Greatest Coaches of All Time

1. John Wooden, college basketball
2. Vince Lombardi, NFL
3. Bear Bryant, college football
4. Phil Jackson, NBA
5. Don Shula, NFL
6. Red Auerbach, NBA
7. Scotty Bowman, NHL
8. Dean Smith, college basketball
9. Casey Stengel, MLB
10. Knute Rockne, college football

11. Pat Summitt, women's college basketball
12. Paul Brown, NFL
13. Joe Paterno, college football
14. George Halas, NFL
15. Chuck Noll, NFL
16. Bob Knight, college basketball
17. Joe Gibbs, NFL
18. Tom Landry, NFL
19. Mike Krzyzewski, college basketball
20. Bill Belichick, NFL

21. Adolph Rupp, college basketball
22. Joe McCarthy, MLB
23. Eddie Robinson, college football
24. Bobby Bowden, college football
25. John McGraw, MLB
26. Bill Walsh, NFL
27. Woody Hayes, college football
28. Connie Mack, MLB
29. Bud Wilkinson, college football
30. Pat Riley, NBA

31. Pete Newell, college basketball
32. Joe Torre, MLB
33. Bill Parcells, NFL
34. Tom Osborne, college football
35. Walter Alston, MLB
36. Bo Schembechler, college football
37. Toe Blake, NHL
38. Sparky Anderson, MLB
39. Al Arbour, NHL
40. Amos Alonzo Stagg, college football

41. Tony La Russa, MLB
42. Geno Auriemma, women's college basketball
43. Dick Irvin, NHL
44. Ara Parseghian, college football
45. Chuck Daly, NBA
46. Bobby Cox, MLB
47. Hank Iba, college basketball
48. Tommy Lasorda, MLB
49. Gregg Popovich, NBA
50. Herb Brooks, NHL

This list is from http://www.sportingnews.com/college...29/sporting-news-50-greatest-coaches-all-time

It seems a little biased towards the NFL. But for the most part, I agree.

DISCUSS!!!

Edit. Just realized Bill Walsh is below Bill Bellichick. What the fuck is that????

It is a good list, although I would put Shula a little lower on the list.
Red Auerbach was way better.

What were the criteria used in formulating this list? Phil Jackson at #4??? No way. Also, Earl Weaver doesn't even make the list? That's a joke. Bud Wilkinson at #29? Laughable. I'm a Sooner hater but Wilkinson might be the greatest college football coach ever. His Oklahoma teams absolutely dominated the 1950s and made OU a football powerhouse....a wave that he created and that they continue to ride until this day.

No way does Herb Brooks belong on the list either. He made his mark as coach of the "Miracle on Ice" US Olympic team in 1980. His NHL career is unremarkable.

Last but not least, where are Darrell Royal and John McKay? Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson? I know these things are subjective but.....c'mon! I guess it depends on what you consider to be the attributes that make a "great" coach. It appears that, for the most part, ESPN is measuring it on championships won which, to me, is not necessarily the primary measurement of what makes a great coach.

biomech said:

It is a good list, although I would put Shula a little lower on the list.
Red Auerbach was way better.

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Way better? Don Shula has more wins than any NFL coach in history! You can argue that Auerbach was better if you want (I disagree but hey that's ok), but way better? No fucking way.

I think it's impossible to compile a list like this, period. How do you compare across, not only time periods, but different sports as well? It's really apples and oranges. I agree with John Wooden at #1 (he's a fellow Boilermaker, and I'm biased). But you could rearrange the top twenty an infinite number of times and people would still disagree. It's too subjective.

24. Bobby Bowden, college football
Eddie Robinson, college football

I would have thought these two guys would be a little higher on the list they both have done so much for college football and there communities but to each is his own I guess still a great list

Jagger69 said:

Way better? Don Shula has more wins than any NFL coach in history! You can argue that Auerbach was better if you want (I disagree but hey that's ok), but way better? No fucking way.

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Red Auerbach won 9 championships as a coach,plus 7 more as a Gm.Thats 16 in 29 years, he introduced the fast break into a defense dominated sport.
Never mind the fact he broke the color barrier by drafting Chuck Cooper, in Boston that was an amazing feat considering the bus issues it had for so long.
And he had the first all black starting five. Nuff said.

