Joe Gilliam expects to see women coaching football

[TTP77]

"Coaching is educating," he said. "When we look back at our lives, most of us would agree that some of the people that had the biggest effect on us as educators were women. They have an innate ability to teach.

"I think as we move forward, we're going to see more and more women getting involved as football coaches. And they will be good at it."

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100531/COLUMNIST0202/5310328/David+Climer++Joe+Gilliam+expects+to+see+women+coa ching+football

Thoughts? :)

[Yvette]

I think it has merit. If girls are playing until they no longer can, they've still spent time learning the game. Let them coach, the ones whose passion for the game remains.

"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

[TitansFan23]

I could see it to a certain extent.

I could envision a female HC in youth football, but...

There would come a point where a female HC probably wouldn't be able to get male athletes to respond the same as another male would.

There are dynamics involved (male ego) that would make that type of relationship complicated.

Hell, a lot of the male coaches have a hard time keeping athletes in check.

[TTP77]

I agree with that only to the extent that it should only work that way in the beginning. A lot of athletes need to check themselves anyway IMO. It might take awhile to get it acceptable into the college level but I think it could work eventually. It's the pro's where it would be a major issue.

[TitansGiantsBears]

There are several successful coaches who have very sparse resumes as players.

Paul Johnson, head coach for Georgia Tech never played organized football on any level.

Current Duke head coach David Cutcliffe played only high school ball but not at the college level.

Bobby Hauck, the HC at UNLV never played college ball, yet led Montana to seven straight Big Sky titles and three appearances in the national championship game for their level.

The current head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, Todd Haley, has never played organized football on any level.

Former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach also never played organized football.

Much-maligned George O'Leary also hasn't played organized football at any level although he lied about it for years and padded his resume which caused him to lose the HC position at Notre Dame after he was hired for the job. Still he led Georgia Tech to many conference titles and has turned around the UCF program.

John Madden never played in the NFL. He was drafted by the Eagles but a knee injury in camp ended his career before it took off. Hes' done alright for himself with the highest winning percentage of any coach in NFL history, won a Super Bowl, and inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Bill Walsh never played past the college level and even then he wasn't a standout player. He won four Super Bowls as a head coach and is a Hall of Famer.

Bill Belichick played a little college football at Wesleyan University, but never played in the NFL. He's won three Super Bowls as a head coach and lost one. Before that he was the defensive coordinator in two of the Giants Super Bowl wins.

An injury nearly killed sophomore QB Mike Shanahan while playing for Eastern Illinois in 1971. (Was actually read his last rites by a priest). So he really didn't "play" past high school. Still he won 2 Super Bowls and served as offensive coordinator for another.

Al Davis didn't play organized football. Despite his recent antics, his record as an owner and former AFL commissioner are outstanding. It's easy to forget how many championship teams he had a hand in building. He's a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

NBA legend Chuck Daly didn't play organized basketball on any level still he led the Detroit Pistons to two NBA titles and coached the Dream Team to a gold medal in '92. He too is a Hall of Fame coach.

My point in all this? If you've proven yourself a student of the game and have proven yourself as a coach, players will listen. I would have no problem playing for a female coach.

[TTP77]

Flag football is gaining popularity for kids both boys and girls. There are contact leagues for girls too. :) There is a professional football league for women and no it's not the lingerie league most guys know about. :lol

I remember playing football with my cousins when we were a lot younger. We played contact and it was down and dirty. If there had been an opportunity to play football i woulda been all over it. :)

[Yvette]

I would have no problem playing for a female coach.
Our military has many examples of men serving under the leadership of women. I can still see some athletes having a problem with it, though.

[JimOkc]

Thank you Goldie. :lol

Seriously, why not.

A few years back, at least some Oklahoma High Schools, started letting young ladies play football. If I recall correctly, there were 3 on my nephew's last team.

In the 1970s, my aunt Penny (actually my mom's best friend since childhood) tried out for the Oklahoma City Dolls.

Nice read. Good comments!

[TTP77]

Lol I did think about that movie. It's certainly an interesting thought :)

[TitansGiantsBears]

Our military has many examples of men serving under the leadership of women. I can still see some athletes having a problem with it, though.

Unfortunately, you're probably right.