Best coaches of all time

This is really interesting hearing about Pardee and Gibbs from you Hogskin and from you DBB. I had thought Pardee maybe got a bum rap since he seemed to do ok in Houston and he was coach of the year twice in the late 70's right?

Another question about Gibbs for you guys. It's more of a general question about assistant coaches really. Today we know all about offensive and defensive coordinators and who the hot head coaching candidates out there are. For just about everyone on this site, names like Lovie Smith, Mike Mularkey and Marvin Lewis were pretty commonplace before they became head coaches. Was it the same back when Gibbs was coaching in San Diego? Were football fans aware of the third person in the Coryell-Fouts-Gibbs triumvirate or were coordinators and assistant coaches not such a big deal?

Smootsmack here is a pretty interesting article about the NFL back in the day
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7423018

Smootsmack here is a pretty interesting article about the NFL back in the day
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7423018

Thanks. Good find!

I think Pardee was coach of the year in 1979, though I could be wrong. You can read between the lines to see what Dave Butz thought about him... (from WarpathInsiders (http://redskins.theinsiders.com/2/53814.html))

Butz and his teammates went through another transition in 1978 when former Redskins linebacker Jack Pardee replaced Allen as the head coach. "I think it put (the defense) on the field more," Butz said. "George was a very truthful, straightforward guy. He would tell you something and then turn around and tell someone else the exact same thing. He didn’t pull any punches. Where some of the other coaches I played for didn’t do that."

I definitely remember when Gibbs was hired. I distinctly remembering my mom telling me he'd been hired and I pretty much said "Who the hell is that?" (or whatever I would have said as a ten year old). The second she told me he came from Air Coryell and Fouts, I was very excited. Air Coryell was such a blast to watch back in the day... pretty much any football fan was aware of it then, much like The Greatest Show on Turf is known today.

So too answer your question smootsmack... I honestly don't know! My "elder" was definitely aware of who he was though.

where the hell is DITKA on this list of greatest coaches of all time!!!!

I'd add Spurrier to that list of great coaches. Name one more feared college coach in our era? I would much rather see Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, the current 'cane coach, etc way before I'd like to see Spurrier. He could score in no time!

As far as NFL coaches. He'll be #1 on that list in 30 years! ;)

nah you good

spurrier was a good coach at the college level, i agree with you. Anyone who can win some games at Duke deserves to be on the list, lol