Funding for Coach Salaries

The Coach Salary Support programs aim to increase the number of full-time salaried coaching positions in the sports industry by providing seed funding for organizations who are looking to hire a full-time coach for the first time.

Funding is available for full-time head coaches and for full-time female apprentice coaches at the post-secondary level.

This funding provides up to $60,000 over 3 years for a new full-time head coach.

This seed funding is a matching grant between CAO and the recipient organization. The minimum annual salary for the hired coach is $50,000 per year + benefits.

  • Year 1 – $25,000
  • Year 2 – $20,000
  • Year 3 – $15,000

  • Coach resides in Ontario (after hire) and is coaching Ontario athletes
  • Newly created position
  • Support from your government recognized PSO
  • Eligible organizations include: PSOs, clubs, colleges, universities, regional centres of excellence

Read full program guidelines here

Current list of 3-Year Coach Salary Grant recipients

2023-24 – Wave 2 (1 Grant Available)

  • Applications open: January 2, 2024
  • Applications close: February 16 2024
  • Recipients announced: March 8, 2024
  • Coaches hired by: March 31, 2024

This funding provides up to $40,000 over 2 years for a post-secondary institution to hire a full-time female apprentice coach. The goal of the program is to increase the number of paid full-time female coaches in sport and provide a pathway for their development.

This seed funding is a matching grant between CAO and the recipient post-secondary organization. The minimum annual salary for the hired coach is $40,000 per year + benefits.

  • Year 1 – $20,000
  • Year 2 – $20,000

  • Coach resides in Ontario (after hire) and is coaching Ontario athletes
  • Coach is assigned a mentor coach as part of a structured mentorship program
  • Support from your government recognized PSO
  • Eligible organizations include: Ontario colleges and universities

Read full program guidelines here.

Current list of 2-Year Coach Salary recipients.

2023-24 – Wave 2 (1 Grant Available)

  • Applications open: January 2, 2024
  • Applications close: February 16 2024
  • Recipients announced: March 8, 2024
  • Coaches hired by: March 31, 2024

Coaching Enhancement Funding Programs

The government of Ontario is committed to providing funding support for Ontario’s coaches.