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What metrics are used to determine the greatness of a coach? Some might suggest that it’s the one with the most wins and the least amount of losses. Others could argue that it boils down to the number of championships that one earns during his or her tenure.
There is never going to be a clear-cut formula for rating athletic leadership with so many analytics available these days. But for those who watch sports and the management of talent and personality, there are a few points that we can all agree upon.
First, I believe that great coaches are excellent evaluators of their talent and resources. Whether their teams are stacked with first-round picks or going through a multi-year rebuilding process, great coaches maximize what they have and put their teams in the best situations to win. Two basketball coaches come to mind when I think about using their greatness when their team is devoid of talent and when their team is loaded. Former Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson had an abundance of riches when it came to talent-Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and more. But, these high-profile payers’ egos and competitive nature had to be managed for the advancement of the team. Jackson’s ability to connect with basketball’s elite resulted in nine NBA championships.
Coach Jackson’s foe in the 2001 NBA Finals, Larry Brown is one of the few head coaches to win a national championship in college and an NBA Finals as a head coach. Yet, his Philadelphia 76ers ascent to the NBA finals more than 20 years ago is perhaps his most impressive job in coaching. With only one bonified superstar in Allen Iverson, the 76ers bought into Brown’s defensive approach along with living and dying by Iverson’s offensive output.
Great coaches also understand the games within the game. They make adjustments to their opponents’ strengths, play disciplined ball with leads, and have strategies for overcoming deficits. New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichek and San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich come to mind as great in-game leaders.
Great coaches also simulate game scenarios well in practice situations. Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa has been able to come out of retirement, change leagues a couple of times and build contending Major League Baseball teams in the 70s because he talks young players through actual competitive situational baseball that allows players to think through the best approach to handling an environment such as where a shortstop should throw after fielding a ground ball with runners on the corners and no outs.
Longevity does not figure as much but it does mean something. All-time major league baseball coach wins leader Connie Mack stuck around as a skipper for 50 years to amass an impressive resume of total wins, but he also has the most amount of losses in a coaching career as well. However, in Duke head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski’s case, his longevity (42 plus years) has created an atmosphere where players never play down to their competition, give their all, and have a good chance to win the national championship each year. So, what is a great coach? A great coach builds a system, a legacy, and an environment that maximizes talent and effort long after they have stepped away from their respective sidelines.
Patrick Ervin has been writing about the Delta for more than 25 years. He can be reached at by email at ervinconsulting@gmail.com.
