Advancing Your Coaching Career with a Graduate Degree

Great coaches develop their athletes, build leaders, shape culture and inspire excellence both on and off the field. Whether you’re coaching at the high school, club or collegiate level, you know the challenges of balancing strategy, motivation and mentorship in an ever-evolving sports landscape. If you’reready to take the next step in your career to becoming a transformational coach and leader, earning a Master of Science in Athletic Coaching (M.A.S.C.) from Concordia University, Nebraska can help you get there. 

Coaching today demands more than game-day strategy. Athletes, parents and organizations expect coaches who can communicate effectively, understand sports science, build healthy cultures and lead with integrity. A graduate degree in athletic coaching can help you: 

• Learn the “why” behind your practice and how movement, motivation and mindset connect to performance. 

• Develop the emotional intelligence and communication skills that inspire athletes and fellow coaches alike. 

• Qualify for leadership roles such as athletic director, head coach or sports program coordinator. 

• Equip yourself with the knowledge to create meaningful change in the lives of your athletes and within your program. 

Designed for Working Coaches 

Concordia University, Nebraska’s M.S.A.C. program is intentionally flexible and created for athletic professionals who are already investing time and energy into their teams. The fully online, 30-credit-hour program can typically be completed in as little as two years, allowing you to earn your degree on your schedule while applying what you learn in real time to your current coaching role. 

Each course is designed to bridge theory and practice, helping you immediately translate classroom learning into on-field improvement. You’ll engage with instructors who are seasoned professionals and share your passion for helping athletes reach their full potential: mind, body and spirit. 

What You’ll Learn 

The M.S.A.C. curriculum at Concordia University, Nebraska equips you with advanced knowledge in areas that matter most to today’s coaches and athletic leaders: 

• Leadership and ethics 

• Sport psychology and motivation 

• Advanced coaching methodology 

• Communication and team dynamics 

• Sports administration and program development 

By the time you graduate, you’ll have a well-rounded understanding of how to lead and manage an athletic program and how to inspire growth, confidenceand teamwork in others. 

Graduates of the MSAC program are equipped to serve in a variety of professional roles, such as: 

• K–12 and collegiate head coaches,  

• athletic directors,  

• strength and conditioning leaders,  

• athletic program directors and sport ministry leaders, and  

• character and leadership development coordinators. 

Earn Industry-Recognized Certifications 

Concordia’s Master of Science in Athletic Coaching program goes beyond coursework to offer professional credentials that can set you apart in the field. 

Through an exclusive partnership with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), Concordia integrates NIAAA Leadership Training Courses directly into the degree. This means you can earn valuable leadership designations and certifications as part of your graduate studies. 

Students in the program have the opportunity to work toward nationally recognized NIAAA certifications, including the Registered Athletic Administrator (RAA), Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) and Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA) designations. These respected credentials signal your professional expertise and readiness for advancement within interscholastic athletics. 

Concordia is also one of only two institutions in the world to embed certification for the InSideOut Initiative, a nationally recognized framework for purpose-based sports programs. The InSideOut Administrator Certification helps coaches and athletic leaders shift focus from “winning at all costs” to developing character, building relationships and cultivating transformational, rather than transactional, sports experiences. 

These integrated certifications not only strengthen your resume but also deepen your impact as a leader who coaches with purpose and integrity. 

Transforming Your Team 

A graduate degree in athletic coaching doesn’t just benefit you; it can help transform your team. By integrating research-based strategies and proven communication techniques, you can create an environment where athletes thrive. You’ll be equipped to: 

• Foster team unity and trust. 

• Use data and performance metrics to guide training. 

• Handle conflict and adversity with professionalism. 

• Promote ethical decision-making and sportsmanship. 

• Create long-term development plans that keep athletes growing. 

When coaches learn, teams grow. And when teams grow, entire athletic programs benefit. 

Why Concordia University, Nebraska? 

At Concordia University, Nebraska, our mission-driven approach to education prepares you to lead with excellence, humility and integrity. We believe that sports can be a powerful platform for shaping character, building community and reflecting values that last far beyond the final whistle. 

Concordia’s M.S.A.C. program combines academic rigor, practical application and personal mentorship to help you achieve your goals as a coach and leader. You’ll join a community of educators and athletes who share your commitment to faith, service and lifelong learning. 

If you believe coaching is more than a career, that it’s a calling, and you want to develop athletes who compete with character, lead with purpose and honor Christ through sport, Concordia’s M.S.A.C. program was built for you. 

If you’re ready to step into leadership, elevate your coaching practice and make a lasting impact on your athletes, the Master of Science in Athletic Coaching from Concordia University, Nebraska can help you get there.