A “coaching tree” refers to a coach’s assistants and players who later became successful coaches themselves, but they break under their own weight when they grow too long.
Woody Hayes and numerous others were together at Miami University. And Hayes had numerous coaches on-staff whom later found success elsewhere. That Ohio/Midwest/Notre Dame/Big Ten-type tree would be worth exploring.
Great piece. I also wonder how the proliferation of easy-to-access primary and secondary source online resources changes how we view those trees. In times past, you used to have to land a job with Bill Walsh or Paul Johnson to learn their offenses — now, you can learn much of any offense or defense online.
I think what will end up happening is we will focus more on how coaching style, rather than scheme, is passed down — for example, Cignetti as a spiritual successor to Saban’s overall approach to coaching, regardless of how much match coverage concepts Cignetti does or doesn’t run as the years go on.
Thanks re the piece. Yeah, what is it that a coach passes on to a player or assistant? Is it scheme, practice and team organization, techniques, or softer skills like interacting with players, parents, and boosters? The impact of technology changes is interesting too. Pop Warner taught his offense to others via a correspondence course.
Great stuff, as always!
Woody Hayes and numerous others were together at Miami University. And Hayes had numerous coaches on-staff whom later found success elsewhere. That Ohio/Midwest/Notre Dame/Big Ten-type tree would be worth exploring.
I'll have to look at them. I occurred too late in history for this article, but still a great story.
Great piece. I also wonder how the proliferation of easy-to-access primary and secondary source online resources changes how we view those trees. In times past, you used to have to land a job with Bill Walsh or Paul Johnson to learn their offenses — now, you can learn much of any offense or defense online.
I think what will end up happening is we will focus more on how coaching style, rather than scheme, is passed down — for example, Cignetti as a spiritual successor to Saban’s overall approach to coaching, regardless of how much match coverage concepts Cignetti does or doesn’t run as the years go on.
Thanks re the piece. Yeah, what is it that a coach passes on to a player or assistant? Is it scheme, practice and team organization, techniques, or softer skills like interacting with players, parents, and boosters? The impact of technology changes is interesting too. Pop Warner taught his offense to others via a correspondence course.