The thing about greatness is what happens when it starts to dim?
John Thompson II and Bobby Knight had a lot of success as college basketball coaches but what made the end of their careers not so successful was the unwillingness to change with the times. Neither coach wanted to deal with a world that was changing and those changes were impacting the sports.
It’s the difference between Thompson II/Knight and Mike Krzyzewski.
Over time, Krzyzewski changed the way he coached and how he recruited. It’s why Coach K’s career ended different than the other two.
Now it’s Bill Belichick’s turn.
Belichick has had the greatest run in NFL history. He found a formula that didn’t work in Cleveland but it worked in New England to an alarming high level but as we’ve seen in all sports, it’s rare for culture to be seamlessly moved to other places.
Phil Jackson and his success with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers is a rarity.
The hottest rumor is that the Atlanta Falcons are hot after Belichick.
If Belichick finds his way to Atlanta, will he or can he port the “New England” way to the Falcons and would that be the best thing for the organization?
The answer is “no”.
Belichick should adopt the Krzyzewski model and get an understanding of what will work in today’s environment and, more importantly, the roster he inherits.
Belichick needed change. Atlanta needs change.
If Belichick plays it right, he will change the narrative of the post-Tom Brady era.
