What Attributes / Characteristics Make for a Great Coach

[RevHusker]

Thinking about the Arkansas issues and then reflecting on Penn State and other coaches and schools made me wonder:

What attributes / characteristics make for a great coach?

I would love some feedback from the Husker Nation what they think makes for a GREAT coach. Thinking about this not in the context a particular coach but instead, in general, what makes for a great coach. Is it knowledge of game--ability to think well on both sides of the ball? What about communication skills - players, media, fans, etc.? What about values and how you keep them in proper perspective? Other attributes and characteristics?

Rev.

[Frank Johnson]

Character, intelligence, compassion, humility, communication skills(speaking, listening), having played the game with skill.

[BGRed]

Character, intelligence, compassion, humility, communication skills(speaking, listening), having played the game with skill.

I'm not sure that I agree with the last item. Many great coaches never played the game that they are coaching. The rest are all on the list of required/desired attributes for sure. #1 above all things for good leadership, in my opinion, is character (or integrity, if you prefer that word).

[BuffSurveyor]

I'm not sure that I agree with the last item. Many great coaches never played the game that they are coaching. The rest are all on the list of required/desired attributes for sure. #1 above all things for good leadership, in my opinion, is character (or integrity, if you prefer that word).

I agree 100%. But what I often struggle with is: Just what is "good Leadership" and "character (integrity)"?

Freguently in the business world, being successful pushes the limits of leadership involving character (integruity). That is from what I see and compete against almost daily. And that drives me nuts.

[Frank Johnson]

BG Red has a good point about playing the game with great skill. I was thinking primarily of Tom when I wrote my piece. Certainly there have been some great failures, as coaches, who played the game well.

I would say, that in the business world, there are not many good leaders, which I will take a crack at defining. Most business men are managers and "lead" because they are annointed by those on high not because they instill confidence and a will to support team goals in their team.

Leadership, in sports(football), not in any particular order, being able to command the moral high ground, bringing 85-120 young men together and achieving unity of purpose, convincing them to forego personal agendas to achieve team goals. Being able to understand your vision and then being able to commuicate that vision to your staff and team in such a way that they buy into and will work hard to accomplish that vision. Showing everyone in the organization that you truly care for them.


I enjoy this kind of discourse, so critique away.

[One Man Jury]

After coming back from running in the "Beat Coach Pete" run in Boise, I was impressed by Coach Peterson's connection with the Boise community on a personal level. People really like Coach Pete, and not just because he wins games and over-achieves with the talent he gets. He is personable, effective and supports his community and university. And having the head football coach be willing to spend a morning jogging with every runner in town was a very cool thing to do. I would love to see Bo do that same thing in Lincoln.

[izzycohen]

having a few rounds at the Legion Club after practice.

[utsker]

Winning and not getting caught

[HuskerGene]

Attention to detail & always being prepared.

[YUENGLING]

Whatever they are ( character, preparation, communication skills, knowledge of the game, recognizing talent, surrounding yourself with good people) both Dr. Tom and Bo have most of them in spades.

[Greatest Fan of All]

The days of the "great" coaches are gone, lost in the 70's. The great coach was replaced by the great organization that has an exceptional leader.

[HuskerRedDread]

While the integrity, & character etc.....is being thrown around, it all sounds good but that is not a requirement to be a great coach. Look at so many of the top coaches in today's game that lack so much in those categories....... I think the only REAL attributes NEEDED to be a great coach or even an above average coach is the willingness to be creative, being able to adjust when that creativity backfires, & being able to communicate your creativity to your staff/players. The integrity and everything, just helps us to like the coach doing these things but not necessarily needed to do the job well.

Because if integrity and character, were a high priority for successful coaches thing Turner Gill should be coming off of his 2 BCS appearance with KU.

[BGRed]

Because if integrity and character, were a high priority for successful coaches thing Turner Gill should be coming off of his 2 BCS appearance with KU.

Well, if you don't have integrity/character, you'll end up like Petrino, Tressel, and a laundry list of others eventually...

[HuskerRedDread]

Well, if you don't have integrity/character, you'll end up like Petrino, Tressel, and a laundry list of others eventually...

Correct. All are great coaches. Just horrible in managing their personal life. There's a difference. Like Lawrence Phillips was a hell of a back for NU, but wasn't such an all star managing his life.

[BGRed]

Correct. All are great coaches. Just horrible in managing their personal life. There's a difference. Like Lawrence Phillips was a hell of a back for NU, but wasn't such an all star managing his life.

Short term thinking versus long-term...same as with a workplace. Sure, he might look good and hit record sales in the short-term; but, when he embarrasses the organization, you wish you would have never hired him.

So, I guess we need to outline the responsibilities of 'great coach'. Is it purely about wins and losses? Or, does it also include representing the university and developing young men to be solid men as adults?

[HuskerRedDread]

Short term thinking versus long-term...same as with a workplace. Sure, he might look good and hit record sales in the short-term; but, when he embarrasses the organization, you wish you would have never hired him.

So, I guess we need to outline the responsibilities of 'great coach'. Is it purely about wins and losses? Or, does it also include representing the university and developing young men to be solid men as adults?

Definitely. No argument here. Win/loss column defines the "coach". Everything surrounding the program defines the CEO (which is what the coach has to become to have continued success).

Example...Martinez came out as a GREAT ATHLETE is rFr year. Had immediate success. I mentioned during his first Spring Game, I would like to see him become more of a QB rather than a fast kid taking the snap from center. Obviously I got ridiculed and was called a "player basher" and other corny (no pun intended) names. But as he got more playing time under his belt, everything that I was saying I would like to see from him was being addressed from opposing defenses (SDSU, UT, aTm, etc.) He had to become a better QB rather than just a great athlete to have continual success. Same with a coach. The coaching job should be the easy part when given the athletes you desire to play for you. The CEO portion comes with the relationship, and decision making regarding the players, staff, how you recruit, development, etc.....

Only part I was answer was what it takes to be a GREAT COACH. It doesn't take a whole lot, but for the continual success, their are other attributes that this GREAT COACH has to obtain and/or learn.

[utsker]

Because if integrity and character, were a high priority for successful coaches thing Turner Gill should be coming off of his 2 BCS appearance with KU.

so it's integrity/character and avoiding places like Kansas and Iowa State to name a few.

[Cardinal]

Not being a Tibetan monk.

[HuskerRedDread]

so it's integrity/character and avoiding places like Kansas and Iowa State to name a few.

You missed the point, re-read.

[abominable snow man]

Well it depends what you want out of your sports. I personally believe the point of sports is to learn life lessons at the college level. I think some general once told a class at a service academy something to the effect of (paraphrasing) "on these fields are sown the seeds that will win future wars". In other words the intangibles of competition, sacrifice, working beyond ones limits, teamwork, ingenuity, quick decisions under pressure, are equally important as the technical skills learned in college. These are things that don't just benefit an officer corps. It's a fact that we pay dearly in treasure and resources for every young mans college education. It's a waste of money if they don't have values. In my opinion.