By Jeremy White, NFLHS.com
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Photo by Win McNamee
Getty Images
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Joe Gibbs is regarded as one of the greatest head coaches in National Football League history. And with good reason. Now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Gibbs--who has guided the Washington Redskins in two separate stints--is a winner.
In his first go-around with the 'Skins, Gibbs compiled a record of 124-60. He went 16-5 in the postseason and made four Super Bowls, winning three. He retired after the 1993 season, citing personal health and the desire to spend more time with family. When he left the game, his winning percentage was the third best in NFL history, behind coaching legends Vince Lombardi and John Madden.
Gibbs dove into auto racing, becoming a team owner in NASCAR. He's still involved in car ownership to this day. But he longed to return to the football field, and Washington fans were all too eager to embrace him when he started his second go-round with the Redskins in 2004.
In his two seasons since his return, Gibbs has posted a 16-16 record (he went 6-10 in 2004-05 and 10-6 in 2005-06). After missing the playoffs in his comeback season, Washington made the postseason last year and picked up a Wild Card win over Tampa Bay before bowing out to Seattle.
Before advancing to the NFL, Gibbs began his coaching career in 1964 at San Diego State, his alma mater (he played tight end, guard and linebacker there). He coached the offensive line for two seasons in San Diego before filling the same position at Florida State, Southern California and Arkansas.
Gibbs jumped to the NFL in 1973, when he became the offensive backfield coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. From there, he moved into a coordinator's slot in Tampa Bay and San Diego prior to joining the Redskins as head coach.
In San Diego, Gibbs worked with quarterback Dan Fouts, and the Chargers set several offensive records, including becoming the first team ever to average 400 yards of offense per game.
When Gibbs took over in Washington, he got off to a rough, 0-5 start. He righted the ship, however, and the Redskins finished 8-8. The next season, in 1982, they won the Super Bowl. Gibbs went on to win two more Super Bowls in 1987 and 1991.
Gibbs' winning ways often are said to be the result of diligent attention to detail, something coaches at all levels--including high school--can employ. Beyond that, the Hall of Famer advises varsity coaches to "always do what's most important for the team. Coaches and players alike have to sacrifice to do what's important for the team, to do what's best for everyone."
Translation: even star running backs need to block, and even stubborn coaches need to buck their own system once in a while. If you've got an option quarterback but you like a spread offense, it just might be time to switch things up for a year or two. Because unlike Gibbs and other NFL coaches, high school coaches can't use a draft or free agency to get the type of athletes they need for their systems.
"Also," Gibbs says, "character is very important. You can run fast and catch the ball well and tackle well, but character is important. You want good people on your football team."
Finally, preparation is key.
"There are so many things that go into winning and losing football games, but it comes down to being prepared to win."
That means preparing adequately in the offseason with strength training and conditioning, preparing the playbook and installing it right, preparing your players to play hard and adopt a winning mentality, and preparing your coaching staff to work hard and analyze film in a way that is conducive to winning. It may be easier said than done, but the old adage often rings true: luck favors the well prepared.
Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc.
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