50 Greatest Coaches of All Time

[Aaron]

as selected by The Sporting News

Sporting News' 50 greatest coaches of all time - Jeff D'Alessio - College Basketball - Sporting News

SPORTING NEWS’ TOP 50 COACHES
1. John Wooden, college basketball
2. Vince Lombardi, NFL
3. Bear Bryant, college football
4. Phil Jackson, NBA
5. Don Shula, NFL
6. Red Auerbach, NBA
7. Scotty Bowman, NHL
8. Dean Smith, college basketball
9. Casey Stengel, MLB
10. Knute Rockne, college football
11. Pat Summitt, women’s college basketball
12. Paul Brown, NFL
13. Joe Paterno, college football
14. George Halas, NFL
15. Chuck Noll, NFL
16. Bob Knight, college basketball
17. Joe Gibbs, NFL
18. Tom Landry, NFL
19. Mike Krzyzewski, college basketball
20. Bill Belichick, NFL
21. Adolph Rupp, college basketball
22. Joe McCarthy, MLB
23. Eddie Robinson, college football
24. Bobby Bowden, college football
25. John McGraw, MLB
26. Bill Walsh, NFL
27. Woody Hayes, college football
28. Connie Mack, MLB
29. Bud Wilkinson, college football
30. Pat Riley, NBA
31. Pete Newell, college basketball
32. Joe Torre, MLB
33. Bill Parcells, NFL
34. Tom Osborne, college football
35. Walter Alston, MLB
36. Bo Schembechler, college football
37. Toe Blake, NHL
38. Sparky Anderson, MLB
39. Al Arbour, NHL
40. Amos Alonzo Stagg, college football
41. Tony La Russa, MLB
42. Geno Auriemma, women’s college basketball
43. Dick Irvin, NHL
44. Ara Parseghian, college football
45. Chuck Daly, NBA
46. Bobby Cox, MLB
47. Hank Iba, college basketball
48. Tommy Lasorda, MLB
49. Gregg Popovich, NBA
50. Herb Brooks, NHL

Thoughts?

 

[roscoryan]

Nice to see Sparky on there!

And I'm glad Coach K is a few notches down.

 

[MM]

Nice to see Sparky on there!

I took me a few looks to see our number 38!

 

[Jon]

As good a coach as Phil Jackson is, I'm not sure he belongs in the top 5. I would probably have him and Bob Knight switch places.

 

[Ifandorbut]

Bill Walsh should be much higher.

 

[Aaron]

Bill Walsh should be much higher.

Agreed. I'd put him ahead of Gibbs, Belichick, Landry, and a few others.

I'd put Popovich about 10 spots higher than they got him at #48.

I just saw them interview Mr. Wooden about being ranked #1. Dude is 98 years old!

 

[Ifandorbut]

I totally get the Wooden at number one, but I would think that Auerbach would place higher.

Belichick that high? Jeez....whatever.

 

[Jon]

Agreed. I'd put him ahead of Gibbs, Belichick, Landry, and a few others.

I'd put Popovich about 10 spots higher than they got him at #48.

I just saw them interview Mr. Wooden about being ranked #1. Dude is 98 years old!

And he's forgotten more than most people will ever know about the game of basketball.

 

[blyons200]

Bobby Bowden ahead of Tom Osbourne? Puh lease. Tom should be in the top 15 and definitely ahead of Bowden. And where the hell is Roy Williams?


Tom Osbourne- Bobby Bowden
Win Percentage- .836- .756
National Championships- 3- 2
Conference Champoinships- 13- 12
Unranked Seasons- 0- 7 (Florida State Only)
Losing Seasons- 0- 1 (Florida State Only)
Undefeated Seasons- 3- 1
Top 10 finishes - 18- 16

 

[blyons200]

I totally get the Wooden at number one, but I would think that Auerbach would place higher.

Belichick that high? Jeez....whatever.

I would definitely put Walsh above,far above Belicheat. As far as Phil Jackson goes, I think that is just as much a function of players he had as coaching ability, where would he be without Jordan, Kobe, and Shaq? Not on the list me thinks. and Auerback should be higher, higher than Phil.

 

[builder_j]

Uh, where's Hank Stram?

 

[xan_user]

Bill Walsh should be much higher.

:agree:

 

[blyons200]

Uh, where's Hank Stram?

and where is Bill Gable, or does wrestling not count? Real wrestling I mean. And where is Mick? Best boxing coach of all time? Your gonna piss lightning and crap thunder kid!

 

[AJ_II]

As far as Phil Jackson goes, I think that is just as much a function of players he had as coaching ability, where would he be without Jordan, Kobe, and Shaq? Not on the list me thinks. and Auerback should be higher, higher than Phil.

Nah, I think Phil Jackson has cemented himself as the best coach in NBA history.

To be fair, what would Red have done without players like Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Sam Jones, John Havlicek, etc?

And Red won four of his championships when there were only EIGHT teams in the NBA...and the other five came when there were NINE NBA teams. Much easier to actually win the Finals back in those days.

 

[Raceimages]

and where is Bill Gable, or does wrestling not count? Real wrestling I mean.

That would be Dan Gable, and your right, he should be on that list

 

[blyons200]

Nah, I think Phil Jackson has cemented himself as the best coach in NBA history.

To be fair, what would Red have done without players like Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Sam Jones, John Havlicek, etc?

And Red won four of his championships when there were only EIGHT teams in the NBA...and the other five came when there were NINE NBA teams. Much easier to actually win the Finals back in those days.

True. I don't really know that much about the NBA. I know I'm right about Osbourne though.

 

[blyons200]

That would be Dan Gable, and your right, he should be on that list

Oops. My HS wrestling coach was Bill Gable. Pretty good coach in his own right, but no Dan Gable.

 

[AJ_II]

I know I'm right about Osbourne though.

Yeah I would have to agree with you on Osborne. :icon_biggrin:

 

[semipenguin]

Bill Walsh should be much higher.

:agree:

I second that. Even though he didn't have a perfect season, he should be at least right behind Don Shula

 

[MadisonRadio1]

great list. even had a former college hockey coach