The Well-Dressed Coach

Watching football recently, it occurred to me for some strange reason that there are no more football coaches who wear a jacket and tie on the sidelines.  In the college ranks, Jim Tressel may have been the last, but even he was vest and tie.  Or maybe it was Joe Paterno, if windbreaker and tie counts.  In the pros, the last coach to regularly "dress up" was, I think, Dan Reeeves, and he retired in 2003.

Tressel

Reeves

Paterno

It's a reflection of our society, where Casual Friday has gradually turned into Casual Everyday.  OK by me.

Wilkinson

McKay

Bryant

Of course, once upon a time, jacket-and-tie was de rigueur for football coaches everywhere.  Bud Wilkinson, Bear Bryant, John McKay, Darrell Royal.  (Woody Hayes had the tie but never a jacket -- just shirt sleeves.)  George Halas, Paul Brown, Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Hank Stram.  My high school coach.

Hayes

Royal

Halas

Stram

Lombardi

Brown

Landry

Zimmer, circa 1980, rockin'
the polyester

Why the tradition of suit and tie for football coaches back then?  After all, baseball managers had dispensed with such formality long ago.  Connie Mack was the lone exception, but he left the dugout back in 1950.  Baseball tradition dictates that managers dress in the full team uniform, just like the players.  That's probably even sillier than a football coach dressed like an ad executive.  And certainly Don Zimmer would have looked better in a sport coat and tie than in those Red Sox double-knits.

Philadelphia A's manager Connie Mack greets NY Giants
manager John McGraw prior to the 1911 World Series.
Even then, Mack was the only manager not in uniform.

Belichick

Times change, traditions change.  Football coaches now dress more sensibly, for function and comfort more than style.  Hell, Bill Belichick wears stuff he found in the dumpster at the Goodwill!












Only basketball coaches remain sartorially splendid.  College or pro, the vast majority still do the suit-and-tie thing.  Especially in the NBA, head coaches wear some mighty fine, expensive threads.  That's nice.  But particularly for a basketball coach, why would you want to wear a suit while spending three hours inside a hot, humid gym?  You guys look good, but seriously, why?

"Man, I'm hot, Phil.  Ain't you hot
wearin' that suit?"

"My hair gel is melting."

"If I get sweat stains on this Armani,
I'm gonna be pissed!  
It cost me a grand plus tax!"

"I'm just sayin', how come we can't
wear golf shirts?"

"So we can get rid of our team's racist owner,
but we can't get no damn air conditioning
in this arena?  Is that what you're
tellin' me?"