15 Athletes Who HAVE to Become Coaches Post-Retirement
How badly do you want to see Peyton Manning become a coach after he retires? What about Tim Duncan?
The truth is, most often, athletic greatness doesn't necessarily translate into coaching greatness. It happens sometimes, but not always. Good coaches have certain qualities—leadership, knowledge of the game and the ability and finesse to handle many personalities—and not all players are well-suited for the job.
But some are. Take Steve Kerr, for instance. He was a key player for the Chicago Bulls during Michael Jordan's second three-peat. He was a guy, just not the guy. Now he's a championship coach with the Golden State Warriors. And, oh by the way, he was just joined by another pretty decent former player, Steve Nash.
The following 15 active athletes have that type of potential. Some appear to have the right combination of qualities, some have been named by their own coaches and some … well with some, we just want to see them do it.
Kevin Durant
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Playing experience: Eight years
Kevin Durant is certainly a gifted basketball player, but a coach? According to the Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star, it's something he would like to explore post-retirement.
After a game in April 2014, Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman reported a few comments Durant made on the prospect of coaching. "I hope so. We'll see. I always hear the guys that can play a little bit aren't smart enough to be coaches, but I'm learning." Durant said. "I'm learning from a lot of different guys. Trying to put myself in different shoes. We'll see. I like to see guys get better, I enjoy watching the progress of the team."
It's still early, but first my impression? "Coach Durant" might be kind of great.
Tim Howard
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Playing experience: Went pro in 1997
Many Americans remember Tim Howard for his goaltending heroics at the 2014 World Cup. However, to understand why he would make a good coach, one must first understand his role as a player.
In soccer, the goaltender is like the quarterback of the team. He sees everything, communicates constantly, organizes the defense and acts as a natural leader on the field. Howard is not just a great goaltender, but he also thrives on the leadership the role requires.
Howard told CBS News, "I hate losing, but I love winning, and I think what I love most about the game now is trying to figure out a way to win or try and figure out how to get a team of people to win for me is amazing."
Larry Fitzgerald
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Playing experience: 12 years
Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has played for the Arizona Cardinals for the entirety of his NFL career. He has worked with many different quarterbacks and seen his role fluctuate over the years.
His ability to gracefully roll with the punches prompted head coach Bruce Arians to call Fitz, "the ultimate team player" in January, according to Darren Urban of azcardinals.com.
He is also a role model on and off the field, commanding respect from teammates and opponents alike. Fitzgerald was awarded the first inaugural Art Rooney Award for sportsmanship during the offseason.
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Jonathan Toews
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Playing experience: Eight years
Leadership experience would undoubtedly be useful as a coach. Nicknamed "Captain Serious," Jonathan Toews became captain of the Chicago Blackhawks at just 20 years of age, and he's seen the team through three Stanley Cup wins.
According to Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said of Toews:
"Focus and preparation is as good as I've seen in any player. The more important the stage, the more important the situation, he wants to be out there, he wants to be successful. He'll find a way to make it successful. It's an uncanny ability he has that you don't see in too many players. It's will, competitive, warrior, leader. He's got all the intangibles that you'd like to see in a hockey player.
"
Andrew Whitworth
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Playing experience: 10 years
Marvin Lewis, head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, recently said in a video for NFL.com he felt left tackle Andrew Whitworth would make a great coach someday.
Lewis said of his player, "He's got both his experience his just logic and his ability to relate to people, all people, is incredible, and I think he would make a great NFL head coach."
Whitworth, a long-time leader of the team, recently made news for "passing the leadership baton" to quarterback Andy Dalton, proving he truly does put team above all else.
Kam Chancellor
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Playing experience: Six years
Despite just six years of playing experience, Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor has proved to be a strong leader on an elite-level defense. In the same NFL.com video about active players who would make good coaches, Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn referenced Chancellor.
Quinn said, "I would say Kam Chancellor would be one that would come to mind. The toughness and the respect that he has from his teammates, I think those two qualities, as a head coach, you can never have enough of."
Dustin Pedroia
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Playing experience: 10 years
Dustin Pedroia has played 10 years of big league baseball, all of them with the Boston Red Sox. He has won a Rookie of the Year Award, an MVP and two World Series titles. But perhaps his most important contributions throughout the years have been his leadership and team-first attitude.
Amid recent rumors about Pedroia possibly becoming an official team captain, Ricky Doyle of NESN reported Red Sox manager John Farrell said, "It doesn't require that letter on his chest to be the captain or the leader of our team — one of them. I can say this, if you put a 'C' on Pedey's jersey, he's not going to change. He plays for the Red Sox, not the 'C' or the name that’s on the back."
Doyle also reported Pedroia aims to help other players on his team. Pedroia said, "I try to look at other guys to get better."
