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Spinoff -Better Head Coach: Parcells or Coughlin?

Grey Pilgrim : 8/3/2020 12:18 pm
A very tough question! As painful as it is to say I'd lean toward Coughlin.

What say you?
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Each had their strengths and weaknesses  
Johnny5 : 8/3/2020 12:20 pm : link
I love Coughlin, but I'd have to take Parcells as the better of the two if I had to.
If I had to pick one to run my team, it'd be Parcells  
JohnB : 8/3/2020 12:25 pm : link
and it won't be close.
Before the usual suspects hijack this thread  
DieHard : 8/3/2020 12:25 pm : link
and turns it into a pissing contest...

I'll take Parcells, given what he accomplished with four different teams, but by no means am I downgrading Coughlin, who won Super Bowls without LT and possibly the greatest coach ever on his sideline.

I'll just say I'm glad we had both -- which should be the most important thing.
Depending on your pov,  
Big Blue '56 : 8/3/2020 12:26 pm : link
there’s no wrong answer. After XLVI, I thought TC, but then, for varying reasons we hit a big bump thereafter. But the Tuna also had his share of clunkers, especially in some really big game.
Parcells had significantly better  
Phil in LA : 8/3/2020 12:26 pm : link
assisttants, including Coughlin himself. If TC had had a commensurate staff, he'd have won more than 2 SB's. Btw, TC had a better staff lined up in 2004, but Ernie wanted to to chase Saban and TC ended up losing some.
RE: Depending on your pov,  
Big Blue '56 : 8/3/2020 12:27 pm : link
In comment 14943026 Big Blue '56 said:
Quote:
there’s no wrong answer. After XLVI, I thought TC, but then, for varying reasons we hit a big bump thereafter. But the Tuna also had his share of clunkers, especially in some really big game.


And as just pointed out, the Tuna made every stop a much improved one
Parcells  
LBH15 : 8/3/2020 12:28 pm : link
and not sure it really is that tough a question.
Spinoff better coach? Marty Schottenheimer or Tom Coughlin  
arniefez : 8/3/2020 12:46 pm : link
Coughlin 2 teams 20 years 170 wins .531 winning percentage 7 out of 20 double digit winning seasons 12-7 playoff record 2 Super Bowl appearances 2-0

Schottenheimer 4 teams 20 years 200 wins .613 winning percentage 11 out of 20 double digit winning seasons 5-13 playoff record 0 Super Bowl appearances.

Some of Marty's playoff loses were just horrible out of the coaches hands luck. Kind of like a helmet catch in reverse. The two fumbles in Cleveland, the SD fumble when they had NE beat, some were that he played too conservative and not to lose. But anyone who watched both of those careers and thinks Tom Coughlin got more out of his teams than Marty did is either a Giant fan or lying. Basically in the NFL Super Bowl wins = HOF which is why Coughlin will be in and Marty won't.

As far as Parcells vs Coughlin goes everyone here will have their own opinion based on which guy they "like". For anyone who has been around the NFL objectively from the beginning of the Super Bowl era it's an easy call.
Parcells had a better team and staff  
Rudy5757 : 8/3/2020 12:49 pm : link
I think Coughlin did more with less talent. the main reason I would want Coughlin over Parcells is loyalty. Parcells didnt want to stay in one place for a while which is why after he left the Giants he didnt win the big game. He didnt stay anywhere long enough.

Parcells has 3 potential HOF coaches on his staff in himself, BB and Coughlin. Coughlin only has himself.

They are both great coaches but if you are looking for long term Id go Coughlin and short term Id go Parcells.
It's hard to compare pre and post free agency eras  
widmerseyebrow : 8/3/2020 12:56 pm : link
But I lean toward Parcells.

It's funny, some people wanted to discount TC making Jax into a contender, but that's why I would give points to Parcells as well. Like TC, he never won a championship outside of NY, but building the Pats and Jets into contenders is nothing to sneeze at. It's easier for a coach to sit on a perennial winner (especially before free agency) and collect rings.
Parcells  
JonC : 8/3/2020 12:58 pm : link
and in a much tougher era to win the SB.

