Recent research has highlighted the fact that physical education teachers are increasingly unwilling to assume coaching responsibilities (e.g., Mattingly & Weinberg, 1998). This unwillingness has contributed to a national shortage of qualified interscholastic coaches that detracts from the quality of the athletic experience for millions of student-athletes and poses a genuine risk management problem as less qualified paraprofessionals are recruited to fill coaching vacancies. While several studies have speculated that burnout (Pastore & Judd, 1992), role conflict (Chu, 1981), and individual and gender preferences for teaching or coaching (Chelladurai, Kuga, & O’Bryant, 1999) may contribute to the exodus of physical education teachers from coaching, few studies have examined the specific reasons why physical education teachers elect to leave their coaching positions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the reasons why physical education teachers either leave or remain in coaching. Participants in the study were 55 former teacher/coaches (TCs) and 123 current TCs. Former TCs were defined as physical education teachers who had coached previously but not within the past 12 months. Participants completed an expanded version of the instrument used by Magnotta (1990). The survey included both Likert items and opened ended responses about the reasons for either leaving (former TCs) or remaining in coaching (current TCs). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and a series of 2 X 2 (Gender X School Level) chi-square statistics. The results may be summarized as follows. Former TCs cited lack of time (64%) and responsibilities at home (56%) as either extremely important or contributing reasons for leaving coaching. The previous results are similar to the findings in Stoner’s (1992) investigation of ex-scholastic coaches. Other frequently mentioned reasons for no longer coaching were lack of support from the school or AD (44%) and low pay (36%). Interestingly, burnout was listed by only (25%) of former TCs while problems with parents (31%) were cited far more frequently as a reason to leave coaching than problems with student-athletes (9%). Current TCs were nearly unanimous in their opinion that the two most important reasons for continuing to coach were: (1) the enjoyment/satisfaction from working with players (98%) and (2) the excitement and thrills associated with coaching (97%). Low pay was mentioned as a very important or contributing reason for coaching by only 18% of the current TCs. Finally, current TCs considered time commitment (27%) and low pay (22%) the most serious drawbacks to coaching. Keyword(s): coaching, high school issues, middle school issues