Olympic coaches personality traits and strivings

This study examined the personality traits and personal strivings of Olympic coaches working in Ireland using the first two layers of McAdams’ personality framework. Expanding the work of Mallett and Coulter (2016) and building on the limited knowledge regarding Olympic coaches’ personalities, 12 Olympic coaches completed the BFI-2 personality inventory and a personal striving assessment process (e.g., listing and rating everyday strivings). Nomothetic coding and analysis of the results provided a composite profile of elite Olympic coaches working in Ireland. The findings revealed a trait profile that, when compared to the norm of coaches, is highly conscientious, agreeable, extraverted, and emotionally stable. They exhibited, almost exclusively, approach-oriented strivings, which were equally intrapersonal and interpersonal in nature. Motivational themes that arose from these strivings were achievement, personal growth, and health and intimacy. These results provide insight into the personality of a specific population of Olympic coaches and their daily motivations. They reflect and build on the existing yet limited empirical data in this area and may be of help in assessing current and future coaching behaviour. As such, these results could have implications for coaching recruitment and the development of coach support programmes. Finally, the use of multiple data sets, as outlined in McAdams’ personality framework, should be encouraged, as it would provide a more detailed understanding of the coaching population.