings.

Florida State University’s Master’s in Athletic Coaching opened in 2021, and was designed by coaches for coaches. Students include volunteer, school, collegiate, and professional coaches. The 30 credit hour degree can be completed in 14 months, or students can complete it over several semesters based on their needs. Enrollment is open for fall, spring, and summer starts. Florida State University is ranked #19 in the national public universities in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.

There are four universities in Pennsylvania that offer programs in coaching. But Point Park University is the only one that runs courses approved by Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association(PIAA.) The PIAA approved courses in Point Park University’s Master of Education in Athletic Coaching program are Safety and Physical Conditioning of Athletes II and The Art and Science of Athletic Coaching.

Every course included in the program fulfills the requirements of Pennsylvania teachers’ Act 48. Students who graduate from this program can coach students of all ages, from Kindergarten through college. They can also work for professional sports teams or travel sports programs and clubs.

The Master of Science in Sport Science Coach Education program at East Tennessee State University is a part of the ETSU Center of Excellence for Sport Science and Coach Education (CESSCE.) Because of this, students enrolled in the program have the ability to participate in coach clinics, activities in the sports community, and continuing education. The purpose of the CESSCE is to improve the understanding of how sports help shape the world’s population. It provides students with opportunities to perform specialized research as part of the program.

The online MA in Sport Coaching (MASC) program at the University of Denver educates and prepares coaches of all sports and levels — as well as strength and conditioning coaches — to enhance athlete, team, or client performance. Students benefit from a comprehensive, flexible, and individualized curriculum designed by internationally respected faculty experts in coach education. Enrollment in the program is limited to ensure each class is under 20 students and the program boasts an average class size of 12 students. They also offer an online graduate certificate in Strength, Conditioning, & Fitness Coaching and the Psychology of Coaching.

The Rider University Master of Arts in Athletic Leadership offers a specialization in Coaching. This requires students to complete classes such as Developing a Philosophy of Coaching, Fundamentals of Athletic Training and Wellness, and Concepts and Principles of Coaching.

Students at the University of Florida can earn the online Master of Science in Sport Management with a specialization in High-Performance Coaching. The specialization is designed to enhance the efficacy of active coaches and to better prepare students for managerial coaching positions or careers in athletic administration. Individuals who will benefit from this training path include those pursuing career trajectories leading to these positions: head coach; associate head coach or coordinator; strength and conditioning coordinator; or sport administrator. The program offers three additional specializations and two graduate certificates that support emerging trends, meet sport industry demand, and provide students with the opportunity to customize their education to match their interests and career goals. In addition to the leading-edge curriculum, online students gain access to UF’s expert career coaches who are internationally recognized industry veterans with decades of experience in sport management.

According to the U.S. News & World Report, the Master of Arts in Athletic Coaching Education degree at Ball State University helped the school land in the top 20 Best online programs for veterans. Bell State University was the first to offer athletic education degrees online, starting in 2002. Students that have graduated from this program have gone on to coach in events like the Missouri Valley and Mid-American Conferences.

In 2020, Ohio University overhauled its online Masters of Coaching Education program. The program has received national recognition for its ability to help coaching students become competitive in the field. The standards all sports coaches are held to were used to design the program’s curriculum.

The online Master of Education in Athletic Coaching program at Northcentral University is taught by faculty who have earned doctorates in the same field of study. Faculty serves as mentors for the students, and students can get one-on-one face time with their professors whenever they need it. NCU offers weekly course starts, no scheduled lecture hours, no group assignments, weekly assignments, and the ability to schedule courses around your personal and professional obligations. No matter the degree level you pursue, you can rest assured that you will be mentored by doctors in your field of study. You won’t have to fight for facetime as one of many within a classroom. At NCU, you’ll have the opportunity to interact one-to-one with your professor, receiving personalized mentoring.

*They have eight-week courses with weekly starts. If a semester is based on 15 weeks, most students will complete two courses within these eight weeks. Courses are three credits and completing two courses in a semester would cost $4,470.

Michigan State University is ranked # 4 in online graduate programs in education, by the U.S. News & World Report. Its Master of Science in Sport Coaching and Leadership program requires students to spend one semester completing a practicum in order to refine their coaching skills. The goal of the program is to help its students become more assertive throughout their careers.

For most athletes, the joy and accomplishment of competition ends when the play clock is up. Drexel’s online MS in Sport Coaching Leadership program allows you to continue with the sport you love, working with fellow athletes as you develop your career and theirs. The program is offered by Drexel’s full-time faculty and prepares coaches to meet challenges both on and off the field.

Drexel is a comprehensive global research university with a unique model of experiential learning that combines academic rigor with one of the nation’s premier cooperative education programs.

If you are still struggling to choose an online master’s in coaching program, our Degree Finder can help you make the decision.