Gender differences in career goals of intercollegiate athletes and in the perceptions of athletes and coaches about the decline in the percentage of female coaches

The purpose of this study was to investigate gender differences in reasons given by intercollegiate athletes for planning to enter or not enter the coaching profession. The reasons given by coaches and athletes for why the percentage of females in the coaching profession has declined was also investigated. In 2002, the number of female teams that were coached by women was 44% as compared to more than 90% prior to the enactment of Title IX. A questionnaire designed by George (1989) was revised and administered to Ball State University student athletes and head coaches. One t-test was calculated (p < .01). Frequency counts and percentages were used for data analysis. No statistically significant differences were reported by gender. There were differences in the frequency of responses. Information regarding why current athletes plan to enter or not enter the coaching profession can provide administrators, those hiring coaches, an advantage in increasing and/or maintaining the current female coaching population.