A dictionary definition of legacy: "Something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor"
Everyone leaves a coaching legacy, generally mixed:
How we impacted people
How we impacted winning
Intangibles of character and competence
Once during the canonization process, the Catholic Church had a position called advocatus diaboli (devil's advocate), a canon lawyer tasked with arguing against the sainthood of candidates to uncover character flaws or fraudulent miracles.
Even strong candidates have detractors. For instance, Mother Teresa did not believe in pain medicine in her hospital, thinking suffering brought people closer to God. She also had a friendship with "Baby Doc" Duvalier, son of the murderous dictator.
What do we leave behind?
The record. Did you win? Did teams improve? Did players develop?
The beneficiaries. What do successful players remember of the experience?
The detractors. What do players who disliked you say? Is the criticism legitimate?
The devil’s advocate. What would a fair-minded skeptic say about your story?
The story that we tell ourselves may not overlay neatly with the truth as seen by others.
What truths deserve recognition?
- The record. Winning coaches find and develop excellent players. So, winning demands "player dependence."
- The beneficiaries. Winning creates a "halo effect" and halos obscure shadows. Are coaches proud of the players we coach and players favorable about the "player experience?"
- The detractors. In Ball Four, a theme that emerges is "consider the source." On the other hand, don't dismiss criticism automatically.
- The devil's advocate. Pros and cons are always present. Often attributed to Bob Knight: “If you listen to the critics in the stands, soon you’ll be sitting with them.”
Lagniappe. "What does the opponent want the game to look like-and how can we disrupt that?
Mark Daigneault said something that should reshape how every defender thinks about the game:
— Mike Jagacki (@Mike_Jagacki) September 10, 2026
“The players are too talented and the teams are too good to let them have their way… What does the opponent want the game to look like — and how can we disrupt that?”
That’s not… pic.twitter.com/oZlEsYamGW