I forgot the 938 wins.

The topic should have been named Greatest football Coaches of All Time

I was about to came and argument about Sir Alex Fergusson :bowdown: and Josep Guardiola...

First of all I think you have to discount the big time school coaches, which includes but is not limited to Bobby Bowden (Florida St. was big before Bobby went senile), Woody Hayes, Tom Osborne, and Bo Schembechler. It's easy to recruit when you can swoop in and get a recruit just by reputation alone. So here's my version of the greatest coaches of all time. John Wooden is too high, especially since not too many schools really gave that much money to their basketball programs at that time. Pat Summit is also too high, considering the fact that there isn't much competition in women's basketball or that many schools are not simply on the same level as Tennessee. Bill Belichick should be lower, because spy gate really hurt his reputation. Herb Brooks needs to be moved higher, considering he ONLY led a virtually unknown USA team against the highly rated Soviets.

biomech said:

Red Auerbach won 9 championships as a coach,plus 7 more as a Gm.Thats 16 in 29 years, he introduced the fast break into a defense dominated sport.
Never mind the fact he broke the color barrier by drafting Chuck Cooper, in Boston that was an amazing feat considering the bus issues it had for so long.
And he had the first all black starting five. Nuff said.

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You can cite all the statistics you want but again it depends on the individual's interpretation of the meaning of the word "coach". It is also difficult to compare different sports and different eras. It is obviously very subjective.

Taking nothing at all away from Red Auerbach, if you look at Don Shula's record, it stands out above any other NFL coach in history. I have a bias toward football when it comes to coaching ability simply because of the sheer number of players that are involved. That too could be debated. Therefore, I'd rate Shula above Red....but not way above.

We can debate the details if you want to but to say that Auerbach was "way better" is simply unsubstantiated from any rational angle. Again, argue that Auerbach was better in your opinion. I can totally respect that viewpoint. However, to assert in that he was "way better" is patently ridiculous.

biomech said:

I forgot the 938 wins.

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So you're saying that Auerbach ranks sixth all-time in career NBA wins, right? Shula has more career wins than any other NFL coach. As you say, 'nuff said?

Ozmanks said:

First of all I think you have to discount the big time school coaches, which includes but is not limited to Bobby Bowden (Florida St. was big before Bobby went senile), Woody Hayes, Tom Osborne, and Bo Schembechler. It's easy to recruit when you can swoop in and get a recruit just by reputation alone. So here's my version of the greatest coaches of all time. John Wooden is too high, especially since not too many schools really gave that much money to their basketball programs at that time. Pat Summit is also too high, considering the fact that there isn't much competition in women's basketball or that many schools are not simply on the same level as Tennessee. Bill Belichick should be lower, because spy gate really hurt his reputation. Herb Brooks needs to be moved higher, considering he ONLY led a virtually unknown USA team against the highly rated Soviets.

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As a diehard FSU fan, FSU was shit before Bowden came in.
The program was a doormat with an occasional upset. They were luck to finish .500.

FSU can recruit by name now, this wasn't so in the 60s and 70s.

Besides, FSU is the last acknowledged College Football Dynasty, they went 14 years finishing in the top 4. If not for the other teams in Florida such as UF and UM, they probably woulda won a lot more championships. (damn those wide rights).

beauregard said:

As a diehard FSU fan, FSU was shit before Bowden came in.
The program was a doormat with an occasional upset. They were luck to finish .500.

FSU can recruit by name now, this wasn't so in the 60s and 70s.

Besides, FSU is the last acknowledged College Football Dynasty, they went 14 years finishing in the top 4. If not for the other teams in Florida such as UF and UM, they probably woulda won a lot more championships. (damn those wide rights).

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From one Flordia State fan to the other you are right Damn those wide rights:thumbsup:

beauregard said:

(damn those wide rights).

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Aha one of my fondest memories!

You might enjoy this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HELimO77JY8

As a Miami fan, I have nothing but respect and admiration for FSU and Bobby Bowden. That's what makes the victories so much more meaningful. Fantastic rivalry and two great football programs. May it live forever.

