Background/Purpose Research indicates that personality plays a significant role in business, education, and the military (Gardner & Martinko, 1996; McCormack & Mellor, 2002; Rushton, Morgan, & Richard, 2007). In addition, studies have found gender differences in several areas of personality (Feingold, 1994; Schmitt, Realo, Voracek, & Allik, 2008). However, little research has investigated the role of personality in coaching. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if personality differences exist between female and male head varsity coaches.
Method After IRB approval, a convenience sample of 30 male and 30 female high school and college varsity head coaches were recruited for this study. The NEO-FFI-3 inventory (Costa, 2010) was administered to the participants in a time and place convenient to the coach. This instrument measured five personality domains of openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
Analysis/Results Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) (Wilks' Λ=.696, p ≤ .001) indicated significant gender differences on the personality domains of extraversion, F (1, 58) = 7.36, p = .009, and agreeableness, F (1, 58) = 5.49, p = .023, at α=.05 significance level. The results of this study revealed that the female coaches were more extraverted (Mfem=36.9, SDfem=3.91; Mmale=32.9, SDmale=6.99) and agreeable (Mfem=35.8, SDfem=4.47; Mmale=32.7, SDmale=5.61) than the male coaches.
Conclusions The findings of this study suggest gender differences in coaching. Further research appears needed to understand the implications of these differences, and to determine if other coaching personalities differ based on sport, level, and other pertinent environmental factors.