Players that coach…why do they fail?
Recently the University of Illinois, my favorite school by a long way, lost their top assistant coach Tracy Webster to the University of Kentucky. This has caused an uproar to Illini Nation and has disturbed me a little bit. I’m a die hard fan who will live and die with whatever decisions are made but the decision that is to be made by coach Bruce Weber is a big one. He has to pick someone who can recruit Chicago well, has a good name and recognition. A name being thrown around right now is Dickey Simpkins, formerly of the beloved Chicago Bulls. It got me thinking a little bit about former players that have coached and how well they done as coaches whether in the pros or college. Now I’m going to leave some out of course because I’m going off memory but bear with me a little bit here.
Isiah Thomas- I’m still messed up by the spelling and pronunciation of his name. This guy was an amazing basketball player and clearly one of the top 50 players ever to play the game, but he hasn’t faired so well in his coaching and especially gm roles. Isiah coached the Pacers and was let go by Larry Bird there. He didn’t do bad. Now he coaches the Knicks in an attempt to clean up his mess there. Isiah is a .500 coach so far in his career. I think this year will make or break him as a coach and could be his last chance.
Clyde Drexler-University of Houston- This didn’t last long at all. Being a college coach is much tougher than a pro coach in that it is a full time year round job. Not that being a pro coach isn’t tough it’s crazy, but Clyde lasted a season here and realized it just wasn’t for him.
Bill Russell- In my opinion, one of the top 10 players of all time and the guy I would want on my team over anyone to play the game. Statistically wasn’t that great of an offensive player but there hasn’t been a defender like him since he retired. Bill Russell actually player coached the Celtics very successfully and had a decent run with the Sonics in the mid 70’s before bombing as the Kings coach for not even a full season.
Let’s change gears a little bit….
Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Pat Riley, Scott Skiles, Byron Scott, Don Nelson, George Karl…never mind. Players can and are great coaches go ahead and hire Dickey Simpkins Illinois and sign some good kids for me so I start to sleep at night.
