25 Coaches Who Players Want To Play for in Sports
They stand apart.
These are the coaches who players talk about decades later, the ones who didn't just help them become better players, but also better people. Coaches like John Wooden, Bobby Knight, Woody Hayes, Red Auerbach and Bill Parcells could all fit into this description. Some are called "players coaches." Some are hated, and players cuss them behind their backs, but their old school approach provides guidance and discipline they never had.
So who are the best? Who are the coaches that players want to play for?
There's so many criteria you could use to determine this, and how do you weigh what's the most important factor? No matter who you choose, you will leave out plenty of deserving names. You have coaches like Oklahoma women's basketball coach Sherri Coale, for example, or Baylor basketball coaches Scott Drew and Kim Mulkey. How about legendary North Carolina women's soccer coach Anson Dorrance? They could all belong, right?
Certainly. Life isn't fair, though. So here we go. Numerous sports have been considered. Here are the top 25, the ones who made the cut:
25. Augie Garrido
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If you're a high school baseball player, you know about the Texas Longhorns legend.
Garrido is the all-time winningest coach in college baseball. Now in his 43rd year of coaching, he has a record of 1,768-806-8. He's won five national titles, made six trips to the College World Series in the last 11 years and also won six Big 12 conference championships.
24. Jose Mourinho
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You've got to like a coach who gives himself the nickname of "The Special One." A native of Portugal, Mourinho led the famed British soccer team Chelsea to Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006 before leading Internazionale of Italy to a UEFA Champions League title.
Last May, he became manager of Real Madrid, where he coaches Cristiano Ronaldo, considered by most as the best soccer player in the world.
23. Freddie Roach
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In boxing, trainers can be the difference makers for fighters, and none right now is more respected than Roach, who has been the longtime trainer of Manny Pacquiao. He also works with Amir Khan, and has been in the corners of Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and Michael Moorer among many others.
Roach was a former fighter and learned the trade under legendary trainer Eddie Futch, who worked the corner for former heavyweight champ Joe Frazier.
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22. Hank Haney
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He may not be working with Tiger Woods any longer, but he is arguably the best swing instructor in golf.
21. Geno Auriemma
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The Connecticut women's basketball coach is both beloved and hated. But you can't argue with the results: The Lady Huskies have won seven national championships under Auriemma, and just set a women's college basketball record for consecutive victories at 90.
20. Pat Summitt
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Tennessee's court is named after her. Bobby Knight admires her, and she is an icon in women's college basketball. Entering her 37th year in coaching, Summitt has won eight national titles and has a career record of 1,037-196.
19. Les Miles
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His recruiting classes have been among the best in college football, and he has been part of why LSU has won the most games in the SEC this past decade. Ever since he was at Oklahoma State, he's been known for his outlandish quotes, but his gambling style late in games have also helped earn him the nickname of "the Mad Hatter."
18. Charlie Manuel
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The old-school Phillies manager has led the team to four straight NL East titles, and two trips to the World Series. Philadelphia won it all in 2008.
17. Rex Ryan
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You won't find a single Jets player who doesn't love Rex. He's cocky, isn't afraid to speak his mind and now he's quite ready for another shot at Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
16. Joe Madden
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One of the best managers in baseball? Probably. Madden has helped guide the Rays to respectability in becoming one of baseball's best teams in its toughest division. As a lifelong Yankees fan, I hate it when New York plays them, but I absolutely love how the Rays play the game and how aggressive they are.
15. Ron Washington
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Here's a story to tell you how well-liked the Rangers manager is: Early last season, Ron Washington went into the locker room to apologize and admit to his players he had used cocaine. Players like Josh Hamilton and Michael Young stood up and assured him he had their full support. Washington broke down crying.
Washington guided Texas to its first World Series appearance last season, but that may just be the start of greater things to come.
14. Gary Patterson
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The TCU football coach mines the small schools throughout Texas, and pulls out recruits that often go overlooked by college football powerhouses. He promises them a chance at a tremendous education and an opportunity to play for a proven winner. Some eventually switch positions, but you can't argue with the results.
13. Mike Tomlin
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I remember being a little shocked when the Steelers announced that Tomlin would replace Bill Cowher. The guy had no head coaching experience, but that obviously didn't matter. He's guided the Steelers to another Super Bowl, and now has them one game away from playing for the AFC Championship.
12. Tom Izzo
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The Michigan State men's basketball coach has kept the Spartans among college basketball's elite on a yearly basis. When it comes time for March Madness, you always know you have to count on his teams making a deep run in the tournament.
11. Tony La Russa
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With Bobby Cox now retired, La Russa is now the dean of baseball managers. He led the Cardinals to the World Series in 2006, and tied Red Schoendienst for most seasons as the Cardinals manager in 2009. There's no doubt that he will be a first ballot Hall of Famer once he retires.
10. Terry Francona
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If you're a Red Sox fan, you probably consider Francona a deity for helping Boston reverse the curse and finally win the World Series in 2004, their first in 86 years. The Red Sox won again in 2007, and have now established themselves among baseball's best. They'll likely be among the favorites to reach the World Series this season, after acquiring Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford in the offseason.
9. Bob Stoops
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He's received plenty of criticism for his coaching in BCS games, but that finally ended this year when Oklahoma defeated Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl. Stoops has coached two Heisman Trophy winners (Jason White and Sam Bradford), numerous NFL stars and kept Oklahoma among college football's elite on a yearly basis.
8. Mack Brown
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Yes Texas had a down year this season, but look at the body of work and how Brown's recruiting classes continue to be among the best on a yearly basis, and you have to put him on this list. Of course it doesn't hurt that UT's facilities are among the best in the nation, and that the athletic department is run more like a Fortune 500 company.
7. Gregg Popovich
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"Pop" has led the Spurs to four NBA titles in his 13 seasons (1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007) and has them among the NBA's elite again this year.
6. Phil Jackson
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The "Zen Master" is the NBA's all-time winningest coach, and has been a part of dynasties as a player and while coaching the Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. There's no doubt he gets under the skin of role players and legends, but when you end up hoisting more championship trophies, obviously something is working.
5. Nick Saban
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He turned LSU into a winner, and has now guided Alabama back to the top of the college football world. Saban is demanding, and has high expectations for his players, but they usually go on to do quite well on Sundays.
4. Roy Williams
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He was loved by players when he was at Kansas, and that hasn't changed since he's returned to North Carolina to become its men's basketball coach. Williams guided the Tar Heels to national titles in 2005 and 2009. Their last one capped off a five-year stretch that saw North Carolina also make three Final Four appearances, win four ACC regular season titles and finish with four 30-win seasons.
3. John Calipari
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From UMass to Memphis and now Kentucky, Calipari's teams just keep on winning. Controversy has followed him, but his players have also been NBA-ready.
2. Bill Belichick
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He may not be Mr. Personality, but the Patriots coach is a legend and has helped the team become a measuring stick for the rest of the NFL. He's also a genius when it comes to stockpiling draft picks, and has developed a pattern of drafting hard-working, smart, intelligent players who buy into the team concept.
To get Randy Moss to focus is saying something, too.
1. Mike Krzyzewski
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If you need proof of how respected the college basketball legend is, look no further than what he did with the Redeem Team, and how he got a bunch of NBA superstars to blend together and win a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
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