Mike Brey stepping down at season’s end

#4
#4
VolNExile said:
Why? He’s almost 63, he should have a Very Nice savings pile.

Get out and enjoy the next 20-30 years without a care in the world, including whiny-azz fans.
Click to expand...
Coaches coach. Rarely do you see a Jimmy Johnson who retires relatively young and heavily in demand.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wireless1 and VAVol85
#7
#7
butchna said:
Coaches coach. Rarely do you see a Jimmy Johnson who retires relatively young and heavily in demand.
Click to expand...
But there are coaches who (rightly, IMO) regard coaching as a profession that they enjoy, but also a means to an end. They get what they want out of it, including the $$$, figure if it all (fame, challenge, adrenaline) is worth the hassle (every job has hassle), and decide each season if they want to do it again.

They’re running their lives on their own terms, without regard to public and media opinion. Good for them, I say.
 
#8
#8
VolNExile said:
But there are coaches who (rightly, IMO) regard coaching as a profession that they enjoy, but also a means to an end. They get what they want out of it, including the $$$, figure if it all (fame, challenge, adrenaline) is worth the hassle (every job has hassle), and decide each season if they want to do it again.

They’re running their lives on their own terms, without regard to public and media opinion. Good for them, I say.
Click to expand...
Who’s on that Mt. Rushmore?
 
#9
#9
butchna said:
Who’s on that Mt. Rushmore?
Click to expand...
We talking just college football?

Bob Stoops, Jimmy Johnson, Tom Osborne, Frank Leahy, Robert Neyland come to mind, probably others. The coach who sticks around too long is more common than the coach who retires early, but it does happen.

I don't know if those guys saw college football purely as a means to an end, but the consensus when those guys hung it up was that they were relatively young, in demand, and had something left in the tank.
 
#13
#13
Dudleys87 said:
Coach K or Coach Williams you could make cases for
Click to expand...
Coach K? He coached 42 years! Roy a little less at 33. Both in their 70’s. They don’t fit the conversation. I know…blue font, right?
 
#14
#14
cncchris33 said:
Jay Wright certainly is. Brad Stevens to an extent (he got into front office work for Boston).
Click to expand...
I need more than a calendar year before I count Wright’s career over. And I don’t count taking over a professional franchise as giving it up.
 
#16
#16
Boston Vol said:
Tom Osborne
Bill Cowher
John Madden
Jay Wright
Bob Stoops
Jimmy Johnson
Chris Petersen
Click to expand...
Osborne coached at Nebraska for 34 years…23 as HC. Doesn’t apply.

John Madden was in his 40’s but his departure from coaching was more medically related. And he stayed around the game.

Jay Wright hasn’t been gone for a calendar year…I’ll wait.

Bob Stoops coached 17 seasons and still coaches in the XFL.

Mentioned Jimmy Johnson

Chris Peterson applies.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 77Vol
#17
#17
05_never_again said:
We talking just college football?

Bob Stoops, Jimmy Johnson, Tom Osborne, Frank Leahy, Robert Neyland come to mind, probably others. The coach who sticks around too long is more common than the coach who retires early, but it does happen.

I don't know if those guys saw college football purely as a means to an end, but the consensus when those guys hung it up was that they were relatively young, in demand, and had something left in the tank.
Click to expand...
I’ve covered the other names so I’ll address Leahy and Neyland. Considering they coached in the 30’s to 50’s and one of them defended the country in world war, there are a lot of caveats. But on face value, Leahy applies. Neyland coached UT for 21 seasons and died as AD…so he doesn’t.
 
#18
#18
Mike Brey is one of the good ones in College Basketball. I was lucky enough to have him as my team coach at a couple of camps. He’s really nice guy, a great teacher, he takes a lot of joy in what he does and has never seemed to take it for granted. After Notre Dame won the play in game last season, his post game interview was outstanding. Brey definitely likes a good Whiskey
 
#19
#19
butchna said:
I need more than a calendar year before I count Wright’s career over. And I don’t count taking over a professional franchise as giving it up.
Click to expand...
John Wooden was a head coach only one more season than Jay Wright was.
 
