An investigation has been made of the cause, extent, and administrative effect of the use of non-faculty athletic coaches--individuals not employed as professional staff members in the districts in which they coach--in small (fewer than 360 students) public high schools in Wisconsin during the 1983-1984 school year. The hiring of these people may be attributed primarily to the unwillingness of certified staff members to coach because of dissatisfaction with various aspects of the job, especially the time required, the relatively low compensation, and the attitude of students. The use of non-faculty coaches has increased more than 400 percent between 1977-1978 and 1983-1984. Seventy percent of small high schools in Wisconsin employ them. Administrators have expressed general satisfaction with the performance of non-faculty coaches, believing their employment necessary for the existence of adequate athletic programs. The chief problems arising from the use of these coaches lie in the area of effective supervision of students and the need to relate athletics to the overall school program. (Author/TE)