With the astonishing decline in the percentage of female coaches since the inception of Title IX (Acosta & Carpenter, 2006), an understanding of attrition, retention, and how to better support female coaches is needed. Examining the perceived stress level and strategies for continuity within the profession may be beneficial in educating future coaches and reducing withdrawal. The factor structure of the Coaching Issues Survey (CIS; Kelley & Gill, 1993) was examined, predictors of perceived stress were investigated, and continuity among female coaches was explored within a sequential mixed method study. The CIS was completed by 305 intercollegiate full-time female head coaches. A three-factor structure of the CIS was supported rather than the previously hypothesized one-factor structure. Identified factors included Competition Stress, Time Stress, and Administrative Stress. Predictors of CIS score included number of recruiting hours, perceived competence in producing a successful team, and number of paid and administrative assistants. Two experienced coaches who completed the quantitative phase of the study and exhibited extreme scores also participated in a 10-week qualitative phase, including six interviews, four journal entries, and two practice observations. Through the use of inductive analysis and taxonomic analyses, raw data, lower order, and higher order themes were identified and classified according to the research questions. The two coaches were able to sustain their careers because of intrinsic factors, situational favorableness, and support. Coping strategies employed to combat coaching-related stress included organization and management skills; treatment of student-athletes; learning; seeking desired job conditions; competition strategies; and personal releases. Differences in perceived stress level between the two coaches were attributed to perceptions of recruiting, time usage, and type of coping strategies employed. Future researchers could identify additional predictors of stress among coaches, attempt to confirm the CIS factor structure, and explore continuity of diverse female coaches.Keyword(s): coaching, gender issues, research