Dean vs. K: Round 1,535,203
ESPN has provided the latest fodder for combatants in the ongoing struggle between the Tar Heel and Blue Devil basketball fandoms. In its latest ESPN25 poll, they've rated the best COACHES of the last 25 years -- across all sports. Their "expert panel" has Dean Smith No.1 and Mike Krzyzewski No. 3 (Scotty Bowman is No. 2), while the fan poll has K No. 1 and Dean No. 2.
It appears the panel has rated coaches for their full body of work, not just from 1979-2004. It would explain Bowman's high ranking -- many of his wins and Cups came with the Canadiens in the 70s -- as well as the placement of Don Shula and Joe Pa in the top 10. If it were solely based on the past 25 years, K should be ahead of Dean, in my opinion. It's not a blowout, but it's K.
Anyone with me on that assessment?
Comments (2)
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Some thoughts:
K is a great basketball coach and is certainly one of the top two or three, but I think Dean was better. K builds great teams and wins a lot of games. Dean built great teams, won a lot of games and totally changed the way basketball was played. He's almost single-handedly responsible for the shot clock.
Dean has also been able to win big with little talent. (Okay, he's also been able to take big talent and water it down, but he consistently won a lot of games even when the talent wasn't so great.) K wins big with big talent, but he's not so talented teams didn't do so great. (I think he "hurt his back" the last time the talent wasn't there.)
K may have more national championships than Dean, but Dean was a more impactful coach, in my mind.
Two caveats: I went to UNC, so I'm biased. And Herb Sendek is a better coach than either of them. :)
Posted on July 28, 2004 5:18 PM
It's funny that the top guys manage the fewest players. I'd throw Tuna (Bill Parcells) near the top. Not only has he been successful working with 45 behemoths with 'tudes a year, he's done it with several different teams and systems and management groups.That takes skill!
Posted on August 4, 2004 12:12 PM