How do you find an ice hockey coaching job in Europe?

How coaching jobs in Europe actually get filled

Most coaching jobs are never really advertised. You might find some postings out there, but in general the positions are filled by someone picking up the phone and asking a few people they know and trust.

Publicly posted jobs are unfortunately very few. The ones that are open can be found through federations and some leagues, and sometimes on LinkedIn or elsewhere online. They tend to be Nordic clubs rather than Central European ones, and junior roles rather than senior ones.

So who decides who gets the job, and who should you reach? For head coaches in Europe it is usually the sporting director or GM. For assistants, goaltending, skills and video coaches, it can also be the head coach.

Depending on the country and the league, the decisions are usually made between February and May. The search can start a lot earlier though, depending on how the season goes. Sometimes a club obviously needs a new coach quickly and unexpectedly in the middle of the season.

What clubs want to know about you

If you get to the point where a European club might be interested in you, there are a few things worth knowing so you can prepare for the questions. The club will probably want to know whether you have experience working at the level they are at, or close to it, and whether there is someone who can vouch for you. Preferably someone they know, and better still, someone they trust. They also need to know your actual availability.

In my experience, clubs in Europe, especially Central Europe, can be quite strict about the certifications required for a given level. Often it is not the club itself but the federation.

What a coach can do to get found

So what can a coach actually do to be found? Here is what I did. I heard from a friend that one of his friends had just left for Innsbruck to coach. He had heard the club was looking for a junior coach, applied, and got the spot. I asked my friend's friend for the sporting director's number and called the guy directly: offered my experience, my eagerness and my ambition. First he said no. Then two hours later I got a call back, offering me a tryout, for free. I left for Innsbruck a week later, and the rest is history.

So that is one option: pick up the phone and call yourself. You never know what might be behind that call. Another thing I did was use the people I already knew. Think about it: do you have anyone, maybe an old teammate or a university friend, who is a coach, GM or sporting director somewhere? Does one of your mates know someone in the European hockey business? Going through your contacts could be a really good thing to do.

I have to be honest though, I was pretty damn lucky to get that chance. And you can't build a career on luck. I also know not everyone is comfortable calling strangers and asking for a chance, and that is okay too.

A coach can also look for job postings and open positions. As said before, leagues and federations might post them, especially on the junior side. LinkedIn and places like it can also help you find openings and make yourself visible to the market. Being active and out there can be the key.

There should be a place where coaches can be seen for who they are, what they are good at and what they do. A place where a club that needs a coach finds the right people.

That's why we built RINKADIA.