A head coach, senior coach, or manager is a professional responsible for training and developing athletes within a sports team. This role often has a higher public profile and salary than other coaching positions. In some sports, such as association football and professional baseball, this role is referred to as the "manager," while in others, like Australian rules football, it is called "senior coach."

The head coach typically reports to a sporting director or general manager. In professional sports, where senior players are full-time employees under contract, the head coach often functions similarly to a general manager. Other coaches within the organization usually report to the head coach and specialize in areas such as offense or defense, with further subdivisions into specific roles like position coaches.

In youth sports, the head coach often serves as the primary representative of the coaching staff, managing communication with parents and overseeing the overall development of young athletes.

Head coaching responsibilities in American football vary depending on the level of the sport.

As with most other head coaches, high school coaches are primarily tasked with organizing and training football players. This includes creating game plans, evaluating players, and leading the team during competition, deciding how the team is lined up, or their formation.

High school head coaches also have a variety of responsibilities beyond the football field. These include recruiting students within the school, scheduling opponents, and training/hiring/leading lower-level coaches. Coaches can also release or suspend players on their team for various reasons. Most coaches hold another position within their program's school, typically as a teacher. High school football coaches are typically required to have at least a bachelor's degree. Many coaches choose to earn a degree in physical education or sports management. Coaches will often preside over both a varsity and junior varsity team, but it is common for an assistant coach to handle the primary responsibilities of the junior varsity team.

One of the major features of head coaching in college football is the high player turnover rate, which is how many players change teams, via the transfer portal, or getting drafted/graduating. It is currently averaging about 18% each season.

Head coaches at the college level have a paid staff and can concentrate on the overall aspect of the team rather than dealing with the nuances of training regimens and similar activities.^{[citation needed]} Unlike head coaches at other levels, college coaching staff are solely responsible for the roster of players on the team. The ability to recruit top players plays a major role in success at the college level, and is done, in most cases, by the head coach or head recruiter.