Top Ten Movie Coaches

Dec 27, 2006

From the inspirational Coach Carter to the foul-mouthed Patches O'Houlihan, Kidzworld looks at the top coaches from your favorite sports movies.

#10. Top Movie Coaches - Herb Brooks; Miracle

In Miracle, Kurt Russell plays the role of legendary US hockey coach, Herb Brooks, who guided the US Olympic hockey team to a stunning gold medal victory in 1980. With his regiment of psyhcological tests, intense training drills and over the top inspirational speeches, Brooks took USA hockey to new limits and provided Disney with the script for a great sports movie.
Classic Line - "When you pull on that jersey, the name on the front is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back."

#9. Top Movie Coaches - Coach Gaines; Friday Night Lights

In a town where nothing is more important than high school football, Coach Gary Gaines (played by Billy Bob Thornton) takes the Permian High Panthers of Odessa, Texas to the state championship game. Gaines' mix of tough discipline and motivational halftime speeches helps the Panthers go on an unlikely playoff run in one of the best football movies of all time.
Classic Line - "The hopes and dreams of an entire town are riding on your shoulders. You may never matter again in your life as much as you do right now."

#8. Top Movie Coaches - Skip Engblom; Lords of Dogtown

Skip Engblom (played by Heath Ledger) isn't your typical coach from your average sports movie. He doesn't give long speeches or make his team do pushups 'til they puke. Instead, the skate shop owner/stoner from Lords of Dogtown gives a group of California skaters urethane wheels for their boards and encourages them to turn their neighbors' pools into skateparks.
Classic Line - "You gotta approach every day as if it's your last!"

#7. Top Movie Coaches - Norman Dale; Hoosiers

Coach Dale (played by Gene Hackman) is nearly run out of town while trying to coach a high school hoops team in small town Indiana. He eventually earns the respect of skeptical players and parents with a message that is a total cliche but still rings true: Anything is possible if you just believe in yourself and those around you.
Classic Line - "My practices aren't designed for your enjoyment."

#6. Top Movie Coaches - Patches O'Houlihan; Dodgeball

Patches O'Houlihan (played by Rip Torn) is a grumpy foul-mouthed cripple - but that doesn't stop him from being a first class dodgeball coach. His hysterical training methods, which include throwing wrenches at players to improve their dodging technique, turn a team of underdogs into dodgeball masters in one of the funniest sports movies ever made.
Classic Line - "If you're going to become true dodgeballers, then you've got to learn the five d's of dodgeball: dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge!"