He wasn't perfect, but Parcells' shortcomings illustrate how difficult it was to win in the NFL during the era he coached.
Contrary to others on this thread  
giants#1 : 8/3/2020 12:59 pm : link
I view the strength of Parcells' staffs as a point in his favor. He was a great leader but also great at putting together strong coaching staffs and at least 3 of his assistants went on to win SBs (BB, TC, and Payton) as HCs. I don't think any TC disciple has even had moderate success as a HC.
Parcells  
upnyg : 8/3/2020 1:04 pm : link
considering what he did with the Pats and Jets. I think he had a better style with the players. He had better coaches, better talent.

Coughlin mostly did this with average coaches. I think his style was limiting, but did a great job in both super bowl runs.
Parcells. He had a  
Gregorio : 8/3/2020 1:08 pm : link
Distinct ability to motivate players. He would get under their skin, knew how to push the right buttons.
Parcells  
Big Al : 8/3/2020 1:13 pm : link
This quote is from an ESPN article at the time Parcells went into the HOF.

“ Bill Parcells' greatest gift as a head coach had nothing to do with X's and O's, game-day adjustments or personnel evaluation. Instead, it had everything to do with bonding. No coach in his era was better at discovering exactly what it takes to motivate every player on his roster. More importantly, as many of those players would attest, he also understood something equally crucial to his success: All players shouldn't be treated equally.”

This to me was the biggest weakness of Coughlin and something I constantly pointed out in his early years here (and was constantly blasted for when I brought it up back then as I probably will be blasted again).
Pretty interesting question...  
Pete in CO : 8/3/2020 1:16 pm : link
For me it's Parcells. But I find it's interesting that both Parcells & Coughlin may have been paired with the perfect QBs for their coaching / leadership methods. Both coaches had skilled QBs and leaders that aptly supported the personalities of their teams, too.
Parcells, easily  
Greg from LI : 8/3/2020 1:24 pm : link
It's not even a debate. Finding quality assistants and building a top coaching staff is part of a head coach's job, yet some people are trying to use Coughlin's struggles in this regard as an advantage over Parcells? Get the hell outta here with that.
RE: Parcells, easily  
Big Al : 8/3/2020 1:28 pm : link
In comment 14943087 Greg from LI said:
Quote:
It's not even a debate. Finding quality assistants and building a top coaching staff is part of a head coach's job, yet some people are trying to use Coughlin's struggles in this regard as an advantage over Parcells? Get the hell outta here with that.
That’s what they teach you in management courses.
Coughlin  
Phil in LA : 8/3/2020 1:37 pm : link
was always the best coach on his staff. Parcells wasn't whenever he had Belichick. Plax's night out is the reason TC didn't win more SB's. Tuna's teams just left one or two on the table.
Tie as far as SB wins go.  
Dave in Hoboken : 8/3/2020 1:39 pm : link
But I'd have to think Parcells has the advantage in winning percentage? If he does, I'd go with Parcells. Both are great, though.
Parcells indeed has a higher winning percentage  
Greg from LI : 8/3/2020 1:43 pm : link
And yeah, Coughlin had an expansion franchise, but Parcells took over:

-a 2-14 Patriots team
-a 1-15 Jets team
-a 6-10 Cowboys team

So let's not pretend that Parcells had some kind of inherent benefit here.

