The Most Hated Active Coaches in Sports

Whether you love 'em, or hate 'em, they're always the decision makers and strategists for our favorite athletes.

With recent news of Lane Kiffin and the Tennessee Titans, I've compiled my most 'villainous coaches or managers' working today.

10. Avery Johnson, New Jersey Nets

Maybe biased as a 76er fan, but he's gritty (in all due respect) and is quite the talker (certified by ESPN, of course).

He's a villain among the rivals I will respect, nonetheless. I foresee a similar punch into the NBA Playoff bracket with the Nets like he showed with the Dallas Mavericks in the 2005-2006 season.

9. Mike Krysewzski, Duke Blue Devils

His 868-279 record is quite remarkable, making this program one of the most envied in the country. He's led future NBA stars into the ranks, and has encountered the likes of all hasty ACC fans.

His coaching of Team USA, though, gives him praise on my count.

8. Ozzie Guillen, Chicago White Sox

A picture is worth a thousand words.

For Ozzie Guillen, many of them include bleeps and censors (##ck). He lavishes the attention, but at least he doesn't bull### anyone.

7. John Tortorella, New York Rangers

This guy's like Jim Rome with a strategy. Jeesh.

Big wham on Tortorella came in 2009 NHL Playoffs an altercation with several Capitals fans behind the bench led to him throwing a water bottle at a fan before grabbing a stick from Aaron Voros and trying to spear the fan through a space between two panes of glass.

6. Lou Pinella, Chicago Cubs

Sweet Lou, what would we do without you?

He's reportedly stepping down for good after 2010 from the Cubs. (Couldn't come at a better time).

To reflect on him as an enemy might be harsh, but he's been the epicenter of much managerial chaos, such as the incident in September 2002 when he kicked his hat several times off a call, aggressively approached Bucknor as he was screaming in his face, and kicked dirt on him.

After being restrained by first base coach Johnny Moses, he then ripped first base from its mooring and threw it down the right field foul line twice after he imitated the umpire tossing him out.

5. Rex Ryan, New York Jets

Jets fans rejoice for the next two slides—your current coach has been a media go-getter with questionable comments and decisions in only his first year.

He basically threw in the towel on his players at one point, saying stuff along the lines of "No Super Bowl"—but in a twist of fate, the Jets earned a Wild Card spot in the 2010 playoffs, making it to the AFC Championship Game, losing to the Indianapolis Colts.

At the Pro Bowl in Miami, Ryan flashed an obscene gesture towards heckling Miami Dolphins fans during a Strikeforce mixed martial arts event at Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida.

4. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots

Spygate lingers on from those glory days with the Patriots. His notorious hoody has been bashed by many, too.

New York Jets' fans still won't let him off easy, either, after he accepted their job as Head Coach for a mere 24 hours.

3. Nick Saban, Alabama Crimson Tide

Some call him Nick 'Satan'. Maybe it's the hat.

Saban is notorious for being a grump. But in my experience, even I get bad vibes from him on TV.

His incident with a certain Miami Dolphins' player crying at training camp didn't sit too well. Neither did the part when he declared on December 21, 2006, "I'm not going to be the Alabama coach".

Happy New Year 2007—Saban joins the Crimson Tide. However, Dolphins owner Wayne Hyzinga helped compromise with the decision during the holiday season.

After the 2010 BCS National Title game, his grim look after Gatorade splashed his head still bothered me, and many others. Fortunately for him, he'll be immortalized with his own statue at Bryant Denny Stadium come Fall 2010.

2. Lane Kiffin, USC Trojans

The second flurry of 'liars' comes from Saban's apparent admirer, Lane Kiffin.

He helped groom the powerful offense for the USC Trojans in the middle of the 2000's (although the 2005 team is now defunct from their wins). Kiffin, however, will be most remembered for his run-ins with controversy.

A big circumstance first came by the disgruntled owner of the Oakland Raiders, Al Davis, forcing a letter of resignation upon Kiffin in January 2008. From there, a circus was in town and Davis fired Kiffin over the phone, which led to the ex-coach filing a grievance against the Raiders.

Then came the Urban Meyer recruiting debacle as he was employed by the University of Tennessee in November of 2008. That controversy blew up in Kiffin's face, as he was forced to make a public apology.

To top it off, Pete Carroll's leaving USC in early 2010 meant that Kiffin jumped ship and rejoined his stomping grounds, despite an enraged Tennessee campus.

1. Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers

Every fan hates him (outside of L.A. and Chicago), but every coach envies him. Eleven championship rings, enough for one to go on one of his toes proves that he's the greatest coach this generation has to offer.