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What are the traits of a good head coach?

To be a good head coach, One must be willing and able to change, or adjust. By adjusting, I don't just mean deciding to run left at half time of a game if the right side has been caving in on you all night. No, by changing or adjusting, I mean you have to be able to sit back and see that if "your" way isn't getting the job done then you have to at least listen to ideas from others with an open mind. You have to be able to blend your coaching philosophies with the philosophies of your staff, mentors, and other coaches in your league. Good, no GREAT coaches adapt.
 
Tide&True said:
We know that he has to win games but what else defines a good head coach?
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Undefeated for life, 100% graduation rate, #1 in recruiting every year, Conference & BCS champs every year. Must have the good looks of a GQ model, the charisma of Sean Connery and the toughness of General Patton. Must have hot looking wife and not be on the NCAA to watch list.
 
TideFan40 said:
To be a good head coach, One must be willing and able to change, or adjust. By adjusting, I don't just mean deciding to run left at half time of a game if the right side has been caving in on you all night. No, by changing or adjusting, I mean you have to be able to sit back and see that if "your" way isn't getting the job done then you have to at least listen to ideas from others with an open mind. You have to be able to blend your coaching philosophies with the philosophies of your staff, mentors, and other coaches in your league. Good, no GREAT coaches adapt.
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Wow! That's an awesome post.....and it's only your second.
 
bayoutider said:
Undefeated for life, 100% graduation rate, #1 in recruiting every year, Conference & BCS champs every year. Must have the good looks of a GQ model, the charisma of Sean Connery and the toughness of General Patton. Must have hot looking wife and not be on the NCAA to watch list.
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So I take it there aren't any "good" head coaches (ha)
 
bayoutider said:
Undefeated for life, 100% graduation rate, #1 in recruiting every year, Conference & BCS champs every year. Must have the good looks of a GQ model, the charisma of Sean Connery and the toughness of General Patton. Must have hot looking wife and not be on the NCAA to watch list.
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Well that's pretty good for starters. :)
 
I am currently rereading The Last Coach by Allen Barra. In his introduction
(comparing similarities and extraordinary parallels in their lives) he wrote the following about Lombardi and Bryant. "Of both coaches it was regularly said that they were not innovators but pragmatists who borrowed & honed other coaches' ideas...both were accused by their detractors of being martinents (an unfair accusation according to nearly ALL of those who played for them). Both preferred overachieving players with "team" skills to superathletes who were more difficult to coach. They tended toward smallish offensive and defensive lines that whipped their opponents through better conditioning.
Bryant and Lombardi stressed defense as the backbone of a championship football team and were constantly regarded as CONSERVATIVE on offense, emphasizing the running game. Yet both were brilliant students of the passing games who regularly ambushed bigger, more talented teams in important games with dazzling air attacks. (And both had their favorite "trick" plays-Lombardi his halfback option pass, Bryant his tackle-eligible pass.) Both emphasized the importance of the kicking game and won important games with substitute kickers.
Instead of grooming his players to become pros, for 38 years Bryant coached as if he had a sacred obligation to make their lives better for having played football for him. And today, almost to a man, the men who played for him look you in the eye and tell you that that is indeed the case, that they are better men, that they lived richer, more responsible lives, because they played football for Bear Bryant. Only a cynic would argue that they are wrong about the therapeutic value of football. ...They (other coaches) didn't get the message that Bryant spent his entire coaching career repeating, THAT NO ONE, NOT EVEN THE GREATEST COACH IN FOOTBALL HISTORY, IS BIGGER THAN THE GAME. ...Most of all, he would not have liked what the college game on the field has evolved into, that is, a junior version of the pro game with the rules and tactics so absurdly favoring passing that everything that was once unique to college football-the different formations, the varying styles and strategies that once made football at Alabama or Texas or Southern Cal or Norte Dame or Michigan so special has now all but vanished, its place taken by 150 or more little NFL clones in college colors."
These are the best traits of a great coach, IMHO. I don't post often because I am female and do not understand all the X's and O's involved about football but I do know principles do not change. People change, but principles stay. BTW this is my third reading - a rich book. In fact, I purchased the "Goal Line Stand" DVD and read Barra's description along with the viewing-absolutely perfectly described! Sorry to be so wordy, but then most are not my words at all! :)
 
