Head Coach Candidates 2026 Edition

[TeamRamrod]

8 hours ago, ChesterCopperpot1 said:

It's also a better quality of life. You work maybe 6 mos. out of the year. In college you get 2 weeks off if you are lucky. 

 

I know an NFL assistant personally who also has experience in college. Said the quality of life is night and day. 

What do you think NFL coaches are doing in the offseason?

[Callidus]

15 minutes ago, TeamRamrod said:

What do you think NFL coaches are doing in the offseason?

Definitely not watching tape, planning free agency and draft moves with the gm, deciding which players they want to keep, coming up with new wrinkles for their playbooks, giving stuff to players to work on in the "offseason". 

 

They just eat sandwiches in between naps and taking a shit. 

Edited Saturday at 08:03 AM by Callidus

[oldschool]

7 hours ago, Strunk'sDessert said:

I mostly agree with @ChesterCopperpot1 on this.

 

If comparing the Temple HC gig vs. Any NFL HC job, sure it's not even a competition. However, if you're comparing SEC/Big10 HC good to NFL gigs, I don't think it's a contest on who is putting in more hours a year - it's the collegiate level in those leagues. 

 

Quality of life is always hard to quantify - different people prioritize different things. I'd compare it with audit vs. tax in public accounting. If you can sell, socialize, brown-nose and love living out of a suitcase, you're probably going to like audit. If you just want to grind 4-5 months out of year while almost always sleeping in your own bed, tax may be a better fit. 

 

I'm not acquaintances with any of these people, but I have talked to various low level Titans, Vols, Vandy coaches through the years that have been at both levels. I don't recall any of them ever saying the Power 5 level was easier than the NFL. I do recall a couple making it very clear the opposite statement (NFL was less time) was true.

 

Didn't think it was much of a debate to be honest.

 

Wrong. NFL Coaches work 80 hours a week and not for only 6 months. College coaches have staff to recruit and big programs have GMS to run the operation. Its pure fiction to claim college coaches work more and have more stress. 

[oldschool]

7 hours ago, Strunk'sDessert said:

I mostly agree with @ChesterCopperpot1 on this.

 

If comparing the Temple HC gig vs. Any NFL HC job, sure it's not even a competition. However, if you're comparing SEC/Big10 HC good to NFL gigs, I don't think it's a contest on who is putting in more hours a year - it's the collegiate level in those leagues. 

 

Quality of life is always hard to quantify - different people prioritize different things. I'd compare it with audit vs. tax in public accounting. If you can sell, socialize, brown-nose and love living out of a suitcase, you're probably going to like audit. If you just want to grind 4-5 months out of year while almost always sleeping in your own bed, tax may be a better fit. 

 

I'm not acquaintances with any of these people, but I have talked to various low level Titans, Vols, Vandy coaches through the years that have been at both levels. I don't recall any of them ever saying the Power 5 level was easier than the NFL. I do recall a couple making it very clear the opposite statement (NFL was less time) was true.

 

Didn't think it was much of a debate to be honest.

 

I know people with the Maryland football program, a shit program I get it, and they claim the exact opposite of what you say you were told. The life of a recruiter or someone heavily involved in it work a ton but that isn't the norm anymore for big schools. The HCs and Coordinators aren't traversing the country to recruit. they have staff to do it and they get involved with big time recruits to close the deal.

[scine09]

3 hours ago, oldschool said:

 

Wrong. NFL Coaches work 80 hours a week and not for only 6 months. College coaches have staff to recruit and big programs have GMS to run the operation. Its pure fiction to claim college coaches work more and have more stress. 

The one difference is NFL coaches don’t have to deal with boosters/alumni/etc which is probably worse than any people that NFL coaches have to deal with.  So in that sense it’s less stressful.

[oldschool]

9 minutes ago, scine09 said:

The one difference is NFL coaches don’t have to deal with boosters/alumni/etc which is probably worse than any people that NFL coaches have to deal with.  So in that sense it’s less stressful.

 

Thats more an AD issue.

[titansfan]

3 hours ago, oldschool said:

 

Wrong. NFL Coaches work 80 hours a week and not for only 6 months. College coaches have staff to recruit and big programs have GMS to run the operation. Its pure fiction to claim college coaches work more and have more stress. 

