Leadership characteristics and effectiveness of male and female coaches of high school basketball teams were examined. Eighty-nine varsity basketball coaches were measured by means of established instruments to determine leadership style and behaviors. Five to 12 players from each team also completed a questionnaire concerning coaching behaviors. Career and seasonal winning percentages were used as measures of team effectiveness. One-way analysis of variance procedures were used to compare leadership characteristics of male and female coaches. Multiple regression procedures were employed to examine the relationships between various leader characteristics and effectiveness of teams coached by males and females. Results indicated that male and female coaches display significantly different leader characteristics. However, teams coached by male and female coaches are equally effective in terms of win-loss records. Six tables are included to demonstrate study results. (Author/JMK)