Kobayashi began his soccer coaching career in 1990 as manager of new club ALO's Hokuriku, which he coached through 1998 leading the team to promotion in the league. He then coached for the second half of 2001 for J2 League club Kawasaki Frontale and the first 20 games of the 2002 season for Mito HollyHock before becoming Mito's general manager. He was the president of Mito HollyHock from 2002 to 2007.[1]