A head coach is very different from a coordinator. In college we had a great OC (he's now at Michigan we were Div II) but was/is an X's and O's geek (admittedly!). Whereas our HEAD COACH was a leader of men, a delegater, a media mogul, a sideline presence, effervescent; very different job description. Unless a coordinator has HC experience it is hard to know how well they will handle their new job. Actually, special teams coaches have more experience in working with the whole team and all of the coaches than do coordinators. Perhaps that is why John Harbaugh was a surprise success; that and his diverse background.
To judge a HC candidate by his OC/DC success would be shallow and insufficient. The team should want to know how well the applicant will function as a head coach. How are his leadership skills? How keen on game management/strategy? How does he handle himself in public? He does not have to be well known or famous.
One reason the older guys seem to be disappearing is that today's players have more rights and don't respond well to being bossed around and bullied by coaches. The more modern coaching philosophy seems more prevalent in younger coaches, plus they tend to have more energy, and relate better to the ideas of others.
As GM, I would be looking for a new HEAD COACH, no matter how astute he may be as a coordinator, and preferably he has a diverse background working for several staffs in several different capacities.
RW
To judge a HC candidate by his OC/DC success would be shallow and insufficient. The team should want to know how well the applicant will function as a head coach. How are his leadership skills? How keen on game management/strategy? How does he handle himself in public? He does not have to be well known or famous.
One reason the older guys seem to be disappearing is that today's players have more rights and don't respond well to being bossed around and bullied by coaches. The more modern coaching philosophy seems more prevalent in younger coaches, plus they tend to have more energy, and relate better to the ideas of others.
As GM, I would be looking for a new HEAD COACH, no matter how astute he may be as a coordinator, and preferably he has a diverse background working for several staffs in several different capacities.
RW