I want to challenge the wisdom of the generally accepted practice of new head coaches firing all of the old staff and bringing in "their" guys.
I can't think of another industry in which this practice is replicated. When a new CEO takes over for a company, does he/she immediately fire the 10 top senior executives? No. So are for-profit companies making a mistake by not emulating the coaching industry?
We're told that the new coach needs "his guys" because they are used to working together...there is continuity there. But don't you then lose the continuity that existed between the players and the coaches that are let go, as well as the continuity between those fired coaches and every other stakeholder (media, administration, fans)?
The real reason coaches bring in their people is because they are taking care of their buddies. They have to bring as many of their buddies with them because those that are left behind will have no job security as the new regime moves in and brings "their guys" with them. It's a carousel, and it can only be stopped if everyone stops together. Stopping the carousel would be better for the assistant coaches (as they wouldn't have to worry as much about moving their family every 2 years) and would probably be better for the athletes to get more consistency during their already brief college careers.
I'm not saying that a head coach should be required to keep the entire inherited staff. But they should be given a fair shake. Instead, these guys just get tossed aside because they're not buddies with the new guy. I don't believe that's in the overall best interest of the program.
I can't think of another industry in which this practice is replicated. When a new CEO takes over for a company, does he/she immediately fire the 10 top senior executives? No. So are for-profit companies making a mistake by not emulating the coaching industry?
We're told that the new coach needs "his guys" because they are used to working together...there is continuity there. But don't you then lose the continuity that existed between the players and the coaches that are let go, as well as the continuity between those fired coaches and every other stakeholder (media, administration, fans)?
The real reason coaches bring in their people is because they are taking care of their buddies. They have to bring as many of their buddies with them because those that are left behind will have no job security as the new regime moves in and brings "their guys" with them. It's a carousel, and it can only be stopped if everyone stops together. Stopping the carousel would be better for the assistant coaches (as they wouldn't have to worry as much about moving their family every 2 years) and would probably be better for the athletes to get more consistency during their already brief college careers.
I'm not saying that a head coach should be required to keep the entire inherited staff. But they should be given a fair shake. Instead, these guys just get tossed aside because they're not buddies with the new guy. I don't believe that's in the overall best interest of the program.