#20
#20
butchna said:
I’ve covered the other names so I’ll address Leahy and Neyland. Considering they coached in the 30’s to 50’s and one of them defended the country in world war, there are a lot of caveats. But on face value, Leahy applies. Neyland coached UT for 21 seasons and died as AD…so he doesn’t.
Click to expand...
Neyland was around a long time, but he retired from coaching at 60 (it isn't like he was at death's door, even in those days) and at perhaps the peak of his marketability. Maybe I'm wrong, but I kind of doubt being an AD in those days was the super stressful, high pressure position it is today. He wasn't a spring chicken, but it isn't like he was cooked.

Same thing with Osborne. Yes, he was at Nebraska for a long time but retired at 60, after 3 titles in 4 seasons at the peak of his marketability. If coaches just always coach, then he would have continued. He stepped away in at an age and in manner that lots of people would step away from normal job.

To the point I think you're trying to make, there aren't really all that many who bow out early, but it isn't unheard of.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Volfan1000
#21
#21
If I had close to 8 figures (I assume considering how long he's coached) in the bank, I would be gone too without hesitating.

I sure as $h:+ wouldn't care about fans' opinions of me leaving. At 63 years old and 23 years of service, I gave what I could. Time to go enjoy what I earned.

About the only thing I would care about is family, hunting, fishing, and cooking some decent food. Oh and watching the Vols on Saturdays in the fall while also grilling and smoking meats.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VolNExile
#22
#22
05_never_again said:
Neyland was around a long time, but he retired from coaching at 60 (it isn't like he was at death's door, even in those days) and at perhaps the peak of his marketability. Maybe I'm wrong, but I kind of doubt being an AD in those days was the super stressful, high pressure position it is today. He wasn't a spring chicken, but it isn't like he was cooked.

Same thing with Osborne. Yes, he was at Nebraska for a long time but retired at 60, after 3 titles in 4 seasons at the peak of his marketability. If coaches just always coach, then he would have continued. He stepped away in at an age and in manner that lots of people would step away from normal job.

To the point I think you're trying to make, there aren't really all that many who bow out early, but it isn't unheard of.
Click to expand...
In Brey’s case I don’t see the legacy established as in some of these other examples being thrown at me. Of course I hadn’t realized how bad he’s sucked these last three. So chalk it up he’s perfectly healthy and tired
 
#23
#23
VOLfrombama said:
If I had close to 8 figures (I assume considering how long he's coached) in the bank, I would be gone too without hesitating.

I sure as $h:+ wouldn't care about fans' opinions of me leaving. At 63 years old and 23 years of service, I gave what I could. Time to go enjoy what I earned.

About the only thing I would care about is family, hunting, fishing, and cooking some decent food. Oh and watching the Vols on Saturdays in the fall while also grilling and smoking meats.
Click to expand...
Don’t see where I demanded he account for his actions to me personally. Happy fishing!
 
#24
#24
butchna said:
In Brey’s case I don’t see the legacy established as in some of these other examples being thrown at me. Of course I hadn’t realized how bad he’s sucked these last three. So chalk it up he’s perfectly healthy and tired
Click to expand...
Oh, I'm sure Brey's being forced out (at least kind of) because he's had only 2 good seasons in about the last 7-8 years. I was just responding to your Mt Rushmore of good coaches who stepped away early, and on their own terms question.
 
#25
#25
VolPack22 said:
John Wooden was a head coach only one more season than Jay Wright was.
Click to expand...
That’s not true. At UCLA alone he coached 27 years. All together he was a HC for 42 years. Jay Wright coached Villanova for 21 years. I think he put in plenty of time. My point was, I’m not convinced he’s done with coaching not even one year out.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top