Module 1.3: Hiring Loyal, Standards-Driven Assistant Coaches – The Interview Process

The purpose of Module 1.3 is to provide a structured, evidence-based interview system rooted in Industrial-Organizational Psychology principles (especially behavioral interviewing and competency-based evaluation) to help you hire assistant coaches who will stay loyal, enforce your standards consistently, and actively support and grow the program long-term.

It prevents common pitfalls like hiring ego-driven talents who undermine you, conflict-avoiders who let standards erode, or short-timers who leave when pressure mounts.

Key elements:

• Structured process: Phone screen → behavioral interview → deep reference checks → final alignment review, designed to reveal true character quickly and reduce bias.
• Behavior-based questions grounded in I-O research (past behavior predicts future):
  • Loyalty under pressure
  • Enforcing standards even when personally inconvenient
  • Growth mindset and program contribution
  • Handling conflict/ego differences
• Red-flag detection & scoring: Spot warning signs (e.g., external blame, vague answers) and use an objective rubric to compare candidates.
• Reference scripts: Targeted questions that uncover real loyalty, work ethic, and fit.

You’ll get ready-to-use interview guides, question banks, scoring templates, and printable tools—backed by I-O evidence—so your hires reinforce your vision from day one. Short videos with real turnaround examples make it immediately actionable. This is your firewall for staff alignment in the critical first months.