Program Overview

---

Master's Degree in Athletic Coaching Education

The Master's Degree in Athletic Coaching Education at Ball State University is a world-class program designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the field of athletic coaching. This program is more than a weekend workshop or a non-credit certificate program; it is a comprehensive master of arts degree in athletic coaching education.

Quick Facts

• Next Start Date: May 11, 2026
• Delivery: 100% Online or Blended
• Major Credits: 30
• No GRE required
• Consistently nationally ranked by U.S. News

Program Overview

Coaches across the country have one question in common: How can I get a step up on the competition? The answer can be found in Ball State University's graduate program in athletic coaching education. Taught by faculty who perform on national and international stages of coaching and who have coached Olympians and NCAA champion athletes, Ball State's program is a world-class master's degree.

Accreditation

Ball State is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. This accreditation means that the university has met rigorous academic standards and professionalism recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and other institutions of higher learning.

Career Outcomes

Athletic coaching offers a diverse and rewarding range of career pathways that combine a passion for sports with the ability to shape lives and inspire excellence. Graduates of this program leverage their expertise to mentor athletes and optimize team performance. They confidently step into roles such as professional and collegiate coaches, performance analysts, and sports scouts.

Why a Master's Degree in Athletic Coaching?

Ball State is consistently highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report in best online graduate education programs. The program is fully online with absolutely no residency requirement, allowing students to earn their degree without leaving their coaching position. Students can complete an internship in their workplace and apply what they learn immediately.

Benefits

• The experience: Ball State was the first athletic coaching education program in the country to go online in 2002.
• Faculty members are published authors, active researchers, and recognized authorities in their athletic areas.
• Students can finish the program in five semesters by taking just two classes per semester.
• Small class sizes (usually 12 to 20 students) allow for individual instruction and maximum interaction.
• Alumni of the program are coaching across the country, including the Big 10, the Mid-American Conference, and the Missouri Valley Conference.
• The job market for coaches is expected to grow by 9 percent through 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Competitive tuition rates.
• New cohorts begin each spring and summer.

Course Requirements

The online master's in athletic coaching education program provides students with the opportunity to study and network with classmates who are their coaching peers from across the country. The program keeps classes small to maximize class interaction and give students ample time to connect one-on-one with world-class professors.

Plan of Study

Students have their choice of beginning the program with a fall, spring, or summer cohort. Depending on when they start, the sequence of courses will vary. Below are recommended plans of study to meet course requirements for this 30-credit program, which would allow students to finish in five semesters.

Sport Coaching Concentration

• Fall: ACE 604: Physical Preparation and Conditioning (3 credits), ACE 612: Growth and Development for Coaches (3 credits)
• Spring: ACE 625: Evaluation in Coaching (3 credits), ACE 670: Sport Safety and Injury Prevention (3 credits)
• Summer: ACE 632: Philosophy and Ethics (3 credits), ACE 675: Teaching and Motivation for Coaches (3 credits)
• Fall: ACE 618: Skills and Tactics for Coaches (3 credits), KINE 601: Research Applications (Non-Thesis) (3 credits)
• Spring: ACE 600: Internship in Athletic Coaching Education (3 credits), ACE 692: Organization and Administration for Coaches (3 credits)

Sport Performance Concentration

• Fall: ACE 612: Growth and Development for Coaches (3 credits), EXSC 514: Biomechanics of Human Movement (3 credits)
• Spring: ACE 670: Sport Safety and Injury Prevention (3 credits), EXSC 603: Exercise Physiology 1 (3 credits)
• Summer: ACE 604: Physical Preparation and Conditioning (3 credits), ACE 675: Teaching and Motivation for Coaches (3 credits)
• Fall: ACE 618: Skills and Tactics for Coaches (3 credits), KINE 601: Research Applications (Non-Thesis) (3 credits)
• Spring: ACE 600: Internship in Athletic Coaching Education (3 credits), NUTR 644: Nutrition for Exercise and Sport (3 credits)

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Design and write a strength and conditioning program for a team sport.
• Utilize a sport analysis software program to analyze sport technique and provide appropriate feedback.
• Help athletes develop a mental game plan that includes pre-game preparation, a contingency plan for errors during competition, and how to avoid competitive stress.
• Develop a practice plan that utilizes the concepts of distributed practice, techniques for gaining and maintaining attention, drill progressions based on complexity, demonstrations of new skills, practice events for closed skills and open skills, and provides various forms of feedback.
• Apply the NASPE/NCACE 8 domains of coaching competencies in their present coaching position as demonstrated in their internship.

Faculty

The program is led by world-class faculty who have years of experience in all levels of teaching, coaching, and mentoring, and are active in their field and in athletics-related research. Some of the faculty members include:

• Bill Zenisek, Senior Lecturer of Kinesiology and Coordinator of Athletic Coaching Education Graduate Program
• Stacy Walker, Ph.D., Professor of Athletic Training and Clinical Education Coordinator
• Cheryl Rogow, Ed.D., Instructor of Physical Education
• Thomas Sawyer, Ed.D., Instructor of Kinesiology

Conclusion

The Master's Degree in Athletic Coaching Education at Ball State University is a comprehensive and world-class program designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the field of athletic coaching. With its fully online delivery, small class sizes, and experienced faculty, this program offers students a unique opportunity to advance their careers in athletic coaching.