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Head coaching question
Posted on 7/27/26 at 7:56 am
Posted on 7/27/26 at 7:56 am
What is more important for a modern day SEC head coach to be successful? Is it team management or is it Xs and Os?
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Posted on 7/27/26 at 7:59 am to Landmass
Team Management
An HC needs to be a CEO, provide big picture program guidance in the offseason, and manage the clock in-game.
An HC needs to be a CEO, provide big picture program guidance in the offseason, and manage the clock in-game.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 8:00 am to Landmass
Money.
Most players will jump for money. You coach them up and the first chance they get for more money they'll be gone.
Most players will jump for money. You coach them up and the first chance they get for more money they'll be gone.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 8:03 am to Landmass
quote:
Is it team management or is it Xs and Os?
Team/roster management has always been the most important for a successful HC.
It is more critical today given the transfer portal/NIL.
The CEO type coach who focuses on the whole of the program and can hire good Coordinators to trust with the majority of Xs and Os in prep and execution while selectively intervening on calls they retain for their decision will be most successful IMO.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 8:10 am to Landmass
I think it is more than one answer.
Some coaches are good at managing the whole team overall and hire good coaches.
Some coaches are great at one side of ball and stay heavily involved in it yet still manage the team overall.
There is no wrong answer, each coach has strengths.
Also to add, teams are now hiring GM’s which takes pressure off coach and allows them more time with players coaching
Some coaches are good at managing the whole team overall and hire good coaches.
Some coaches are great at one side of ball and stay heavily involved in it yet still manage the team overall.
There is no wrong answer, each coach has strengths.
Also to add, teams are now hiring GM’s which takes pressure off coach and allows them more time with players coaching
Posted on 7/27/26 at 8:18 am to Landmass
I think in the NIL era it will trend more heavily to X’s and O’s
Posted on 7/27/26 at 8:19 am to Landmass
I don’t think it matters. I think it’s about finding the coach that can leverage their skills. The best x and o guy will beat an average personnel guy and vice versa. No different than offensive minded coaches vs defensive minded. Winners win. That’s why fit is so important
Posted on 7/27/26 at 8:22 am to Landmass
Most programs today have a roster management department in the NIL era. Depending on how well that’s run, I lean more into the mental side of the head coach (x’s/o’s) as well as motivational/demeanor.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 8:53 am to bamabaseballsec
After thinking about this for a bit, I am of the opinion that you can't suck at either but balancing it out is probably the best. Good Xs and Os guys can lose a locker room if they suck at team / personnel management. But it doesn't matter how good you are at management if you suck at Xs and Os.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 8:59 am to Landmass
In the NIL era, I think team management is crucial. The coach has to find a way to manage the roster in a way that makes the best players happy and want to stay, plus building team chemistry at the same time. The most talented team won't accomplish anything if they don't have chemistry and some less talented teams could win it all with a lot of chemistry.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 9:05 am to Landmass
As a head coach, being a good team manager is better than being a good X's and O's guy. X's and O's can be left to coordinators and assistant coaches to some degree, but your head coach has to be the team manager and tone setter for the program no matter what.
Bonus points if you're a good program builders AND a good X's and O's guy
Bonus points if you're a good program builders AND a good X's and O's guy
Posted on 7/27/26 at 9:19 am to Landmass
He has to be able to navigate NIL and revenue sharing to be able to build the roster through the portal and recruiting.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 9:21 am to Landmass
Right now I would say not going insane at that fact that your entire roster becomes a free agent every offseason.
Something happened to Cutty Sark After Dark between 2024 and 2025 after the tOSU dumpster fire.
Something happened to Cutty Sark After Dark between 2024 and 2025 after the tOSU dumpster fire.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 9:21 am to GreatPumpkin
quote:
think in the NIL era it will trend more heavily to X’s and O’s
nah. It will trend towards whoever can kiss the most booster arse. X's and O's will be relegated to a permanent coordinators and support staff class, just like the NFL
Posted on 7/27/26 at 9:54 am to Landmass
Yes
Posted on 7/27/26 at 10:24 am to Landmass
X’s and O’s. Everybody in the league has talent now. An elite schemer wins games
Posted on 7/27/26 at 11:01 am to Landmass
quote:
What is more important for a modern day SEC head coach to be successful? Is it team management or is it Xs and Os?
All of the above.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 11:32 am to Landmass
Ideally youd have a great x's and o's mind that is particulary good at evaluating talent that fits his system but also have good character and won't be lazy, unmotivated, or a locker room problem. Players that can coast on talent alone are rare
This post was edited on 7/27/26 at 11:33 am
Posted on 7/27/26 at 11:47 am to Landmass
Reality is setting in that Pete is your coach hahahaha
Posted on 7/27/26 at 12:00 pm to Landmass
quote:
What is more important for a modern day SEC head coach to be successful? Is it team management or is it Xs and Os?
It mostly just boils down to talent - however it’s acquired.
A lot of so-called mediocre coaches have won national titles and Super Bowls. Not too many mediocre rosters have, though.
Only two coaches have won a national title at more than one program. None have won a Super Bowl with more than one franchise. Success at that level has a lot of variables and is difficult to replicate in more than one place.
Get the best players, hire competent coaches, and be a good enough leader to keep the Ferrari out of the ditch.
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