Tide Tales said:
I am currently rereading The Last Coach by Allen Barra. In his introduction
(comparing similarities and extraordinary parallels in their lives) he wrote the following about Lombardi and Bryant. "Of both coaches it was regularly said that they were not innovators but pragmatists who borrowed & honed other coaches' ideas...both were accused by their detractors of being martinents (an unfair accusation according to nearly ALL of those who played for them). Both preferred overachieving players with "team" skills to superathletes who were more difficult to coach. They tended toward smallish offensive and defensive lines that whipped their opponents through better conditioning.
Bryant and Lombardi stressed defense as the backbone of a championship football team and were constantly regarded as CONSERVATIVE on offense, emphasizing the running game. Yet both were brilliant students of the passing games who regularly ambushed bigger, more talented teams in important games with dazzling air attacks. (And both had their favorite "trick" plays-Lombardi his halfback option pass, Bryant his tackle-eligible pass.) Both emphasized the importance of the kicking game and won important games with substitute kickers.
Instead of grooming his players to become pros, for 38 years Bryant coached as if he had a sacred obligation to make their lives better for having played football for him. And today, almost to a man, the men who played for him look you in the eye and tell you that that is indeed the case, that they are better men, that they lived richer, more responsible lives, because they played football for Bear Bryant. Only a cynic would argue that they are wrong about the therapeutic value of football. ...They (other coaches) didn't get the message that Bryant spent his entire coaching career repeating, THAT NO ONE, NOT EVEN THE GREATEST COACH IN FOOTBALL HISTORY, IS BIGGER THAN THE GAME. ...Most of all, he would not have liked what the college game on the field has evolved into, that is, a junior version of the pro game with the rules and tactics so absurdly favoring passing that everything that was once unique to college football-the different formations, the varying styles and strategies that once made football at Alabama or Texas or Southern Cal or Norte Dame or Michigan so special has now all but vanished, its place taken by 150 or more little NFL clones in college colors."
These are the best traits of a great coach, IMHO. I don't post often because I am female and do not understand all the X's and O's involved about football but I do know principles do not change. People change, but principles stay. BTW this is my third reading - a rich book. In fact, I purchased the "Goal Line Stand" DVD and read Barra's description along with the viewing-absolutely perfectly described! Sorry to be so wordy, but then most are not my words at all! :)
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Very good post and it would be hard to add much to it. The only other thing I would say is, NO PLAYER,REGARDLESS OF HOW GREAT HE MAY BE, IS BIGGER THAN THE TEAM.
 
Thanks, GrayTide-Completely agree! Also, should correct one typo-("detractors of being martinets". (Webster defines: "A strict disciplinarian: one who stresses a rigid adherence to the details of forms & methods.) Worked for 38 years!!! :) I love this site. I read almost every post about football.
 
I think the motivator part is THE most important ingredient. I great coach has the ability of inspiring the confidence of not doubting victory. This is an immeasurable intangible that can will a seemingly inferior team to play above their ability. That seems to lacking in current coach as bad as it pains me to say that.
 
Well, most of what I have already read on here, is along the same thinking as my own.

But here is my laundry list of traits: :)

First and foremost he must TRULY love and have a PASSION for coaching college football.

second: a good motivator for the players

third: adaptability. Able to change things when the need arises for the betterment of the team.

fourth: a good leader,& teacher, and can make the tough choices when he needs to.

fifth: Surrounds himself with the best, and brings out the best in his players.

I could list a few more, but I'll just stop here.

RTR
 
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