And Phil, if Coughlin had Belichick on his staff, he wouldn't have been the best coach of his staff either.
While Parcells had the edge in assistants  
DieHard : 8/3/2020 1:45 pm : link
I wouldn't give him full credit for people like Belichick, Romeo Crennel, Ron Erhardt, Lamar Leachman and Pat Hodgson, who he inherited from Ray Perkins' staff. I give him more credit for hiring later staffs, like Sean Payton in Dallas.
It's Parcells.  
Enzo : 8/3/2020 1:50 pm : link
I can't think of one area of leading a team in which one would say TC was better.
Greg while I agree  
Phil in LA : 8/3/2020 1:54 pm : link
Young didn't stop Parcells from hiring anyone, but Ernie's pursuit of Saban cost Coughlin guys like Alex Gibbs, Bill Callahan and Greg Williams back in 2004. None of them are Little Bill, but they are better than what he ended up with.
I get where you're coming from Phil  
Greg from LI : 8/3/2020 2:02 pm : link
But his subsequent choices over the next decade weren't forced on him because of Nick Saban, and they were largely lacking.
Parcells for me  
PatersonPlank : 8/3/2020 2:04 pm : link
He is one of the greatest of all time
Parcells  
joeinpa : 8/3/2020 2:20 pm : link
Not even close.
I’m going to go with TC because he got more out of less ...  
Spider56 : 8/3/2020 2:23 pm : link
George Young got BP great players ... including the GOAT in LT. Parcells’ teams might have crushed TCs Giants, but more so bc of the players not the coaching. As much as I love Eli, he would have been a sitting duck against BB’s defenses. Also, I will always hate Parcells for leaving the way he did ...
Parcells  
US1 Giants : 8/3/2020 2:28 pm : link
.
Parcells  
Danny Kanell : 8/3/2020 2:37 pm : link
And it's not particularly close IMO.
Stating the obvious....  
Grey Pilgrim : 8/3/2020 2:47 pm : link
But, I don't think the GIANTS win Superbowl 25 without little Bill.
I'd quickly choose Parcells ahead of Coughlin  
Mad Mike : 8/3/2020 3:07 pm : link
to coach my team. That's not a knock on Coughlin, but I think there's a clear gap.
Parcells Without a question  
TheMick7 : 8/3/2020 3:10 pm : link
And he could coach all my other sports teams as well!
A vote for Parcells  
Crazed Dogs : 8/3/2020 3:51 pm : link
and that is not taking anything away from Coughlin
RE: Parcells, easily  
SFGFNCGiantsFan : 8/3/2020 4:03 pm : link
In comment 14943087 Greg from LI said:
Quote:
It's not even a debate. Finding quality assistants and building a top coaching staff is part of a head coach's job, yet some people are trying to use Coughlin's struggles in this regard as an advantage over Parcells? Get the hell outta here with that.


+1.
how many times did Parcells  
Enzo : 8/3/2020 4:47 pm : link
blow a 21 point lead? TC has the honor of doing it THREE times.
Both  
Lines of Scrimmage : 8/3/2020 5:08 pm : link
great coaches. Many similarities with teams known for toughness, preparedness and attention to detail. Both got teams ready in big games.

Whoever you pick you know that when they take over a team they will win big and soon.

I think Parcells was much better at identifying coaching talent and developing it to take on more responsibility. TC often mentioned how Parcells was a great mentor for him. He also was a master with the press.

TC seemed more loyal to the franchise whereas Parcells was often planning a exit strategy.

Happy they both coached the team I follow.
Side-by-Side Records  
M.S. : 8/3/2020 5:42 pm : link

Each with two Super Bowl Trophies.

