Sure, but they weren't relative to the rest of the league. There are marked tiers of talent within each level. Guys like Fisher and Cowher had to do any little thing they could just to stay in the league, and that resourcefulness has helped them to be better coaches.

 

 

Perhaps, then again, perhaps not.

 

Personally I see no correlation between the quality of player and the quality of coach or the lack of quality of player and the quality of coach on any level of play.

I was trying to think of examples.

 

Mike Ditka: HOF Player and very good coach.

 

Don Shula: Not a great player. Great Coach.

 

Tony Dungy: Okay player (played in the NFL about 4 years). Great Coach.

 

Magic Johnson: Great Player. Lousy coach.

 

Larry Bird: Great Player. Very Good Coach.

 

Larry Brown: Great Player. Very Good Coach.

 

Pat Riley: Mediocre Pro. Great Coach.

 

K.C. Jones: Great Player. Great Coach.

 

Sparky Anderson: Not a Great Player. Great Manager.

 

Tommy Lasorda: Not a Great Player. Great Manager.

 

Joe Torre: Great Player. Great Manager.

 

 

It's all situational. Some make it great in both, and some do not. :thumb:

Sure, but they weren't relative to the rest of the league. There are marked tiers of talent within each level. Guys like Fisher and Cowher had to do any little thing they could just to stay in the league, and that resourcefulness has helped them to be better coaches.

 

:thumb:

 

And let's be honest, Bart Starr was not a great coach. He did an okay job in GB, but could not bring complete the 'Pack is back' storyline that many really wanted to see. But as a player, he was definitely a winner.

Isaiah Thomas. There's a shining example.

I think that is hard for a great player to be a great coach in the modern era. I realize there are a few but my reason for the negative vote is the the modern pro athlete is very well compensated for what he does and tends to be a natural athlete. Yes, they work hard, but most of it is God given and they don't have to be "coached" or have to work as hard to be a great player.

 

A great coach has to be able to teach and communicate and understand what hard work and desire has to do with putting a winning team together and how the "average" pro athlete fits into schemes and game plans. Therefore, I think it is way too hard for a great player to become a great coach. Jmo.

Edited June 8, 200917 yr by sidelinedoc
grammar

I believe that a great player doesn't necessarily make a great coach. Certainly, they could make a great coach but not everyone does. Great coaches (as others have said) are students of the game.

 

A Good coach knows the game, can teach the game and can be very good "in game" coach as far as strategy, play calling, etc.. .................

 

A Great coach has all of the above qualities plus many that I did not list PLUS....a great coach teaches/coaches much more than football (or the sport he is coaching). A great coach teaches life lessons, teaches a kid to be a responsible young person, priories right and gains the respect of his kids far more than in football.

A great coach knows people, not just x's and o's. There are plenty of coaches out there tht have all the knowledge, experience in the game the need but cannot relate to kids to teach the sport.

 

One line often used in thos sums it all up pefectly...."it's not all about the X's and O's......it's about the Jimmys and Joes". :thumb:

Great Coaches take what they have to work with and get the most out of it. This includes the Money comitted to the program, the support they have from the Administration, the Facilities they have to work with, and how bad the community want Football. Some Great Coaches have moved on because of the like of Success, when they had no chance to succeed. These same Coaches would have been very successful in Different situations.

Edited June 11, 200917 yr by Ram
Rule 8

You have to ask yourself another question. Were all great coaches great football players. Truth is that they were. But by their own standards. They were the greatest they could possibly have been. They may not been the most talented player with all the awards or even played a superior level but I bet they maxed out their potential at their position and took great pride in that. This is the quality that translates into great coaching.

I think a great coach is a great teacher. Being a great player doesn't mean you are a great teacher (and therefore a great coach). An interesting question would be who are the great coaches (at all levels) that never even actually played football? Anyone know any?

I think a great coach is a great teacher. Being a great player doesn't mean you are a great teacher (and therefore a great coach). An interesting question would be who are the great coaches (at all levels) that never even actually played football? Anyone know any?

 

Charlie Weiss didn't play football in High School or College I don't believe, I don't know if he's a great coach though. I could be wrong on the first part.