Jagger69 said:

You can cite all the statistics you want but again it depends on the individual's interpretation of the meaning of the word "coach". It is also difficult to compare different sports and different eras. It is obviously very subjective.

Taking nothing at all away from Red Auerbach, if you look at Don Shula's record, it stands out above any other NFL coach in history. I have a bias toward football when it comes to coaching ability simply because of the sheer number of players that are involved. That too could be debated. Therefore, I'd rate Shula above Red....but not way above.

We can debate the details if you want to but to say that Auerbach was "way better" is simply unsubstantiated from any rational angle. Again, argue that Auerbach was better in your opinion. I can totally respect that viewpoint. However, to assert in that he was "way better" is patently ridiculous.



So you're saying that Auerbach ranks sixth all-time in career NBA wins, right? Shula has more career wins than any other NFL coach. As you say, 'nuff said?

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What needs to be taken in consideration is the impact the person had on the franchise, Shula was a great coach, but Red's influence can still be felt today, how else do you explain the Celtic's desire to continue to win championships in Red's name.
The Dolphins don't often say "Lets do this for coach Shula".
I just think Red's legacy far outreachs Don Shula's.Red still instill's the warrior spirit in the Celt's.

Jagger69 said:

Aha one of my fondest memories!

You might enjoy this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HELimO77JY8

As a Miami fan, I have nothing but respect and admiration for FSU and Bobby Bowden. That's what makes the victories so much more meaningful. Fantastic rivalry and two great football programs. May it live forever.

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True, always a great game. People might razz U fans, but between FSU and UM, its always a good rivalry game with a cold beer or two or 20.

Jagger69 said:

I have a bias toward football when it comes to coaching ability simply because of the sheer number of players that are involved.

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Now that you mention it, that is very true. I don't know why I didn't think of that before. Football coaches are the most valuable of all the pro sports. There is so much to look out for, not to mention all the players. That's probably why there are so many football coaches on the list.

biomech said:

What needs to be taken in consideration is the impact the person had on the franchise, Shula was a great coach, but Red's influence can still be felt today, how else do you explain the Celtic's desire to continue to win championships in Red's name.
The Dolphins don't often say "Lets do this for coach Shula".
I just think Red's legacy far outreachs Don Shula's.Red still instill's the warrior spirit in the Celt's.

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Impact on the franchise? You haven't spent much time in S. FL I can tell. And it amazes me that you continue to ignore my suggestion that you recant on your "way better" comment. That's all I'm looking for here, really. I'm just looking for the due respect that Coach Shula deserves.

Admit the comment is extreme, continue to maintain that Red was better and let's move on. If not....:dunno: I don't know where to go with this conversation with you.

Jagger69 said:

What were the criteria used in formulating this list? Phil Jackson at #4??? No way. Also, Earl Weaver doesn't even make the list? That's a joke. .

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:thumbsup::thumbsup:

beauregard said:

As a diehard FSU fan, FSU was shit before Bowden came in.
The program was a doormat with an occasional upset. They were luck to finish .500.

FSU can recruit by name now, this wasn't so in the 60s and 70s.

Besides, FSU is the last acknowledged College Football Dynasty, they went 14 years finishing in the top 4. If not for the other teams in Florida such as UF and UM, they probably woulda won a lot more championships. (damn those wide rights).

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Yeah and so was Kansas State and Kansas before Bill Snyder and Mark Mangino came along. If Bobby Bowden is on this list, then you have to list Bill Snyder and Mark Mangino for taking horrible teams and getting them way beyond people's expectations for the program. Let's not forget the 1987 Toilet Bowl.


The one tie in the Governor's Cup series, which occurred on November 7, 1987, in Manhattan is the most infamous game in the history of the series. The game, which was termed "The Toilet Bowl" and "The Futility Bowl" by national commentators during the week leading up to it, featured a KU team with a 1-7 record and 0-8 K-State. The contest lived down to expectations and resulted in a 17-17 tie, which was secured when Kansas blocked a field goal at the end of the game. Following the tie, both teams went on to lose their last two games of the season.Article from Wikipedia

Coach Mcguirk should be #1.

http://www.amoeba.com/dynamic-images/blog/Charles/home-movies-brendan-coach-mcguirk.jpg