It’s a slow sports week, so let’s have some fun. Our city’s four pro sports teams have churned through a dozen coaches and managers over this decade. Let’s rank them from best to worst.
For our purposes, nothing accomplished before 2010 counts (sorry, Andy Reid). Nor does anything won in other cities (enjoy that ring, Mr. Berube).
I’m giving “incompletes” to Flyers newcomer Alain Vigneault and his predecessor, Scott Gordon. Sixers misfit Eddie Jordan, who lasted just 50 games into the decade, is mercifully exempted.
So here we go:
1. Doug Pederson. Raise your hand if you snickered when Jeff Lurie hired this former backup Eagles QB as head coach. Yeah, me too. I feared the owner was seeking a yes-man after three dysfunctional years with Chip Kelly. I’m thrilled to have been wrong. Doug combined guts, creativity and people skills to direct this franchise to its first Super Bowl win.
2. Charlie Manuel. The World Series came before this decade. But Uncle Charlie’s Phils won 97 games in 2010 and a franchise-record 102 in 2011. Manuel was never a tactical genius, but he knew how to run a clubhouse and push players’ buttons. He also turned out to be one of the nicest guys we ever met.
3. Peter Laviolette. The Flyers made numerous mistakes this decade; the biggest may have been firing this coach three games into the 2013-14 season. They haven’t won a playoff round since. Lavy was a quick-tempered taskmaster who could grind on his players – but also get their best, taking the Flyers to the 2010 Cup Finals.
4. Brett Brown. So hard to rank. “The Process” put Brown’s career W/L so deep in the red that he’ll never see .500. But his job over those years was to develop, not to win. He’s shown in-game shortcomings as the Sixers have risen to the playoffs. But he’s smart, his players love him and he’s got a real shot at glory now.
5. Chip Kelly. Seems too high? Well, GM Chip was a charlatan, alienating everyone and making inane personnel decisions. But Coach Chip was 20-12 his first two seasons – before karma found this petulant SOB. Remember when he unveiled that high-speed offense, catching the rest of the NFL off guard? That seems decades ago.
6. Craig Berube. Another good one who got away. “Chief” was a former Flyers tough guy who finally got to stand behind the bench for two seasons mid-decade. He wasn’t forward-thinking enough, so ownership axed him for a college coach. Berube went to St. Louis and won the Cup.
7. Andy Reid. If we’re making an all-time list, he ranks near the top. But from 2010-12 he went 22-26. Even great coaches run their course.
8. Doug Collins. Sixers fans disliked the last pre-Process coach, but give him his due for winning a playoff round in 2012. I’ll never forgive him for saying of Andrew Bynum, “I hope we all keep him in prayer. He’s not played for us this year, but he’s still a 76er.”
9. Pete Mackanin.Managed 412 games for the Phils over three seasons and, for the life of me, I can’t remember a thing about the Pete Mackanin Era – except there weren’t many victories.
10. Gabe Kapler. A misfit toy for our city. Gabe got off on poor footing and never figured out how to talk to Phillies fans. More damning were the back-to-back September collapses and lack of accountability. I believe Kapler will become a solid manager down the road and far away.
11. Dave Hakstol. A dour, uninspiring robot, hired under the logic that an experienced college coach would be able to improve the Flyers’ young players. For the large part, the opposite happened.
12. Ryne Sandberg.He inherited a declining team and made it worse – alienating exalted veterans while gaining no respect from upcoming youngsters. Sandberg had the strategic acumen of Homer Simpson. He quit midseason in ‘15, saying, “All the losses weighed on me.” There were 159 of them, compared to just 119 wins.
Hey, ten years from now, will Joe Girardi rank at the top of the 2020s list?
