Top 10 Fictional Coaches
What list can follow the Top 10 Fictional Athletes? Well, the Top 10 Fictional Coaches of course! I had to keep this to fictional coaches, because there are some great real coaches depicted and made popular in film: e.g. Herman Boone of ‘Remember the Titans’ & Ken Carter of ‘Coach Carter.’ I also am about to break one of my own rules here (you’ll see what I mean). To me, being a good coach isn’t about the level you coach at (pro, amateur, collegiate, high school, etc.) or even at the rate you win, but about being creative and growing your players.
Ted Lasso from ‘Ted Lasso’- What the heck? Ted Lasso is a TV Character! Not a movie character! I thought this was a movie blog?! Wow, thank you for your passion and dedication to my blog! Anyways, yes Ted Lasso (& my next entry) are TV characters. But I would be remised to not include them on this list. Lasso shows that a good coach isn’t even about knowing the sport you coach, but about knowing your players. He molds all of his players into better men than they were before and makes an impact in the life of everyone he touches. Believe baby. Believe.
Eric Taylor from ‘Friday Night Lights’- Prior to Ted Lasso, I would’ve easily told you Coach Taylor was the greatest fictional coach to exist. He, like Lasso, shows that knowing the players is more important than anything else, but Taylor is also just one heck of a football coach.
Mickey Goldmill from ‘Rocky’- Known for his gravelly, intense voice, Mickey was always in Rocky’s corner when it really mattered. Burgess Meredith received an Oscar nomination for playing the character who was so motivational, he continued to inspire Rocky even after his death.
Gordon Bombay from ‘The Mighty Ducks’- Emilio Estevez is an attorney turned hockey coach via community service. Quite the set up for a man that becomes an inspiration to a rag tag group of kiddos.
Irv Blitzer from ‘Cool Runnings’- I’m not sure what the learning curve for bobsledding is, but with Irv as the coach, the Jamaican bobsled team seems to pick it up quick and well. John Candy’s coach is able to turn 3 track runners and push cart derby champion into an Olympic level bobsled team, so props to him.
Dottie Hinson from ‘A League of Their Own’- Yes, I am aware she is the star player. But she also serves as the leader of the team when Tom Hanks’ Jimmy Dugan doesn’t step up the plate. Ha, baseball analogy. Hinson is not only a great player, but also a home run of an on field coach. Ha, another one.
Chubbs Peterson from ‘Happy Gilmore’- RIP Chubbs. RIP Carl Weathers. Just tap it in.
Doc Hudson from ‘Cars’- The Hudson Hornet has a case as the greatest racer in the ‘Cars’ universe, but Lightning is definitely the GOAT. However, Doc Hudson can take the cake as the greatest coach, molding McQueen from a cocky rookie into the greatest racer the world will see.
Patches O’Houlihan from ‘Dodgeball’- Do you know how much of a genius you have to be to come up with ‘Dodge. Duck. Dip. Dive. Dodge.’? And the strategy of throwing tools to get your team to do so? Brilliant.
Mr. Miyagi from ‘The Karate Kid’- The greatest coach in movie history. Mr. Miyagi changes Daniel LaRusso’s life and turns him into an 2x All-Valley Champion. Similary to Mickey Goldmill, Mr. Miyagi continues impacting the lives of those he trained years after his death as seen in ‘Cobra Kai.’
