If you love to watch sports or have ever played one yourself, then you know the value of good coaching. A truly great coach can push a team to achieve its fullest potential, and history has shown over and over that top-notch coaching often makes the difference between victory and defeat no matter the talent level of the players. Here are some of the most profoundly impactful coaches ever to lead a sports team:
Scotty Bowman
Many sports aficionados consider Bowman to be the best coast in the history of the National Hockey League. He coached for over three decades and seemed to have a golden touch when it came to leading teams toward triumph. He guided his players toward 28 playoff appearances and currently holds three major NHL records as a coach: the most Stanley Cup Victories, the most wins, and the most playoff wins.
Don Shula
Don Shula had a glowing impact in the realm of professional football. He led the Baltimore Colts to the NFL Championship and went on to lead the Miami Dolphins to two Super Bowl victories. He’s also known as the man who coached the only football team ever to complete a perfect season – in 1972, under his leadership, the Dolphins went 17-0 and then went on to win the Super Bowl.
John Wooden
There are legions of sports fans and experts who consider John Wooden to be the greatest coach of all time in the history of any sport. He led the UCLA Bruins to 10 NCAA Championships, and he also guided his teams to a whopping 88 consecutive wins between 1971 and 1974. Wooden was also widely known for instilling powerful values in his athletes, beyond just the importance of wining.
Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson started out as a professional basketball player before he became a coach. He is famous for having coached the Chicago Bulls during Michael Jordan’s glory days, guiding the team toward six NBA Championships. Jackson also coached Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal on the Los Angeles Lakers, leading the team to five NBA Championships. He currently holds the record for the most championships in NBA history. Nicknamed “The Zen Master,” Jackson is noted for including aspects of Eastern philosophy in his coaching style.
Pat Summitt
Pat Summitt has achieved the most wins ever in the realm of women’s college basketball. She led the Lady Vol’s to eight National Championships, which makes her the coach to have earned the second most National Championships in NCAA history. Summitt has been named NCAA Coach of the Year a whopping seven times and holds the honor of having been named the Naismith Coach of the 20th Century.
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