The Real Buffalo Joe Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Trying to think, in any sport, how many head coaches that have elite status, also have that status as a player. The only one I can think of off of the top of my head would be Joe Torre, although his elite status as a player might be questioned. And Yogi Berra, who's elite status as a coach might be questioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 A quick ‘shoot from the hip’ reply, but hockey seems to be where I think we’ll find the answer. Now I’ll go slog through some stats to see if I can substantiate. Does Reggie Dunlop as a player / coach count? (Charlestown Chiefs) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 I was going to post one of my usual ‘wiseass’ answers and say ‘Hank Bullough’, but researching Bullough I noted his friend and teammate Forrest Gregg has success as a player and did coach the Bengals in the loss to SF in Super Bowl Ecks Vee Eye. Elite? No. Very good. Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo716 Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Bill Russell? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Jacques Lemaire was a hall of fame player and then killed the NHL as a coach. Does that count? Seriously though, I don't know if his coaching career counts as elite, but he was definitely near the top of the game for a while. Then there's Bob Gainey. Again, I don't know if you'd label him an elite coach/GM, but he was definitely one of the bigger names for a while. Steve Yzerman has quickly earned the elite GM label. It doesn't fit your coach criteria, but he's definitely worth noting. And this one's completely different, but Bobby Orr runs one of the more prominent NHL player agencies. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Mel Stottlemyre (RIP) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 (edited) Most recent players make so much money, why bother working that hard after retiring? I’ll throw out Larry Bird. Maybe Kyle will break the mold??? ? Edited January 26, 2019 by Augie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
May Day 10 Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Leo Durocher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaoulDuke79 Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Keeping my hopes up for Penny Hardaway at Memphis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misterbluesky Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 23 minutes ago, Uncle Joe said: Mel Stottlemyre (RIP) When he was with the Mets..we had 4 years with the lowest ERA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 (edited) A common argument is the most talented players make terrible coaches because they have little tolerance for players who can’t do what came to them much easier. Michael; Jordan can’t “teach” most of what he did. Could Peyton Manning or Tony Romo be great coaches? Maybe, but we’ll never know because why should they go through that grind? Maybe Steve Spurrier came close on a clollege level, as long as he could still make his tee time. . Edited January 26, 2019 by Augie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve O Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 On 1/25/2019 at 10:00 PM, Augie said: A common argument is the most talented players make terrible coaches because they have little tolerance for players who can’t do what came to them much easier. Michael; Jordan can’t “teach” most of what he did. Could Peyton Manning or Tony Romo be great coaches? Maybe, but we’ll never know because why should they go through that grind? Maybe Steve Spurrier came close on a clollege level, as long as he could still make his tee time. . Golic was describing how the coach asked Reggie White to explain how he had done something to shed a blocker (not sure it was something he did in practice or watching game film.) White began to explain his move, then through his arms in the air all frustrated and said I don't know, I just do it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rico Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 Mike Ditka was a HOF TE who got a ring as HC. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoHuddleKelly12 Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 WC soccer—Juergen Klinsmann won in ‘90 as a player, and then finished 3rd in the world as manager in 2006, before taking the US team job. Incidentally, his manager in ‘90, Franz Beckenbauer, also won the WC as a player in ‘74, one of only 3 men to ever have done that at the WC level. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Beckenbauer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cripple Creek Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 On 1/25/2019 at 2:53 PM, The Real Buffalo Joe said: Trying to think Please, I've asked you before...stop trying. It will be better for all of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve O Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 8 hours ago, Rico said: Mike Ditka was a HOF TE who got a ring as HC. Even Ditka could have won the super bowl with that team. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 8 hours ago, Rico said: Mike Ditka was a HOF TE who got a ring as HC. Daaaaaa Bears DaBears DaBears DaBears DaBears 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark80 Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 Frank Robinson pops in my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LB3 Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 Pat Riley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve O Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 (edited) To the OP's point, just took a look at how many former quarterbacks are head coaches in the NFL. Currently 9 of 30 are former QB's. All 9 were either career backups, never played after college, or played in lower tier leagues (CFL, Arena, etc.) Frank Reich probably had more career starts than the other 8 combined. Guess carrying a clipboard pays dividends in the long run! Edited January 28, 2019 by Steve O clipboard comment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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