nut11thward
Dat Boy Rep Da G-Men
Why do college coaches struggle at the next level? (i.e. NBA and NFL)
Why do college coaches....
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Da_Sperm
New Member
It is simple. At the college level, they RECRUIT players to fit their system. Most college coaches are great coaches, but they get the nations TOP TALENT over and over again. In the NFL, you have several factors. The GM controls the roster and the coach is forced to try to make players fit their system. Their is very little stability in the NFL. Players change, coaches change, etc. Their hasn't been but one college coach that had success in the NFL and that was Jimmy Johnson, who didn't last because 1) he and Jerry Jones didn't get along and 2) even if they did, his college approach to the NFL wasn't going to last because you can't treat grown men like 18 year old kids.
In short (IMO), it is the mind set. If a college coach is willing to change his coaching style and be very flexable, he will have success in the NFL, but most don't because in college, they are basically the CEO of the team.
JR
Well-Known Member
In addition to what Sperm said, professional athlete's are paid, and in most cases they make more money than the coach does, so that respect factor is not there, and a lot of times management will side with star players if he's not getting along with the coach, unless that player is just unruly.
The majority of coach's have very little control over personnel matters, and are often hindered by management's decision to not have to the sit star players, or trade them, because of that players marketablitly for that team.
Also, the pro game require's more time in the office, and on the practice field/practice court than it does in the collegiate game. A lot of college coach's who are not used to working at the frenetic pace of the pro game, rarely make that transition as well. The pro game is also pretty much a year round thing now, in both the NBA, and NFL, so there's not a lot of free time in the pro game as there is in college.
Professional athlete's also dictate when they want to play, unlike the collegiate athlete who's playing for a pro contract. That one thing alone is real significant, because often time's the pro athlete puts himself first instead of the team, especially in contract years. I remember John Abraham decided not to play in the playoffs, because he was hurt, but not to the point that he couldn't play. His rationale was, he was a free agent, and didn't want to hurt his market value in case he got hurt. Jamal Lewis did the same thing last year to the Ravens, and in the college game that's not the case.
Lastly depending on the program in college, a college coach is usually given more leeway in turning the program around, whereas in the pro game you have 2-3 years to start challenging for at least a division title, let alone the championship.
Sperm, Bill Walsh made the successful transition from college to the pro's as well, but, he was groomed by Paul Brown, so he knew the pro game real well.
NICE
The majority of coach's have very little control over personnel matters, and are often hindered by management's decision to not have to the sit star players, or trade them, because of that players marketablitly for that team.
Also, the pro game require's more time in the office, and on the practice field/practice court than it does in the collegiate game. A lot of college coach's who are not used to working at the frenetic pace of the pro game, rarely make that transition as well. The pro game is also pretty much a year round thing now, in both the NBA, and NFL, so there's not a lot of free time in the pro game as there is in college.
Professional athlete's also dictate when they want to play, unlike the collegiate athlete who's playing for a pro contract. That one thing alone is real significant, because often time's the pro athlete puts himself first instead of the team, especially in contract years. I remember John Abraham decided not to play in the playoffs, because he was hurt, but not to the point that he couldn't play. His rationale was, he was a free agent, and didn't want to hurt his market value in case he got hurt. Jamal Lewis did the same thing last year to the Ravens, and in the college game that's not the case.
Lastly depending on the program in college, a college coach is usually given more leeway in turning the program around, whereas in the pro game you have 2-3 years to start challenging for at least a division title, let alone the championship.
Sperm, Bill Walsh made the successful transition from college to the pro's as well, but, he was groomed by Paul Brown, so he knew the pro game real well.
NICE
Suge
The Phat Mack
Here is my issue with using Switzer, he won a Super Bowl, and I don't care what you say about talent, talent alone does not win SB's. That theory has been shown and proven multiple times.
Also Pete Carrol was not a collge guy, he is an NFL guy that went to collge. You can probably add Dennis Erickson and Mike Riley to your NFL list though.
Bobby Ross also made the jump, though his career ended on a sour note, and I think he may haved ended up with a losing record, he took the Chargers to the franchises only Superbowl appearance, so I don't know if you'd classify him as a failure, but he did enjoy some success at San Diego before being
unceromoniously fired.
Oh, Lou Holtz tried, and failed with the Jets back in the 70's.
NICE
unceromoniously fired.
Oh, Lou Holtz tried, and failed with the Jets back in the 70's.
NICE
Da_Sperm
New Member
Now I will say this and this is very, very unusual.
Womens Basketball.
There is a high school coach in Mansfield, TX who has been successful at the college, professional and now high school level. Her name is Candi Harvey. She was the head coach at Texas A&M, some ABL womens league team, two WNBA teams and now the head coach of Mansfield Timberview. Timberview High is only in its 3rd year of existance and 2nd year being classified at a 5A school (highest classification in Texas) and has her team in the top 5 in state rankings. People are buying houses in the district just so their kid can play for her.
I have yet to hear of anybody who has been able to win at the high school, college, and professional level.
Womens Basketball.
There is a high school coach in Mansfield, TX who has been successful at the college, professional and now high school level. Her name is Candi Harvey. She was the head coach at Texas A&M, some ABL womens league team, two WNBA teams and now the head coach of Mansfield Timberview. Timberview High is only in its 3rd year of existance and 2nd year being classified at a 5A school (highest classification in Texas) and has her team in the top 5 in state rankings. People are buying houses in the district just so their kid can play for her.
I have yet to hear of anybody who has been able to win at the high school, college, and professional level.
Paul Dolemite Taylor
Well-Known Member
People don't even know how bad he sucked as a coach. :tdown: :tdown:
College coaches have it made.
Control over the kids they bring in. No egos and no million dollar babies.
NFL coaches have the more glamorous life but the turnover is terrible. NFL is so EGO driven that is hard for a college coach to make his mark or put his foot down.
Yep. He was the head coach at Northwestern, and ended their then nation's longest losing streak. He then went to Bill Walsh's 49er staff, before going back to college to coach Stanford, and then on the to Vikings.
NICE