<p>Overview of the thematic structure.</p>

In 2023, China established the position of school coach under the policy agenda of integrating sports and education, marking the emergence of a new occupation within the education system. This study explores the occupational adaptation process of retired elite athletes transitioning into school coaching positions, with the aim of promoting the career development and well-being of school coaches and providing new insights into the emergence and practice of new occupational roles within contexts of institutional transformation.</p> <p>Methods</p><p>This qualitative study, grounded in constructivist epistemology, conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 school coaches with elite athletic backgrounds from multiple regions in China (Anhui, Zhejiang, and Guangdong provinces).

Purposive and maximum variation sampling were employed to capture diversity in participants’ demographic characteristics and professional backgrounds, including age, gender, athletic level, sport type, school level, geographic region. Interview data collected between March and December 2025 were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, with researcher reflexivity and continuous analytical discussions employed to enhance trustworthiness.</p> <p>Results</p><p>The occupational adaptation of retired athletes transitioning into school coaching positions unfolds through three stages: role pre-adaptation, role negotiation, and role orientation.