Is Phil Jackson of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers the World's Best Coach?

w j by Contributor Written on June 15, 2009

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ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 14:  Head coach Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers holds up the Larry O'Brien trophy after the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 99-86 in Game Five of the 2009 NBA Finals on June 14, 2009 at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida.  NOTE TO
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

That hat isn't a throwback to the Malcom X Hats of 1992, is it? Nope, Phil is sporting the celebratory lid of one who has captured the 10th title of his career. That puts him on a pedestal alone, above even Red Auerback of the Boston Celtics, who has nine titles.

Notice the non-chalante grin? Has has held that Naismith Trophy before.

How could Mike Brown have beaten him out for Coach of the Year in 2009?

Take a look at the Top Competitors for the Honor of the World's Best Coach...

Red Auerbach

FALLS CHURCH, VA - OCTOBER 31:  NBA Commissioner David Stern (2nd L) stands with mourners near the tent covering Red Auerbach's grave after his funeral at King David Memorial Cemetery October 31, 2006 in Falls Church, Virginia. Auerbach, who led the Bosto

Red Auerbach passed away on Oct. 28, 2006, so lets give him some props. Until June 13, 2009, he was the most winning coach of the NBA. Between 1946 and 1967, Coach Auerbach won 11 Eastern Division Titles and nine NBA Championships for the Boston Celtics.

His teams were built around Hall of Famers Bill Russell, Dave Cowens, and Larry Bird, among many others.

His legacy includes the naming of the NBA Coach of the Year Award.

Scotty Bowman

PITTSBURGH - JUNE 04:  Scotty Bowman of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in game six of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Mellon Arena on June 4, 2008 in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania. The Red Wings

From 1967 through 2002, Coach Bowman led three different NHL teams, the Habs, the Pens, and the Wings, to win the Stanley Cup. No other coach in U.S. professional sports has repeated with three teams.

He also holds the NHL record for the most wins in the regular season, 1244, and the postseason, 223. He won the Jack Adams award for Coach of the Year twice, only surpassed by Patt Burns.

John Wooden

ANAHEIM, CA - DECEMBER 13:  Head coach Steve Fisher of the San Diego State Aztecs reacts during the John R. Wooden Classic game against the Saint Mary's Gaels at Honda Center on December 13, 2008 in Anaheim, California. The Gaels defeated the Aztecs 67-64

Coach Wooden, the Wizard of Westwood, coached between 1946 and 1975. He recorded 10 NCAA National Championships UCLA in a 12-year span. He won 667 games in 27 seasons. His longest winning streak spanned 88 games over four perfect 30-0 seasons.

Hall of Famers Gail Goodrich, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bill Walton were anchor players on his championship teams.

He is also famous for his motivational tool, the Wooden Pyramid of Success.

Chuck Noll

23 Sep 1990:  Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Chuck Noll looks on during a game against the Los Angeles Raiders at  the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.  The Raiders won the game, 20-3. Mandatory Credit: Ken Levine  /Allsport

Chuck Noll coached the Pittsburgh Steelers between 1969 and 1991 to 209 victories. He holds a record four NFL Superbowl Championships. His halmark 4-3 defense was nicknamed the "Steel Curtain."

His teams were anchored by Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw, and Lynn Swann. Defensively, the cornerstones were Joe Greene, and Jack Lambert. He received Coach of the Year honors in 1989 and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Pat Summitt

CLEVELAND - APRIL 03:  Head coach Pat Summitt of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers celebrates after cutting down the net after Tennessee's 59-46 win against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to win the 2007 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Game at Quicken Loans

Pat Summitt has coached the University of Tennessee Lady Vols since 1974. She has led them to a record eight NCAA Division One Women's Basketball Championships, 14 SEC Championships and 13 SEC Tournament Championships.

She has more career victories than any coach in any collegiate sport, 1005. Coach Summitt has been awarded Coach of the Year seven times.

Her 1997-98 team ran the table with 39-0 record, and three players being named All Americans, Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings, and Semeka Randall. Holdsclaw and Summitt were named Player and Coach of the Century.

John McDonnell

Jun 1986:  Roddie Haley of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs down the track during a race. Mandatory Credit: Tony Duffy  /Allsport

From 1972 to 2008 John McDonnell coached the Arkansas Razorbacks Cross Country then Track and Field teams to 42 national Championships. These are comprised of 11 Cross Country, 19 Indoor Track and 12 Outdoor Track titles.

These are the most titles in NCAA history and greater than the 27 Championships held by the second most victorious track and field coach, Pat Henry formerly of LSU and currently Texas A&M. He coached Arkansas to a record five national triple crowns, and 84 SEC Championships.

He coached 185 All Americans, 54 national champions, and 23 Olympians. He was named national, regional or conference Coach of the Year 140 times.

Casey Stengel

NEW YORK - JULY 15:  'Mr. Met' the New York Mets mascot poses during the MLB All-Star Game Red Carpet Parade on July 15, 2008 in New York City.  (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Casey Stengel, "The Old Perfessor", from 1934 through 1965 coached the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Boston Braves, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets. He accumulated seven Wolrd Series Championships and and 10 American League Penants with the Yankees.

His career wins were 1,905 with a winning percentage of 50.8 percent. He has been inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame and had his No. 37 retired by both the Yankees and the Mets.

John McGraw

SAN FRANCISCO - JULY 10:  San Francisco Giants mascot, 'Lou Seal' arrives to the 78th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at AT&T Park on July 10, 2007 in San Francisco, California.  (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

John McGraw coached the Baltimore Orioles and then the New York Giants from 1899-1932. He won three World Series Championships and 10 National League penants.

His record stands at 2,763 and 1,948. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1937. Although he did not have a number on his jersey, he was honored as such by the San Francisco Giants.

McGraw has the second most ejections by a coach, 131.

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written on June 15, 2009 Rankings/List

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