Running head: WHAT MAKES A COACH GREAT?

What Makes a Coach Great?

Research and Techniques
Rhett Taylor
Ottawa University

WHAT MAKES A COACH GREAT?

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Abstract

In this essay the clarification of how a coach can be great or is described as great. Through the
examples such as Darrell K. Royal and Vince Lombardi, and also the characteristics that all great
coaches should in a sense represent or the standards that they have for their teams. In this essay
the following subtitles will be discussed; Coaches who have achieved greatness, how great
coaches will stand the test of time, what else coaches care about, the true goal coaches want to
achieve, the signs to look for in one who thinks theyre great, the safely measures they should
take for their athletes, injury prevention. For many people they often wonder what could make a
great coach, what do they look like, or even what are the characteristics and or goals of the
individual behind the madness as some players would say. Many of these coaches have very
different ways of coaching, which in a sense makes them uniquely great at what they do, did, and
achieved.

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Introduction

What makes a coach great? What is greatness in the coaching field? The word great can
be taken into many different fields or possibly different categories. Great coaches can come in
many different forms. A great coach can be seen as a godly figure or even to the average Joe.
The definition of a great coach in a sense is someone who bodies the team or program with the
ideals to be successful. Also is someone that his or her athletes respect, admire but also strive to
break or overcome the standards that their coach has set for them. Great coaches seem to always
have one quality no matter the era or even the sport; the drive or passion for the sport that they
are coaching.
Coaches Who Have Achieved Greatness
A perfect example of how people view coaches is viewing the process by Nick Saban
the head coach of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Or the way he handles his business
of coaching his team on the field and how he handles holds his players accountable in the
classroom. Sabans teachings is based off of leadership lessons, and has to do with him trying to
in a sense help everyone of his athletes reach the fullest of their potential. To create leaders in
more than just the game of football but more for the office or work place to insure that they will
be as successful in more than just college but in life.
For many coaches such as Auburn University head coach Gus Malzahn, its not where
you come from its how you earned your way there. Coach Malzahn wasnt the head coach for the
tigers during their historical season and national championship in 2010. After that amazing
season the tigers luck turned for the worst. From a perfect 14-0 record to disappointing season in
2012; going only 3-9 with an 0-8 record in conference play. So by this time Coach Malzahn had
been the offensive coordinator for the tigers, Gus knew what the program needed to get on the

WHAT MAKES A COACH GREAT?

right path. Coming from small high schools in Arkansas to getting his first break on the big stage
as the offensive coordinator for the Razorbacks of Arkansas University. Gus took the loosing in
2012 to heart and was bound and determined to take the tigers back to the promise land. For
Gus this meant pulling off the impossible and take a team whom was deemed as an easy win to a
contender in just one off season. Coach Malzahn came up with his process basically how he
wants his offense to play; fast. He feels as if they snap the ball more than the other team that they
will win. His main saying while working his guys out during the spring was Early to Rise, Late
to Bed. He feels that if he is able to do that and get his players on board that his team will be
better prepared than any of their opponents.
What Characteristics Must Be Shown
People. The great coaches dont care about what other programs are doing during the off
season. (Haworth, Rob; Whitaker, Todd, 2010, p. 144) Even in a sport that isnt really
recognized as a sport due to the athletes involved are animals. Equestrians arent usually
referred to as athletes due to the nature of their competition but for many people, great coaches
make great riders. (Wofford, Jim, 2014) Many coaches were not necessarily unique in their
beliefs such as Coach Lombardi and Coach John Wooden. All great coaches have the reason for
their athletes to respect them. John Wooden was definitely one who earned the respects of his
player. Many of his players wanted to fight his team rules such as growing out their hair. Only a
selected brave few tried to defile his rules. Wooden tells a story of one athlete try to talk his way
into not let him cut his hair. The athlete said, Coach, I am not cutting my hair. Wooden then
said, Okay, looks like this is the last time I will see you. In a short sense Wooden was a coach
who, yes was old school but was one who stuck by his rules. A great coach shows his integrity,
and also shows that his rules or systems work. All though Wooden is an example of these traits

WHAT MAKES A COACH GREAT?

