Architect of a team? Let’s talk about the architect of a sport! Al Davis… The only human to have been an assistant coach, head coach, general manager, commissioner and owner. Additionally, Davis always refused to have his teams play in cities where blacks and whites had to stay in separate hotels. He was the first owner to hire a black coach. The first to hire a woman for a management position. The second owner to hire a Latino trainer. Finally, he and Lamar Hunt (of the Kansas City Chiefs) were at the forefront of the merger of the two American football leagues, a fact that led to the creation of the NFL as we know it today.
PHOTO ED ZURGA, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lamar hunt
Lamar Hunt. Architect of the world’s most watched annual sporting event, the Super Bowl. But Hunt was also one of the biggest promoters of tennis and soccer in the United States. Founder of the MLS and creator of the World Championship Tennis (precursor of the ATP Tour). These two figures have left giant imprints on sports in North America. And most ironic is the fact that their NFL football teams form one of the richest rivalries in the sport.
Martin Beliveau
Paul Brown. 1- Founded a team that bears his name (Cleveland Browns), in addition to creating a second in the same state (Cincinnati Bengals). 2- Father of modern football: video sessions, aptitude and intelligence tests taken by players, face protector on helmets, playbook, hiring of full-time assistant coaches. 3- Assistant coaches family tree: Don Shula, Chuck Noll, Weeb Ewbank, Bill Walsh. 4- First head coach to have a perfect season in professional football, “regular” season and combined playoffs (Browns in 1948, in the former CFAA), before the Dolphins in 1972.
Jean-Francois Pilot
One of the greatest builders is certainly Tex Schramm of the Dallas Cowboys for what he did with that team admitted to the NFL in 1960. Along with Tom Landry and head scout Gil Brandt, the team was quickly nicknamed America’s Team with unprecedented success: first place in its division 5 consecutive seasons between 1966 and 1970, best record of victories in the 1970s, 5 participations in the Super Bowl between 1970 and 1978, including 2 victories (the 3 defeats by a total differential of 11 points) and many innovations such as the use of computers to classify and evaluate university players, endowment of microphones for the referee, instant replay, etc.
Claude Laporte
PHOTO BOB DECHIARA, USA TODAY SPORTS
Bill belichick
Bill Belichick without a shadow of a doubt… No coach has as much of an impact on the pace of a game. In less than a season after the departure of Tom Brady, he was able to get his team back on track. His new quarterback, young rookie Mac Jones, benefits from the lessons of this great coach. The big game Bill Belichick led last Monday against the Buffalo Bills is proof of that… Ironically, I would say he’s willing to do anything to win, even cheat. This is what makes him who he is, a true winner and a fine strategist. His many Super Bowl victories with Tom Brady at the helm are no coincidence. No one would want to face such a coach in the crucial moments.
Jean Plamondon
PHOTO ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
John wooden
It’s intriguing as a subject, but in my opinion no one compares to John Wooden, The Wizard of Westwood, a men’s basketball coach at UCLA. At a time when players couldn’t play for more than 4 years (3 years in the days of Lew Alcindor and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Coach Wooden led the Bruins to 10 NCAA championships in 12 years, including 7 in a row, and a streak of 88 consecutive victories. Incredible ! Also, his demeanor was calm and exemplary, a good example for some flamboyant characters.
Pierre Gaudette
PHOTO ANTOINE DESSILETS, ARCHIVES THE PRESS
Sam pollock
The truth coach The Canadian during the decade the club dominated the league was on the second floor of the Old Forum: Sam Pollock. Bowman was with Piton Ruel, assistant coach. Nobody talks about his time in Buffalo, with the Sabers, where he had carte blanche: several first picks in the draft, the young players did not care about him. He had even hired Yvon Lambert to bring some of his young people to order. After this failure, he landed in Pittsburgh with a certain Mario, and after in Detroit with the Russian quintet. It’s hard to miss it, no matter who would have been in the same situation.
Richard giard
From afar, Curly Lambeau of the Green Bay Packers. Co-founder of the team and coach for 28 years, he won 6 championships in 15 years (between 1929 and 1944). Yes, I may be a bit chauvinistic like Richard with his Cowboys, but what an architect, this Lambeau. Very proud to have had LAMBEAU affixed to my truck plate!
Simon lamoureux