Classification Essay

Chris Owens Professor McCrary EN130 29 October 2012 Types of NFL Head Coaches Many people think that NFL Head Coaches are just the ones in charge of the team, and call the plays on game days. There are many styles that different Head Coaches have – Players Coach, Motivator, Strategist, and Team Builder – these styles need to be recognized. Most fans think that the HC is the leader, and tries to set their team up to be successful. Certain coaches use different styles that they implement into their coaching, and that’s how they get things done with their teams.

Many of the styles are similar in some instances, but very different in other ways. Player Coaches are able to look at the players and the game from a different perspective, because the coach was in the players shoes at one point an time. He knows how relate to players better than some other coaches, when it comes to getting the job done and going through the grind of the season. Coaches like Herm Edwards and Mike Singletary are good examples of player coaches. Players’ see the coach as someone who has experience as a player, and that he really knows what he’s talking about when he is instructing.

Players tend to have a little bit more respect for player coaches, especially when it’s their first time getting that HC job. Player coaches ten to be very charismatic and up beat when it comes to getting their players ready for the game. Another very charismatic and passionate leader is the Motivator coaching style. This type of really knows how to inspire the team and get them on the right track to be successful. John Madden and Vince Lombardi are two legendary coaches that were great motivators and lead their teams to multiple Super Bowls.

Players enjoy playing for a great motivating coach. Motivational coaches tend to land those big time free agents and are able to keep the stars that are already playing for him happy. Coaches with this style tend to get the most out of the players performance and have them performing at a high level on Sundays. They are known to be great speakers, and always have that inspirational pre-game speech to get the team ready greatness. On the other hand, great motivational coaches may not always have the greatest game plan for a game.

Motivators sometimes just hope that their players are better than the other team on that given day. The third coaching style relies less on the hoo-rah of the game and inspiration of players. This style relies more on out-smarting his opponent by being more strategic. The Strategist is a brilliant tactician, and looks at the football field like a chessboard. The Strategist coach is always trying to evolve his game plan and always wants to put his players in the best situations to win games. Strategists are always thinking of new ways to progress player and own abilities.

Bill Walsh and Tom Landry are two legendary Strategist head coaches. They came up with totally different styles of offense that changed the game of football forever. Strategist coaches know how to build up their young players and keeping his veteran players at the top of their game. However, being the smartest coach doesn’t always lead to wins if you don’t have the right players or the ability to motivate them. Coaches must try to be men of different hats to be successful head coaches in the NFL. This last coaching style takes traits from all of the previous coaching styles discussed.

The Team Builder coach usually comes into a situation where the team isn’t that good and trying build their team to be very competitive again. Team building coaches are almost part scout and part general manager when it comes to running their team. Team building coaches are always looking for that next stud college player or that big time free agent to add to their team’s talent level. Bill Walsh and Joe Gibbs are examples of great team building coaches, that have took teams from worst to first. Once a Team Building coach gets their personnel together, they must be able to progress his players and inspire them to be great.

If that can be done the sky is the limit. Although each Head Coach may have a different style of how they want run their team. If their style is a Player’s Coach, Motivator, Strategist, or Team Builder; in the end, their goal is for their teams to be great and to become Super bowl Champions. Not many people know of the different styles that different head coaches bring to the table, and that has to be recognized by the fans. Football is a team game, and when you put the right coach with the right assistants and players. It’s no telling how far that team will go.