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Dallas Cowboys: Who should be the next head coach of America’s Team?

By Daniel Ruppert

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 08: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform as the Cowboys take on the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 08: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform as the Cowboys take on the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 15: Head coach Chris Peterson Dallas Cowboys (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /

The Inexperienced College Coach

This style of coach are the names many will be talking about over the next few months: Urban Meyer, Lincoln Riley, Dabo Sweeny, and Chris Peterson all fall into this category.

When I use the term inexperienced, I use it in reference to the NFL. None of these coaches have ever coached on an NFL staff. People will throw the name Jimmy Johnson as to the success of these style of coaches. Only one problem, Jimmy (yes I know Barry Switzer, but let’s be honest, does anyone really count him?) is really the only coach to come straight from college, build a team, and win a Super Bowl without ever being on an NFL staff prior.

Even if you use Barry Switzer, there have been two coaches in the modern NFL to have never been in the NFL on a staff and won a Super Bowl. It doesn’t mean it can’t happen, it means that the odds are not in the favor of it happening. There are reasons for both hope and hesitation when hiring one of these coaches.

The positives are that they have new ideas. Many will come in looking to make their mark and use some of the ideas that are working in the NCAA. They could potentially be a step ahead in terms of originality in the NFL. If they could stay ahead they will succeed.

The negatives are that the NFL is vastly different than the NCAA. Players are faster and better at every position. The league adapts faster to changes and you have to be able to navigate that. Having never faced an NFL defense or offense, been a part of a draft, build a coaching staff, manage paid players who are making more than you, worked free agency, and coached against the best players in the world every single week is part of a steep learning curve.

This is not to say that a college coach with no experience can’t do it, and perhaps, the longer you have been coaching, the better chances you have of succeeding. But there are valid concerns just based off the history of the NFL. However, making one a defensive coordinator or offensive coordinator might be the better move right away.

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