there have been many other coaching styles shown through the years. Such as former USC
Trojans coach and now Seattle Seahawks coach, he used a similar but yet different. He uses the
family philosophy, an example is that he will get really close to his players. Find out
everything he can about each individual player, be willing to talk to the players whenever they
need him, and finally his office is always opened no matter the day. Many coach will claim that
they are opened no matter what time or the situation but their rules or systems dont fit the
success or even their failures. For many of his players Pete was more than just a mentor but in a
sense the fatherly figure that some of his players didnt have growing through their youth.
How Great Coaches Will Stand the Test of Time
For many of the great coaches time doesnt in a sense seem to be a fact. Darrell K.
Royal is an example of this. Former University of Texas Longhorn head football coach, had one
of the roughest spurts in his coaching career the 1967 season only going 6-4. To coach Royal and
the rest of the Texas coaching staff felt that the season wasnt up to par for what the program
should be achieving. What made Royal successful was the way his players played the game, with
class and sportsmanship. In this article A Masterclass in Golf Psychology: Taking Players and
Coaches from Good to Great said this, In the sporting world today there are hundreds of
talented sportsmen and women, however the ones who succeed and make it as a professional
understand what it takes to go from Good to Great . (Carvell, 2015, p. 98) Many coaches
including Royal feel like after a disappointing season such as that one, they feel that they let their
players down. They take it personal and feel that they didnt prepare their players well enough to
achieve their ultimate team goal which is to win games and even a conference championship or
even the chance to compete for a national championship. For many of these amazing coaches or
the greats, get immortalized. More than statues of generals or politicians, those of athletes are

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remembrances of good things past (Deford, 2016). Some get a stadium named after them such
as Darrell K. Royal got the University of Texas football stadium. But many coaches such as Paul
William Bear Bryant of the University of Alabama has an over life sized statue built of him
standing outside of the universities football stadium. Another example of a great coach earning
the respect to have something built in their honor would be the Vince Lombardi trophy; which is
named after the late but great Vince Lombardi. Whom won the first ever Super Bowl with the
Green Bay Packers. Another great thing to be able to witness is the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame
introducation, previous inductees in yellow and black jersey's forming a "Parade of Champions"
while the piper announced their entry from high above center stage in the dramatically lit
theatre (N/A, 2014)
What Else Coaches Care About
Also for Royal and many other coaches they recognized or even feel that when their
players achieve something as great as a championship in the classroom. Such as becoming an
Academic All-American or even a National Scholar. To these coaches, those awards or allocates
were possibly held higher than the All-Americans on the field. Due to the fact that not all of the
starters on the field will get the opportunity to play at the next level. For many of their athletes,
they are training them to be leaders in the work place and also for their future families. After
talking to many coaches in the high school level and the college level they feel that they have
done their job when around 5 years or so after they walked across the stage; the coaches take
more pride in seeing the athletes success in life. In their jobs and also in their personal lives.
For all coaches no matter the sport, care about the well-being of their athletes, but also up
hold the promises that they have made with the parents of the family. Many of these coaches will
make promises to make sure to look out for the kids or their athletes. Coaches feel that each

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athlete is a huge responsibility and even could classify as one they adopt. All coaches feel that
their family is bigger than just their wife and kids but in more of around 20 or more people in
it. As a coach they dont care what gender the athlete is but in todays society its been judged for a
women to coach a male dominate sport but yet there are male volleyball coaches. upon the
accounts of master women coaches based in the UK, exploring how they have individually
experienced such acts of resistance as reaching the top of such a male dominated profession
(Norman, 2014).

The True Goals Coaches Wants to Achieve

As a coach, my goal wasnt just to win games but more to develop the athletes that I
come in contact with to help develop them into the amazing young adults that I know they can
be. This was said by Coach Glen Vrba former coach for Decatur ISD in Decatur, Texas. Coach
Vrba was one of those coaches not only respected by his players but by his peers. I feel that yes
as a coach we should worry about winning but in my personal opinion we should worry more
about how our athletes will respond to a stressful situation of a game and even more important;
life. For coaches like Coach Vrba, they wanted to focus on the grown and development of their
athletes; both physically and psychologically. Many people dont understand the psychological
presence a coach can have on his or her athletes.
Signs to Look for When One Thinks Theyre Great
Everyone has had a coach who they thought they were great but in reality they were only
mediocre at best. After countless articles this one about People who think theyre great often
arent did shed some light on the subject. Through this article it gives many different examples
of what a bad coach will look like. Such as these traits, Poor listening, Not a role model, Not

