What makes a great head coach?
His record.
But, and I've heard this more than once -- it's not about what a coach knows, it's whether he can translate that knowledge to players. To get them to understand what they're doing and then do it. They've got to be able to motivate players, lead staffs and politic with fans and boosters.
There's also some luck involved. Would Auburn or Clemson have a national title in this day and age without Cam or Deshaun Watson? A season ending injury to either could've spelled the end of those championship seasons.
I think coaches are fired too fast these days. You look at some of the greats -- Bear Bryant and Eddie Robinson come to mind -- and both had down seasons throughout their careers (Bear only had one losing season, but he had some 6-5 marks in there too).
I also know there are coaches who win later in their careers after years of successful but not great football. Jerry Moore at Appalachian State, for example. He started coaching at North Texas in 1979, but didn't win his first I-AA championship with the Mountaineers until 2005 (he'd been there 16 years, and in 2004 fans were calling for his head after a 6-5 record. The team went on to win three straight national titles).
I don't think anybody would now argue that Moore isn't a great football coach, but before 2005 there were lots of folks up there in Boone, NC wanting him gone.
I think the jury's out on whether Muschamp's going to be successful as a head coach. I think he can if he gets time and gets
And the pressures at an SEC school with the money involved are there so coaches don't get a lot of wiggle room.
Add the constant flow of information on the internet (the hype) and it's changed the dynamics surrounding college sports in ways I don't think anybody has figured out yet.
