What HOF-level coaches could you have played for?

Even after the NFL season ended, I've been watching the America's Game series on NFL Network religiously. The series is about all 40 Super Bowl-winning teams. It's more enlightening and balanced than the typical NFL Films fare. Some of it funny too, there's a Max McGee soundbyte from '66 where he says he fucked a lot of women between 8-11 because of curfew, but he was a beast after curfew. Totally caught me off guard and it's understandable why it hasn't aired until now.

Anyway in watching this show, it has made me appreciate some coaches on a new level. Bill Walsh, for example, was painted with the genius label so much I never really knew how good he was at keeping his team's motivated and on his page. Conversely, many of the old Cowboys were a bit critical of Tom Landry's cold approach.

What HOF coaches, from any sport, do you think you could have played for? On the flip side, what HOF coaches do you think you would have struggled with?

Here's the coaches I think I could have played for ...

NFL
Hank Stram
Don Shula
Bill Walsh
Jimmy Johnson
Mike Holmgren

Basketball (NBA and college)
Dean Smith
Phil Jackson
John Wooden
Al McGuire
Chuck Daly
Don Nelson
... I'm sure there's more

Haven't given baseball enough thought yet.

 

I've only got to watch several episodes of "America's Game" (my brother in-law has a dish. I have expanded cable). The show just wraps you up in the stories on how these teams got there and the thoughts, feelings, and what each player and coach were doing at that time.

I have a few coaches I could have played for...

NFL and College FB
George Halas
Bill Walsh
Vince Lombardi
Bill Parcells
Jimmy Johnson
Hayden Fry
Bobby Bowden
Joe Paterno
Darryl Royal

NBA and College BB
Bobby Knight
Dr. Tom Davis
Chuck Daly
Phil Jackson
Ray Meyer
Al McGuire
Johnny Orr
K.C. Jones
John Wooden
Buzz Levick (my college's long time coach. He retired before I got up there.)

 

FOOTBALL
Tony D'Amato
Bud Kilmer

BASKETBALL
Pete Bell
Norman Dale

BASEBALL
Mike Leak
Lou Brown

 

Dale was all recruiting and hype. He was the Bobby Bowden of his era. Suck up to Chitwood's guardian and pseudo-grandmother. Once he's on the team, throw the ball to Chitwood and get out of the way. Shooter was the Tex Winter of the operation -- guy gets the chance to design one play and he comes up with the picket fence.

 

None. I sucked.

OK, Mike Leak

 

I'd have to go along with most of the guys in Bubbler's list, but I would have loved to have played for Bobby Knight just so I could have been the player who KTFO'd him after he choked me.

 

My only reason for adding Knight to my list is that I can put up with his schtick. My high school coach is a mirror image of him, when it comes to cursing kids out, acting the damn fool, and being salty to anyone who gets fresh with him. Knight would be a walk in the park for me.

 

Some good names on this list. I'll add Bobby Cox.

 

Not only that, but Dale almost gave the state title away with stupid over-coaching in the final seconds.