Leaving out the personal attacks, what makes a good head coach?

VFO

Junior
Jun 24, 2004
786
232
0
when comparing, consider longevity at his school, situation inherited, facilities, football culture etc. Let's look around and compare programs and what had been done differently. How about some thought provoking discourse and not just rhetoric based on our frustrations. I am very disappointed in the way the program seems to be headed also, but I want to understand why similar programs have thrived and UK can't seem to ever get going.
 

OldRed

All-Conference
Jun 7, 2001
17,788
4,547
113
A head coach is like a CEO. He has to surround himself with really good, fundamentally sound assistants and hold them accountable. He also has to drive recruiting. Unlike a business (well like some businesses), there is a high turnover rate. You can't have the people you bring in not succeed or you suffer through with inexperience exactly when you don't need it. The coaches have to be knowledgeable and adaptable. They have to see opposing coaches moves and strategies and know the counter (meaning the team has practiced the counter well enough to execute).

I've seen holes in preparation (special teams have been a constant example). There is some reason why we seem to fail in the last half of games and last half of seasons. The last half of seasons could be attributed to lack of quality depth but could be lack of adaptability. Once someone has our number, all other teams seem to have it.

Having to call timeouts in inexplicable points in the game also points to preparation issues.

The line issues could be a combination. We couldn't recruit, keep, or develop the personnel that can be competitive. We are clearly not competitive on the D line and not that effective on the Oline.

A head coach also can inspire and create an identity. Petrino certainly creates an identity (maybe an outlaw one). Saban creates an identity.
 
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olblue

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2011
3,129
1,383
113
when comparing, consider longevity at his school, situation inherited, facilities, football culture etc. Let's look around and compare programs and what had been done differently. How about some thought provoking discourse and not just rhetoric based on our frustrations. I am very disappointed in the way the program seems to be headed also, but I want to understand why similar programs have thrived and UK can't seem to ever get going.

There are only going to be about 10 elite coaches at any given time in a particular sport. The stars have to align just right to have one of those 10.

It took Alabama about 25 years.
 

Chuckinden

All-American
Jun 12, 2006
18,974
5,868
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Don't micro manage your assistants, especially in one area you have never coached or played.
 

Grumpyolddawg

Heisman
Jun 11, 2001
28,439
37,223
113
when comparing, consider longevity at his school, situation inherited, facilities, football culture etc. Let's look around and compare programs and what had been done differently. How about some thought provoking discourse and not just rhetoric based on our frustrations. I am very disappointed in the way the program seems to be headed also, but I want to understand why similar programs have thrived and UK can't seem to ever get going.

Surrounding himself with great coaches and coordinators, being a good communicator, being organized and the biggie, attention to detail.