 

 

College coaches have more responsibility and thus more stress This is pretty well accepted across the board. They must synchronize, cooperate and tolerate boosters, alumni, and politicians. You get to put your thumbprint on the program but there is so much more to being a college coach than just foot all especially now. 

 

It is NFL coaches who have more organizational structure. Only recently are College coaches actually getting assistance from what is essentially a general manager. That's a new phenomenon. And your claim that they have others do all the recruiting is simplistic. Yes, you have assigned recruiters but unless your Saban you are traveling days after your bowl game to secure that 4 star RB in Mobile, Alabama. 

Edited Saturday at 03:26 PM by titansfan

[Lars]

7 hours ago, Callidus said:

Definitely not watching tape, planning free agency and draft moves with the gm, deciding which players they want to keep, coming up with new wrinkles for their playbooks, giving stuff to players to work on in the "offseason". 

 

They just eat sandwiches in between naps and taking a shit. 

They mostly play video games. 

[titansfan]

That being said, only the very top tip of college coaches get salaries that rival or are better than NFL coaches. And still, most consider an NFL coaching position as the apex of coaching because youre going against the best of the best and everyone has talent.

 

I think college coaches probably have more fun, but definitely more stress because they have to control so much. Most coaches would prefer the structure and really the central focus on football that the NFL provides

[titansfan]

16 hours ago, ChesterCopperpot1 said:

It's also a better quality of life. You work maybe 6 mos. out of the year. In college you get 2 weeks off if you are lucky. 

 

I know an NFL assistant personally who also has experience in college. Said the quality of life is night and day. 

 

NFL coaches do not work just 6 months. Both jobs are full year commitments. You just get to go home at a decent hour from February through May as an NFL coach.

[oldschool]

16 minutes ago, titansfan said:

 

 

College coaches have more responsibility and thus more stress This is pretty well accepted across the board. They must synchronize, cooperate and tolerate boosters, alumni, and politicians. You get to put your thumbprint on the program but there is so much more to being a college coach than just foot all especially now. 

 

It is NFL coaches who have more organizational structure. Only recently are College coaches actually getting assistance from what is essentially a general manager. That's a new phenomenon. And your claim that they have others do all the recruiting is simplistic. Yes, you have assigned recruiters but unless your Saban you are traveling days after your bowl game to secure that 4 star RB in Mobile, Alabama. 

 

The misinformation here is crazy. 

[ChesterCopperpot1]

4 hours ago, oldschool said:

 

Wrong. NFL Coaches work 80 hours a week and not for only 6 months. College coaches have staff to recruit and big programs have GMS to run the operation. Its pure fiction to claim college coaches work more and have more stress. 

How many NFL coaches do you know personally? 
 

because im willing to bet I know more than you do. 

Edited Saturday at 04:34 PM by ChesterCopperpot1

[ChesterCopperpot1]

1 hour ago, Lars said:

They mostly play video games. 

That’s what my neighbor (who was a position coach on Vrabel’s staff) did. 
 

NFL coaches have a pretty sweet life during the offseason. 

[ChesterCopperpot1]

1 hour ago, oldschool said:

 

Thats more an AD issue.

Buddy you’re just wrong. Boosters aren’t cutting checks to meet the AD. No one gives a shit about meeting the AD. They’re cutting checks to meet coaches and players. The Belle Meade country club doesn’t care about meeting Candice Storey-Lee at Vandy. They want to meet Clark Lea and Diego Pavia. 

[oldschool]

2 minutes ago, ChesterCopperpot1 said:

How many NFL coaches do you know personally? 
 

because im willing to bet I know more than you do. 

 

I know 2 guys who coach for the UMD program and both coached in the NFL as assistant coaches;  They refute what your guy claims... Sure its possible lower level NFL assistants don't work as much as some college coaches but apples to apples, Its false and thats direct from 2 guys have been NFL/College Coordinators/Position coaches. I've been told its even worse for NFL HCs. Recruiters and Scouts are obviously different as they are on the road 24/7 but thats not what we are talking about here.