The original sense of the word "coach" is that of a carriage, deriving ultimately from the Hungarian city of Kocs where such vehicles were first made. Students at the University of Oxford in the early nineteenth-century used the word informally to refer to a private tutor who would "carry" a less able student through his examinations. Hence the meaning of the word was extended to encompass any instructor or trainer.A coach, particularly in a professional league, is usually supported by one or more assistant coaches and specialist support staff.

The original sense of the word "coach" is that of a carriage, deriving ultimately from the Hungarian city of Kocs where such vehicles were first made. Students at the University of Oxford in the early nineteenth-century used the word informally to refer to a private tutor who would "carry" a less able student through his examinations. Hence the meaning of the word was extended to encompass any instructor or trainer.A coach, particularly in a professional league, is usually supported by one or more assistant coaches and specialist support staff.