Bama Buh Bye! ... Coach Saban Retires

[mhays25]

Yeah, I bet college coaches are pretty much like NFL coaches in that regard.

And really, what are the odds of any starring player ALSO having the characteristics to star as a head coach? They need to (for example) be REALLY GOOD at:
--Organizing and managing a staff
--Listening and taking advice
--Inspiring all sorts of personalities
--Establishing a baseline playing style yet being flexible in games and between seasons as needed
--Assessing talent
--Being patient with players' (and staff members') learning processes
--Following rules (usually)
--Working 16-hour days
--Speaking to the media (Even Belichick does this well when he wants to)
--Balancing rules with player freedom
--Willingness to start as junior assistant coaches and move up gradually
--Turning conflict into productivity
--Etc.

A lot of former players have some of these traits a decent level. But the odds of any person having all of them at a HIGH level are pretty poor. Out of the 1,000 best players in the past 50 years (a potential coaching pool) how many have the traits and desire? Apparently not many.

[BajanYankee]

Originally Posted by mhays25

Yeah, I bet college coaches are pretty much like NFL coaches in that regard.

And really, what are the odds of any starring player ALSO having the characteristics to star as a head coach? They need to (for example) be REALLY GOOD at:
--Organizing and managing a staff
--Listening and taking advice
--Inspiring all sorts of personalities
--Establishing a baseline playing style yet being flexible in games and between seasons as needed
--Assessing talent
--Being patient with players' (and staff members') learning processes
--Following rules (usually)
--Working 16-hour days
--Speaking to the media (Even Belichick does this well when he wants to)
--Balancing rules with player freedom
--Willingness to start as junior assistant coaches and move up gradually
--Turning conflict into productivity
--Etc.

A lot of former players have some of these traits a decent level. But the odds of any person having all of them at a HIGH level are pretty poor. Out of the 1,000 best players in the past 50 years (a potential coaching pool) how many have the traits and desire? Apparently not many.

I think "desire" is the big part. If you're Peyton Manning, would you rather....

A. Make millions off of Papa John's commercials while occasionally appearing on the "Manningcast" with your little brother from the warmth of your basement or

B. Endure a grueling daily schedule where you're waking up at 4am every day, exposed to the elements 4-5 days out of the week, traveling constantly, getting hate mail from fans, getting hated on by Stephen A. Smith, Skip Bayless and the rest of the clown crew, dealing with 53 egos who are constantly nagging you about contract negotiations, dealing with front office drama?

Seems like you either have to (a) need the money or (b) REALLY love it. If I'm Joe Montana or Dan Marino, and I'm financially comfortable, I would be perfectly fine sitting on top of my money, playing golf and showing up in Canton once a year.

[sluggermatt15]

Originally Posted by mhays25

Yeah, I bet college coaches are pretty much like NFL coaches in that regard.

And really, what are the odds of any starring player ALSO having the characteristics to star as a head coach? They need to (for example) be REALLY GOOD at:
--Organizing and managing a staff
--Listening and taking advice
--Inspiring all sorts of personalities
--Establishing a baseline playing style yet being flexible in games and between seasons as needed
--Assessing talent
--Being patient with players' (and staff members') learning processes
--Following rules (usually)
--Working 16-hour days
--Speaking to the media (Even Belichick does this well when he wants to)
--Balancing rules with player freedom
--Willingness to start as junior assistant coaches and move up gradually
--Turning conflict into productivity
--Etc.

A lot of former players have some of these traits a decent level. But the odds of any person having all of them at a HIGH level are pretty poor. Out of the 1,000 best players in the past 50 years (a potential coaching pool) how many have the traits and desire? Apparently not many.

Also consider a lot of former NFL players have medical and mental health issues (pre-CTE, signs of dementia, memory loss, etc.) shortly after their playing days. They couldn't even hold down a basic job or even pass a physical.

[mhays25]

Wealth, desire, jobs in media, and cognitive decline all sound like common factors.

But I also disagree with the basic premise that being a star player gives you a special edge in becoming a great coach. Maybe it's a helpful foot in the door at best.

It might be easier in basketball and baseball. At least there are better examples there. One theory would be that B/B involve highly-overlapping skills regardless of position, while football is extremely different from WR to OL to LB etc., so knowledge of one position wouldn't matter as much. Another would be that B/B players see each other in action more clearly than football players.