Low coaching efficacy persists. The mediating effect of coach motivation on the relationship between leadership for sports and coaching efficacy was examined. Through predictive research design, data from 124 public-school coaches, selected through total enumeration, were analyzed using mediation analysis. Results show that coach motivation fully mediates the predictor and criterion, supporting Social Cognitive Theory. Future studies may examine more variable and use qualitative methods; while school leaders may prioritize coach motivation to boost coaching efficacy.