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collaborative, dont develop others, Fail to provide feedback, Lack integrity and Dont encourage
diversity. (Zenger, Jack; Folkman Joseph, 2016). For many athletes they have all seen their fair
share of this and often or not the coaches who show even just one of the signs often dont
become successful in the coaching field. For example; many athletes feel if their coach is a
failure at giving feedback that they are on the right track but when in reality they are just falling
down a cliff. To be a great coach, they must show these qualities and want to make sure that their
athletes are in the best position to succeed. Which in ultimately will lead to the success of the
program.
Safety Measures One Should Take For Their Athletes
One of the most ongoing problems for sports such as football, soccer and even noncontact sports like volleyball coaches need to make sure to be up to date or at least around par
with what safety measures they should be taking for the athletes. For many people they dont
understand the number of sports professionals who are taking action to help educate teams and
coaches about the athletes safety they should be taking. Over 400,000 sports coaches receive
vital child safeguarding training. For athletes, parents and coaches that is some reinsurance that
teams will be up to date on the correct form or even different ways to play the game to help
prevent injury.
Injury Prevention
Coaches understand the wear and tear of their athletes but only the great know when its
the right time to sit someone or to shut them down. Many people dont understand the thought
process or the methods that coaches take to sure the athletes are healthy. Such as how, overuse
injuries are predominant in sports involving the repetition of similar movements patterns, such as
in volleyball or beach volleyball, and they may represent as much a problem as do acute injuries

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(Seminati, Elena; Minetti, Alberto Enrico, 2013). Research on landing concentrates on the
impact forces associated with landing, the consequential effect on the legs, and the subsequent
injury potential (Bressel, Eadric; Cronin, John, 2005). Many athletes dont understand the
importance of possibly telling their coach about an injury before its too late. Research has
shown many athletes who withstand a dramatic injury usually has had some nagging pain prior
to it.
Conclusion
To conclude this essay, there is a description of what a great coach is, not only on the
field but off. Also to show how some coaches have earned the respect of their athletes, the
school/program, the state, and even the classification such as high school, college, and
professional. To many people coaching is a love or hate job. That there is not many joys in being
a coach but to many people such as Darrel Royal, they much rather have critics than fans
sometimes. For coaches like the greats they felt as if they werent hated or even feared by their
opponent they did something wrong or didnt have their team prepared enough for the game.

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Reference

Carvell, S. (2015). A Masterclass in Golf Psychology: 'Taking Players

and Coaches from Good to Great'. Sport & Exercise Psychology Review, 11(2), 98-99.
Haworth, R., & Whitaker, T. (2010). What Great Coaches Do Differently:
11 Elements of Effective Coaching. Eye on Education.
Zenger, J., & Folkman, J. (2016). People Who Think They're Great Coaches
`

Often Aren't. Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, 2-4.

Over 400,000 sports coaches receive vital child safeguarding training.

(2015). Education Journal, (231), 13.
Seminati, E., & Minetti, A. E. (2013). Overuse in volleyball
training/practice: A review on shoulder and spine-related injuries. European Journal Of
Sport Science, 13(6), 732-743. doi:10.1080/17461391.2013.773090
Bressel, E., & Cronin, J. (2005). The Landing Phase of a Jump
Strategies to Minimize Injuries. Journal Of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance
(JOPERD), 76(2), 30.
Frank, D. (2016). Statues Of Sports Stars Help Us Remember Them
As Larger Than Life. Morning Edition (NPR),
Wofford, J. (2014). Great Coaches Make Great Riders. Practical
Horseman, 42(2), 22.
(2014, July 2). Mix of emotion, celebration for Bobby Orr Hall of Fame
induction ceremony. Parry Sound North Star (ON).
Norman, L. (2014). A crisis of confidence: women coaches' responses
to their engagement in resistance. Sport, Education & Society, 19(5), 532-551.

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Feloni, R. (2015, March 12). How Alabama coach Nick Saban
used psychology to build a football dynasty. Retrieved October 21, 2016, from
http://www.businessinsider.com/alabama-coach-nick-saban-process-2015-8
(2014, January 09). Gus Malzahn. Retrieved October 21, 2016,
from http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/coaches/gus-malzahn/

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