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Originally Posted by Mutt
I don't think any coach who had the best talent at the time should be considered among the greatest, unless they showed very good results with some teams that had less than the best talent. That takes out Phil Jackson, Red Auerbach, John Wooden, Scotty Bowman for me. I don't know enough about Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers to know whether he had the best talent. Coaching a team of great talent isn't as easy as just filling out a lineup card, and most of the coaches who coached dynasty teams got themselves those jobs by being very good in lower leagues/colleges so it's a bit unfair that I exclude them.
Parcells and Belichick were/are great coaches, could make ordinary players good and good players great as part of their team concept. College football is so much about recruiting and breaking rules as far as eligibility of players goes, makes for a very uneven playing field.
There is no sport that comes close to being a 'coach's game' as American football is.
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Focusing on the last few points of your post, I have a name to throw into the hat. Granted, it's actually early into his career, but based on what he's done so far, he fits the bill as a coach who modifies his game plan to fit the players he has on his team. I will also admit I'm biased as hell, but I'd like to throw Chip Kelly's name out there.
Look at what he's done in his short career:
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During his four seasons at Oregon, he led the team to three Pac-12 Conference championships and four BCS game appearances.
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In his first season, Kelly reversed the Eagles' fortunes of the previous year. Taking over a team that went 4-12 in 2012, Kelly led the Eagles to a 10-6 record and the NFC Eastern Division Championship.
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As an Eagles, fan, I admit I'm biased. But I think Kelly is going to be one of the great coaches in history.
