Gretzky to be named coach on Monday

[Tigers#1]

Gretzky to be named coach on Monday
ESPN.com news services


After months of speculation, Wayne Gretzky has decided to coach the Phoenix Coyotes, multiple sources told The Arizona Republic on Sunday.

Gretzky, the team's managing partner, is expected to be announced as coach Monday, the NHL sources told the paper.

Former Detroit Red Wings associate coach Barry Smith will be named one of The Great One's two assistants, The Republic has learned.

Former Coyotes player Rick Tocchet or interim head coach Rick Bowness will be Gretzky's other assistant, according to the report.

The NHL's all-time leading scorer and nine-time MVP had tentatively agreed to the post, but opted to wait until a new collective bargaining agreement was in place before officially deciding whether to take on the coaching job.

[Tigers#1]

I don't know if i'd want an owner coaching my team.

He's got a great assistant in Smith though.

[Timberwolf]

Gretzky should just be in the front office period.

He has no business coaching that team or any other team. I don't think he would be that great at all. While it's great to see him try, that franchise has so much problems to worry about.

Betcha he will quit after four months when he realize coaching is work.

[I Are Baboon]

Aside from being the best player ever in most peoples' eyes (but not mine), what does he know about coaching? Does he have any coaching experience? Being a great player does not make you a great coach. This seems like a pretty dumb move to me.

[Big R]

well players learn alot from there playing days and i think hes gunna be a great coach thatd be funny if he turned out too be a better coach then player!

[Durango53]

Being a great player does not make you a great coach. This seems like a pretty dumb move to me.
Exactly!!!!!!!

It seems the better player you are the worse coach you make. Everything comes easy to the great ones and the ones at the top of there sports. They dont know what it is like to be the guy on the bottom scraping by.

How many great players in any sport (I say great I dont mean some guy that had a good year or two also) made great coaches?

[renuszm]

They had a section in the paper today, its pretty mixed up, you look at a guy like Larry Bird who did a great job with the Pacers and then a guy like Magic Johnson who SUCKED.
With that being said, Gretzky probably has a lot to offer, I think he is better suited for a general manager type job though.

[Spitball67]

There was a reason why Gretzky wore the "C" on his jersey for all of those years in Edmonton. Because he was a great player AND leader. While I would think a guy like Messier is probably a better leader and would be a better coach, Gretzky will do fine.

[Timberwolf]

ren: Larry Bird did okay, but he also inherited a very good team that was already built by Larry Brown back then. I thought Van Gundy outcoached Bird big time in the playoffs in 1999. I think Bird did the right thing just staying for three years and moving on. I doubt if he ever coach again. Besides I hear Rick Carlisle did most of the coaching back then when he was Larry's associate coach.

[renuszm]

I'm just using Bird as an example. What about Larry Robinson?

[Timberwolf]

Larry Robinson wasn't the best player. He was a role player, wasn't he.

Larry has done okay. He stunk with the Kings yet he did won the Cup with the Devils. With that said, he is not a big fan of coaching. He is not the type that likes to do the nitty gritty of coaching homework.

[renuszm]

I highly suggest you look at Larry Robinson's stats.