The University Interscholastic League (UIL) requires high school coaches and assistant coaches to be full-time employees of the district. For a noncertified employee, that is defined as working at least 15 hours per week. Certified employees must work at least 20 hours per week and be under contract to the school board for the whole scholastic or calendar year for coaching.
In the case of both certified and noncertified employees, the salary must be comparable to one-half the salary earned by a full-time employee in a similar position. The pay for the year must be established before the employee begins coaching and the coach is not eligible to be paid any compensation, salary or bonus included, by anyone or any organization other than the school district. Like all coaches, the individual must sign a UIL Professional Acknowledgement Form.
A full-time substitute who has coached as part of his or her duties during the school year is permitted to continue coaching until the competitive year has ended.
Student teachers are an exception to the rule. During the time they are assigned to a school, student teachers may volunteer as unpaid assistant coaches.
Keep in mind that nonexempt employees who work more than 40 hours in a workweek, coaching included, are subject to the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
