Abstarct: Background: Sport coaches at the foundational levels face multidimensional and complex challenges in areas such as planning, financing, selection, training, motivation, and supervision. The diversity and multiplicity of these challenges necessitate the development of a systematic human resource management (HRM) pattern for this critical group within the country's sports system. Accordingly, this study aimed to develop management pattern for sports coaches in the basic categories: a HRM approach by identifying key challenges and HRM functions, thereby proposing practical solutions to enhance the effectiveness of their management. Method: This study adopts a developmental-applied purpose with an exploratory orientation, employing a mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative) approach. The qualitative phase utilized Glazer’s grounded theory, with data collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews from a purposive and theoretical sample of 19 participants, including club managers, coaches, and academic experts in basic categories. Data were analyzed using MAXQDA 2020 software through open, axial, and theoretical coding. The quantitative phase applied the multi-criteria decision-making technique (DEMATEL), with a purposive sample of 10 participants from the qualitative phase. Pairwise comparison questionnaires were administered, and causal relationships among variables were mapped via network analysis. Findings: Qualitative analysis extracted 99 initial concepts and 15 categories, then condensed into 7 key challenges (planning and policy-making challenge, credit and financial challenge, selective challenge, educational challenge, coaching philosophy challenge, motivational challenge, and oversight challenge), 5 managerial functions (planning, recruitment and selection, orientation and training, maintenance and preservation, and appraisal and evaluation) and 3 strategic outcomes (developing committed and professional human capital in foundational coaching, systematic development of foundational athletes, and ensuring the sustainability and excellence of national sports). The integrated human resource management process for foundational-level sport coaches was selected as the core category, and the final research model was delineated. In the quantitative phase, the causal relationships between the functions, emphasizing the degree of influence and dependence of each, were specified in the form of a network relationship map. Conclusion: According to the final pattern developed in this study, it is essential for sports authorities to formulate appropriate strategies at both macro and micro levels, focusing on HRM functions, in order to manage and mitigate the detrimental effects of the identified challenges. baxsed on the causal relationship analysis in the quantitative phase, it is suggested that managers first focus on the influential components of each function, particularly in the areas of planning, appraisal and evaluation, and recruitment and selection, as these factors directly impact the effectiveness of other parts of the system. The systematic implementation of this model will lead to the realization of the study's strategic outcomes, including the developing committed and professional human capital in foundational coaching, systematic development of foundational athletes, and ensuring the sustainability and excellence of national sports. Utilizing the preventive and corrective solutions presented in this research will also be instrumental in achieving these objectives.