<p>Does it matter who you get your recommendations? Will a recommendation from a high school coach, who have known you for 4 years, be considered less important than a recommendation from one of your academic teachers?</p>
<p>Most schools specify how many recommendations they want. Some also specify from who(m?) they want the recommendations from.
For example, School X could want 2 recommendations from academic teachrs. School T could want 2 recommendations, one from an English/Humanities teacher, the other from a Science/Math teacher.
Check the school's website or Common App, if the school's a memeber. Most recommendations from coaches are viewed as supplementary recommendations, though I'm unsure how it goes for recruited athletes.</p>
<p>you might want to get at least two letters from teachers.</p>
<p>I agree with IzzyJ that the situation might be different for students applying for acceptance on athletes' scholarships, but if you are not primarily applying as an athlete then it would be best to go with academic teachers, all things being equal. If all things are not equal (for example, your coach says you're the most persistent/co-operative/hard-working/etc. student he's ever had, and there is a chance the academic teacher might give you a bad reference), then go with the more detailed and enthusiastic recommendation.</p>
<p>If you do get a letter from a coach, ask him to emphasize your academic qualities as well as your sports-related qualities, and as much as possible keep turning the letter back to how your background would make you a great student ("her creative solution to problems encountered during practice, like the creative solutions she developed for her science presentation, are examples of the energy and innovation she would bring to her university studies...", etc.).</p>