Bill Parcells (NFL Regular Season)
172 Wins
130 Losses
1 Tie
Winning % .569

Bill Parcells (NFL Playoffs)
11 Wins
8 Losses
Winning % .578

Tom Coughlin (NFL Regular Season)
170 Wins
150 Losses
Winning % .531

Tom Coughlin (NFL Playoffs)
12 Wins
7 Losses
Winning % .632


Parcells was also won a lot of games  
Enzo : 8/3/2020 5:53 pm : link
with guys like Testaverde, Quincy Carter, Neil O'Donnell, and Ray Lucas as his starting QB. How many times did TC have to play a meaningful game with someone other than Brunell or Eli at QB?
Tuna  
Dragon : 8/3/2020 6:07 pm : link
Was gifted with outstanding coaches even a guy to manage time yet knew nothing about coaching a team. His psyche was bigger than a mountain one of the main reasons he could not find a permanent home and left everywhere as a thief in the night. Coughlin turned his players into fighters with the desire to play well above their true ability he just lacked the special talents Parcells was lucky to have. Coughlin was a much better overall coach than Parcells and it’s not close.
Tuna!  
Spider43 : 8/3/2020 6:11 pm : link
Didn't even have to think about it...
RE: Tuna!  
Spider56 : 8/3/2020 7:59 pm : link
In comment 14943331 Spider43 said:
Quote:
Didn't even have to think about it...


Then maybe you should have.
Parcells.  
Since1965 : 8/3/2020 8:14 pm : link
Not even close.
If you can get him to just coach the team, Coughlin.  
Big Blue Blogger : 8/4/2020 6:23 am : link
If the coach is going to be deeply involved in all aspects of football operations, probably Parcells. He was never a great X-and-O guy, but he could assemble a staff and he understood motivation, team chemistry and a bunch of other intangibles. He does have some big black marks on his NYG record, though: Brunner and the rest of the 1983 disaster; losses to weaker team in 1985 that cost the Giants the East; the lazy 0-2 start in 1987 before the strike; the Jets loss in 1988; the Flipper Game. It wasn’t all sunshine and Lombardi Trophies with Tuna.

Parcells made his name before the cap, so he didn’t have to worry about the one thing that killed Coughlin in Jacksonville.
RE: If you can get him to just coach the team, Coughlin.  
Big Blue '56 : 8/4/2020 7:06 am : link
In comment 14943531 Big Blue Blogger said:
Quote:
If the coach is going to be deeply involved in all aspects of football operations, probably Parcells. He was never a great X-and-O guy, but he could assemble a staff and he understood motivation, team chemistry and a bunch of other intangibles. He does have some big black marks on his NYG record, though: Brunner and the rest of the 1983 disaster; losses to weaker team in 1985 that cost the Giants the East; the lazy 0-2 start in 1987 before the strike; the Jets loss in 1988; the Flipper Game. It wasn’t all sunshine and Lombardi Trophies with Tuna.

Parcells made his name before the cap, so he didn’t have to worry about the one thing that killed Coughlin in Jacksonville.


Best and most accurate opinion yet. IMHO.
Tougher choice than it  
section125 : 8/4/2020 7:48 am : link
seems straight up. Coughlin was a PIA to his players. Parcells was, but in a different way. Coughlin very nearly lost the team after 2006 by being a hard ass and intractable. Never heard of Parcells almost losing the team. Tom was too loyal to his assistant coaches and kept them even when they proved to be failures. Parcells seemed to attract better coaches or probably identified them better.

I will never forgive Parcells for walking out like he did in '91. But I would pick Bill over Tom because he had a better understanding of his players and built better coaching staffs.
Not to mention better press conferences.
Parcells  
Rick5 : 8/4/2020 7:59 am : link
but the greatest SB win in NFL history belongs to TC.
RE: Parcells indeed has a higher winning percentage  
Beer Man : 8/4/2020 8:30 am : link
In comment 14943110 Greg from LI said:
Quote:
And yeah, Coughlin had an expansion franchise, but Parcells took over:

-a 2-14 Patriots team
-a 1-15 Jets team
-a 6-10 Cowboys team

So let's not pretend that Parcells had some kind of inherent benefit here.

And Phil, if Coughlin had Belichick on his staff, he wouldn't have been the best coach of his staff either.
and a 6-10 Giants team
RE: Parcells. He had a  
Beer Man : 8/4/2020 8:30 am : link
In comment 14943067 Gregorio said:
Quote:
Distinct ability to motivate players. He would get under their skin, knew how to push the right buttons.
+1
I’m going with Coughlin  
SomeFan : 8/4/2020 8:46 am : link
.
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