Bold Coaching Decisions That Actually Worked Out

Being a head coach in any sport is a difficult task, with the job description more than just calling the plays and helping mentor players. It's a full-time gig that makes the person who occupies it the CEO of a sports team, and just one bad decision can actually cost that person his/her job.

While some coaches are notorious for making the wrong choices, there are a few who have shown that sticking to their guts and making a bold decision has actually worked out well—and, for that, we should applaud them.

For those coaches who did just that, here's one for you.

Pete Carroll Goes with Russell Wilson as His Starter

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It might not seem like a giant leap of faith for a head coach to hand over the keys of a franchise to a third-round pick in his rookie season, but when Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks did it with Russell Wilson in 2012, it was unexpected but paid off immediately.

Seemingly undersized and overlooked, Wilson wasn't on par with fellow first-year quarterbacks like Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, but he still guided his team to the playoffs in his first season, eventually winning a Super Bowl the following season and losing in the Big Game in his third year.

When the Hawks selected Wilson in 2012, though, they had just signed Matt Flynn to a monster deal to take the reins of the offense, but they quickly determined it was DangeRuss who would be their man—and they haven't regretted it ever since.

Patrick Roy's Goalie-Pulling Strategy

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During his playing days, former goaltender Patrick Roy was one of the best at preventing the puck from getting into the back of the net. Now the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, Roy has a new strategy for helping his team prevent scores—and it's an intriguing one that might just catch on with his peers.

Aggressive by nature, Roy's idea is to add an extra attacker against teams during unorthodox times to help lead to more offense.

Unlike a soccer tournament like the World Cup where goal differential can make the difference in advancing or going home, the head coach doesn't care if a final tally looks more lopsided than the game really was, with him going for the tie or win earlier than other coaches might.

You've got to applaud a guy for being so progressive, and time will tell if it pans out.

Gary Kubiak Decides to Put Peyton Manning Under Center

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According to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com, Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said his decision at halftime to put Peyton Manning into the final regular-season game on Jan. 3 to kick-start a slumping offense was strictly a "gut feeling."

Well, it was one that absolutely paid off, as Manning entered and was able to guide the Broncos to a win over the San Diego Chargers to secure the No. 1 spot in the AFC playoffs, saving them from a massive drop down the seeding had they lost.

Avenging five turnovers in the first half by his team with Brock Osweiler under center, Manning sparked the Broncos to 20 points in a quarter-and-a-half.

Chris Petersen in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl

When the Boise State Broncos defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl in arguably the most shocking upset in the BCS era, it showed the college football world that the little guys can more than hang with the big dudes.

And it wouldn't have happened had it not been for then-Boise State coach Chris Petersen's huge gambles on a couple of different plays.

The first one came when Petersen called a hook-and-ladder play that led to a touchdown to help tie the game in regulation, with the second one coming when he went for two following a touchdown in overtime.

That game-winning score will forever live in college football lore, as it was both a gutsy call and a perfectly executed trick play to get Boise State the victory.

Pep Guardiola Tells Robert Lewandowski to Do His Thing

With German powerhouse Bayern Munich trailing Wolfsburg 1-0 at halftime of their Bundesliga match last September, head coach Pep Guardiola was looking for a jolt of energy to get his team some goals.

He got a hell of a lot more than he would have ever expected.

Guardiola inserted striker Robert Lewandowski, and the Polish player scored an insane five goals in just nine minutes. He put on an absolute clinic and, because of the effort, found himself among the league leaders in scoring.

It was an absolute show and something we'll probably never witness again. Good call, Pep!

Terry Francona Sends Dave Roberts in 2004 ALCS

At the time, the Boston Red Sox and their fans hadn't tasted a World Series victory since 1918, living through 86 years of heartache and bad luck.

With one stolen base in the ALCS against the New York Yankees, though, Dave Roberts may have changed an entire fanbase's belief that something special could happen and that 2004 was the BoSox's year.

After the Yankees outscored them 32-16 in the first three games and put them in an unfathomable 3-0 series hole, the Red Sox rallied to win four straight against their most hated rival—and it was Terry Francona, Boston's manager at the time, who called the stolen base that got things going to turn it all around.

Roberts got himself in scoring position and crossed home plate to tie Game 4—which Boston won in extra innings—as his teammates carried that momentum and gutsy call all the way to a title later that postseason.

Jay Gruden Names Kirk Cousins the Starting Quarterback

Back in August, had anyone said that the Washington Redskins would not only bench incumbent starter and former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III, but then go out and win the NFC East, too, people would have wondered what you were smoking.

No one's higher than the Skins now, though.

With head coach Jay Gruden trusting his instincts, he turned to Kirk Cousins to lead the offense, which has led to a resurgence that no one foresaw and has returned Washington to the playoffs for the first time since RG3's rookie campaign in 2012.

And with Cousins playing the best football of his life—and, arguably, of any quarterback in the league since midseason—this is a decision that was unbelievably executed.

Steve Kerr Goes Small and Starts Andre Iguodala in NBA Finals

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There's a reason why it's so difficult for first-year head coaches to win a title, and it has a lot to do with the fact that they don't have the guts to mix things up when they need to, instead sticking with status quo for fear that a bold move might backfire.

That wasn't Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr's approach in last season's NBA Finals, though, as he saw that, in order to try to match the size of the Cleveland Cavaliers, he needed to spread the floor and go smaller.

Under the guidance of a special assistant, Kerr switched his starting lineup by putting former All-Star Andre Iguodala in it, leading to the Dubs overcoming a 2-1 series deficit to win the final three games and take home the championship.

Not only did the move work out, but Iggy won the series MVP, too, so he performed at his best when his team needed him the most.

Tommy Lasorda Sends Kirk Gibson in as a Pinch Hitter

One of the most historic and memorable moments in MLB postseason history is when Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Kirk Gibson, hobbled and beaten down, stepped to the plate with his team trailing by a run in the 1988 World Series against the Oakland A's. Many thought the Dodgers' hopes were doomed.

Rather than look like a chump who could barely stand on both feet, though, Gibson delivered a walk-off homer to lead his team to a Game 1 victory.

When Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda decided to put the injured Gibson in as a pinch hitter, it became the best decision he has ever made, and it helped L.A. capture the Fall Classic in a stunning series upset.

Sean Payton's Sneaky Onside Kick in the Super Bowl

In all 49 Super Bowls, there might not be a more gutsy call than the onside kick New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton made against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

Trailing 10-6 at halftime and looking stagnant on offense, Payton knew it wasn't time to be bashful and conservative in the biggest game of the season, so he rolled the dice with the second-half kickoff, catching everyone by surprise.

Catching the Colts—and everyone watching—off guard, Indy special teamer Hank Baskett mishandled the ball, and the Saints recovered it. They promptly utilized the extra possession by having quarterback Drew Brees march them to a touchdown drive in just over three minutes to grab the lead.

The Saints ultimately held on for the first Super Bowl title in franchise history.