In 2021, as part of the publication’s Secrets of the Coaching Carousel series, The Athletic explored overlooked elements of building a career as a college football coach. In her interview with several coaches, Grace Raynor discovered how adept many college football coaches have become in the field of real estate, a by-product of a high profile position with limited job security.
One of the first steps many coaches (as well as athletes) take after being hired for a new job is to start looking for a new home. The top rated college football programs in the United States include Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and the University of Southern California. While the nearly 900 college football programs in America allow prospective coaches to interview with multiple schools in one region, moving from one top rated program to another likely necessitates a move to a new state, if not another region of the country altogether. The nature of the job also means college football coaches change programs relatively frequently. Multiple studies of various conferences have found that most coaches stay with the same program for just under four years, slightly less than the average American stays with their current job. While collegiate football coaches can go about the search for a new house the same way as most Americans, they are usually under much stricter time constraints, as they need to be settled in time for the start of preseason, if not far earlier. Fortunately, local real estate agencies often have specific experience with coaching staff turnover at a nearby university. This does not necessarily mean coaches and members of their staff quickly find a dream home, but it does mean that agents know the burdens and demands of the job and can adjust their strategies accordingly. Again, coaches can decide on an agent based on traditional methods of research and past experience, but most colleges will have an athletic director or another member of staff capable of providing assistance in this area. Coaches can also reach out to peers familiar with the area. When it comes to the home and the community, coaches should have a wish list ready to go in case they unexpectedly lose their position or receive an offer they cannot decline in another part of the country. All potential homeowners should have a list of ideal features, but coaches have the added challenge of trying to meet these needs repeatedly. For instance, if a child excels at soccer, families will attempt to find a local school with a strong program. Such a search can become a regular requirement for coaches who may move to a new state every four or five years. Proximity to the football program is another key feature for college coaches. Every American would prefer a short commute to a longer one, but most Americans take Saturdays off. For many coaches, the ability to walk from home to the campus takes priority any other aspect of a property. Finally, college football coaches must be ready to sell homes as often as they move. Many homeowners envision themselves living in their first home forever, but coaches must appreciate the reality of their positions. It is important to find a property that can maintain its value over several years and will not be a special challenge to sell under normal market conditions.
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AuthorVice president, managing director of business development, and senior staff attorney at BETA Abstract, LLC Archives
January 2021
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