Christie Rampone
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Playing experience: Made first appearance with U.S. women's national team in 1997
Christie Rampone has played with the U.S. women's national soccer team during five World Cups and four Olympic Games. She has helped earn three Olympic gold medals and two World Cup titles.
Rampone's father was a coach, and she has indicated it might be something she'd consider as well. According to Ben Meyer-Abbott of the National Women's Soccer League, she won a professional title (with the now-defunct Women's Professional Soccer league) as a player/coach in 2009.
Rampone told Meyer-Abbott, "As for coaching, I've learned so much as a defender. Most of my job is reading, organizing and understanding each player's role on the field and that's something I think could translate well into becoming a coach."
Steve Blake
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Playing experience: 12 years
NBA guard Steve Blake played under a great college coach in Gary Williams at Maryland, and he has gone on to have that type of journeyman, role-player NBA career that can lend itself to coaching success.
Now with the Detroit Pistons, Blake has played with greats like Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and LaMarcus Aldridge. In the 2014 annual NBA GM Survey, 12 percent of general managers said Blake would make the best NBA coach of all active players.
Chris Paul
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Playing experience: 10 years
Of the general managers polled in the 2014 NBA GM Survey, 12 percent thought Steve Blake would make a great coach, but 24 percent thought Chris Paul would.
Like Steve Nash, Paul is a star point guard with experience in the pressure cooker that is the Los Angeles market. With a reputation as the league's best floor general, Paul has the vision and skills to involve his teammates toward a greater goal.
Rowan Kavner of NBA.com reported Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said, "It's amazing. That's just IQ. It is. He's just smart."
Yadier Molina
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Playing experience: 12 years
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina comes from a baseball family. Both of his brothers, Bengie and Jose, were also major league catchers.
Not only is the younger Molina an integral part of a perennially successful team, but as a catcher, he is heavily involved in both offense and pitching. Former teammate Jake Westbook told Stan McNeal of USA Today in 2012, "He's a part of every aspect of the game: starters, relievers, offense, defense. Having him as our best player makes us the team that we are."
To that end, catchers have a pretty good track record as managers as of late. Bruce Bochy of the San Francisco Giants, Joe Girardi of the New York Yankees and the Cardinals' own Mike Matheny are all former catchers who have managed World Series teams.
Tim Duncan
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Playing experience: 18 years
San Antonio Spurs big man Tim Duncan has spent almost two decades playing for one of the NBA's great coaches, Gregg Popovich. His quiet grace and fierce competitiveness mimic those of his coach. He and Pop have such a unique, collaborative relationship, Duncan just might be a rare superstar that could go on to have success as a coach.
Not long ago, former NBA coach and current broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy told ESPN Radio, "I watch him and his interactions; I think he knows people, I think he knows how to help unite and inspire a group."
Van Gundy also said it's hard to imagine Duncan in a suit every day. Good point.
Sue Bird
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Playing experience: 13 years
Sue Bird has been the point guard for the WNBA's Seattle Storm since 2002.
In 2014, the WNBA general managers were polled, and 25 percent said Bird is the active player who would eventually make the best coach.
As a point of reference, 25 percent also said then-San Antonio Stars guard Becky Hammon would make a great coach. Hammon is now an assistant coach to Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs, and she's crushing it.
Geno Auriemma, Bird's coach at the University of Connecticut, told Barbara Barker of Newsday in 2012, "She just sees the game, she understands it and she understands people. She knows what she has to do to get other teammates to play their best. She's a great leader. She has a tremendous amount of credibility. And she knows what it takes to win."
Peyton Manning
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Playing experience: 18 years
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas once said his quarterback, Peyton Manning, was "like another coach." According to Stuart Zaas of denverbroncos.com, Thomas said, "I feel like just being out there with him, it helped because it seemed like he knew what was going on. He answered questions..."
Manning has always been described as a "cerebral" QB, and his football knowledge, combined with that ability to help other players, could make him a successful coach one day.
Manning recently said on the Dan Patrick Show (via WVLT in Knoxville) he's not sure he'd be a good coach at all, but he wouldn't rule out, say, a position as quarterbacks coach at the University of Tennessee (his alma mater). Manning said, "I enjoy teaching football. That's what I kinda feel like I do."
Andre Miller
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Playing experience: 16 years
Andre Miller is the definition of an NBA journeyman. He has spent his 16 years with seven different teams, and he will join his eighth, the Minnesota Timberwolves, for his 17th season this fall. When it comes to coaching, exposure to many different players, environments and schemes could certainly be an advantage.
Nicknamed "The Professor," Miller has long been heralded for his on-court intelligence. George Karl, who coached Miller in Denver and Sacramento, told Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee in March, "He's kind of my security blanket with this team because I know him and he knows me. And when we get in that zone of what the hell's going on out there, he's the guy I go to as much as anybody."
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