Is a coaching tree indicative of successful coach?
I wonder how much correlation there is between a successful coach and his or her coaching tree. Obviously the number one indicator is wins and losses, but I also notice a lot of really successful coaches also have successful coaching trees. How does Harbaughs compare to other coaches?
September 21st, 2019 at 10:32 PM ^
Why are we looking at the coaching tree? Can’t we just skip this extra step and just look directly at Jim’s lack of success? Feel like this is definitely a work smarter not harder situation.
September 21st, 2019 at 10:48 PM ^
I guess it's just another data point in "He Ain't That Great: The Football Life and Times of Jim Harbaugh"
September 21st, 2019 at 10:34 PM ^
For contrast, here is Nick Saban’s, although obviously he’s been coaching for longer.
September 21st, 2019 at 10:39 PM ^
Disappointed in the Mark Dantonio click through. You're better than that.
September 21st, 2019 at 10:42 PM ^
Haha, I saw that after I posted and wondered if anyone would notice. Nice sleuthing.
September 22nd, 2019 at 12:01 AM ^
I don't think these trees mean much. And I can't say Saban's looks better than Harbaugh's really. It's longer, but he's been a college HC for much longer. Plus, not any assistant can be considered your protege and part of your tree. Kiffin was well-known and had already been a head coach before becoming an assistant under Saban.
September 21st, 2019 at 10:34 PM ^
Keep searching for ways to protect Harbaugh
September 21st, 2019 at 10:37 PM ^
I’m confused by your response, however I believe you’re way more confused than I am. I thought I was drunk.
September 21st, 2019 at 10:46 PM ^
I could be wrong, but isn't Belichick's tree total shit?
September 22nd, 2019 at 12:38 AM ^
Yes, because there is no correlation between how successful a coach is and how successful subsequent coaches who worked with them are
September 21st, 2019 at 11:22 PM ^
Jim Harbaugh should make like a coaching tree and get out of here!
September 21st, 2019 at 11:25 PM ^
And leaf?
September 22nd, 2019 at 8:00 AM ^
That’s about as funny as a screen door on a battleship, Biff.
September 21st, 2019 at 11:50 PM ^
Yes and no
Some assistants are excellent and move on, some are cast aside and stumble up based on the previous position and school.
Not all of Saban's assistants are good head coaches, some are great. Its clear he cuts guys loose he no longer wants. Because they're Saban assistants from that great football school Alabama they fall up the coaching ranks until exposed.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:59 AM ^
Not really, no. Charlie Strong is from the Meyer coaching tree. Jim McElwain is from the Saban coaching tree. Taggart is from Harbaugh’s, and I don’t know how many are from the Belichek coaching tree who have been hired away from NE to try and replicate that success somewhere else and failed.
I could learn about football in 1:1 lessons from Vince Lombardi, Bill Walsh, Bill Belichek, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer and Tom Osborne and still be a god awful coach. All depends on how that specific coach applies what they’ve learned and how they adapt to the game around them.
September 22nd, 2019 at 11:09 AM ^
Your list includes some dubious “tree” coaches— Scot Shafer had already been coaching for 16 years before he spent just one season with Harbaugh in 2007 at Stanford. By that measure you’d also have to put Shafer on RR’s tree.