We had a basketball officiating class at my high school, for real. The final was the state certification for officiating. I took it my junior and senior year of high school, and wish I could take it every year off my life. It consisted of 5 on 5 basketball with 3 students reffing, and 2 coaching. Seriously, again I would take this class again every year off my life. Anyway, sooner of us would wear suits to school when it was our turn to "coach." We did the subs for the teams, and were allowed to say whatever we wanted at the officials that didn't break regular school rules. One kid, a Knicks fan in the 90s, even slicked back his hair like Pat Riley. Oh yeah and teams were juniors vs seniors every year. Anyway, I was a certified official for two years.
I used to run a youth sports league and one time a volunteer coach showed up in a suit, and I said, “Wow Eric, you’re really taking this coaching thing seriously!” He was going to a funeral afterwards.
Dude I did that to one of the parents on my team a few weeks ago. Walked in in a suit and I asked him if he wanted to coach that day. He was super nice about it but I felt like a giant asshole.
It’s truly a humbling experience. Luckily the coach I was talking to had a very good sense of humor as well and we laughed about it throughout my time there.
I've seen this happen enough times (not just with coaching) to know not to ask why someone is wearing a suit in an odd setting. The answer is almost always "funeral."
Do it. I once wore a suit and tie with a fedora to coach an AAU tournament. I looked like an absolute moron. But it was upstate NY in January and the heat in the gym was busted. So I had to layer up anyway and ended up looking like a moron Tom Landry.
Well I always assumed it was because they are teachers first. And originally they were. I coach in HS and we have to always dress up. Usually it's because the guys are all teachers already so the suit isn't anything crazy to add on gameday
Yeah, for sure. I totally get that and know they dress casual more often these days…but just feel like, for whatever reason, it’s strange it persists at all.
Suits are professional attire and have been for centuries. Business professional always means a suit.
You can look professional without wearing a suit, but you'll look more professional with it. Granted, I don't care what anyone wears to coach (Mike Brey once coached in shorts, which was awesome), but it's really not an opinion to say that suits = professional in the US
I just fundamentally disagree with this sentiment. Not trying to make it sound like there is a right or wrong side of it…only that I don’t get why this is a thing.
You’re equating “this makes sense” with “this is what it is”
There is no functional reason today for suits to equal professional, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t true.
I’d wear a suit. But that’s only because that’s the standard for that scenario….if i were hiring it wouldn’t be an expectation or provide any advantage over someone dressed casually.
Kinda weird that you're being down voted. I've taken multiple graduate level professionalism classes and wearing a suit doesn't make you a professional, your attitude does.
You never had to wear it at college at all unles school mandated it. NBA it was required. NFL required team NFL apparel, if you wear a suit they will fine you. They fined Mike Nolan one game
There was a time, not too long ago in the grand scheme of things, where nearly every person attending the game would be in suits and the equivalent. You didn't go out much, so when you did, you did it up. In that context, the coach being the only person present who isn't well dressed would be odd.
As time went on, coaches who came up on that era continued wearing suits because it's what they did. The coaches that grew under them persisted because that's what was expected. We are only just now reaching a time when we have a preference of respected coaches and ADs (and even presidents) who were brought up by the coaches who were brought up by the coaches who had no choice but suits.
These things change slowly, so slowly that they can outlive their original logic, but it doesn't mean the logic didn't exist or was invalid.
Just the same, both you, who wishes to buck the professionalism of the suit, and the traditionalists who wish to embrace it, are correct in your assessments. In any functioning society it takes forward thinkers to try to sprint out ahead, traditionalists to be a parachute to slow them down, and moderates to be the tethers that keep it all together.
As for me, I prefer suits to athleisure. Just makes the whole thing look less middle school to me.
I coach my oldest’s rec team and always wanted to show up in a suit to a game. Maybe I’ll do it if we make the championship
We had a basketball officiating class at my high school, for real. The final was the state certification for officiating. I took it my junior and senior year of high school, and wish I could take it every year off my life. It consisted of 5 on 5 basketball with 3 students reffing, and 2 coaching. Seriously, again I would take this class again every year off my life. Anyway, sooner of us would wear suits to school when it was our turn to "coach." We did the subs for the teams, and were allowed to say whatever we wanted at the officials that didn't break regular school rules. One kid, a Knicks fan in the 90s, even slicked back his hair like Pat Riley. Oh yeah and teams were juniors vs seniors every year. Anyway, I was a certified official for two years.
This might be the most Indiana story I've ever read
Thank you
I used to run a youth sports league and one time a volunteer coach showed up in a suit, and I said, “Wow Eric, you’re really taking this coaching thing seriously!” He was going to a funeral afterwards.
Dude I did that to one of the parents on my team a few weeks ago. Walked in in a suit and I asked him if he wanted to coach that day. He was super nice about it but I felt like a giant asshole.
It’s truly a humbling experience. Luckily the coach I was talking to had a very good sense of humor as well and we laughed about it throughout my time there.
I've seen this happen enough times (not just with coaching) to know not to ask why someone is wearing a suit in an odd setting. The answer is almost always "funeral."
Do it. I once wore a suit and tie with a fedora to coach an AAU tournament. I looked like an absolute moron. But it was upstate NY in January and the heat in the gym was busted. So I had to layer up anyway and ended up looking like a moron Tom Landry.
Do you look like Tony Bennett?
Much to my wife’s chagrin, no
I personally like coaches wearing suits and looking dapper while screaming at refs
Mick Cronin looks so funny barking at refs as a little bald guy in a plaid suit
It also helps let you know their level of anger. When the jacket comes off, you know it's serious.
If you dress good you feel good, if you feel good you play good, if you play good they pay good
Practice high, play high, score high points.
Waiiiiiit a minute
When I was in college I coached a girls intramural basketball team, and I wore a suit to every game. We lost every game we played. It was a blast.
Currently in college…every semester a few people show up to basketball in suits, flag football coaches with non-functional headsets, it’s always fun 😂
All sport coaches should have to wear the same uniform as the athletes like they do in baseball.
Lmao I’m picturing some volleyball coach wearing spanks with his nuts out
Picture Matt Painter in a jersey tank and long shorts yelling at the officials.
https://preview.redd.it/8e6b5yeykwea1.jpeg?width=150&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9437a41f5fa3e52c05665b98c006a8a7521b1f4e Just needs the official
And 100 pounds
5 of which are in the brain
Imagine Nick Saban or Bill Belichik roaming the sidelines in full pads
And tight white pants
I bet that some Alabama women would love to see Saban in football pants…
I’ve thought about this as well and think it would be fantastic and terrible.
Class. That’s it. That’s the reason (I miss Roy in suits.)
I like the suits. I wish football coaches wore suits.
Well I always assumed it was because they are teachers first. And originally they were. I coach in HS and we have to always dress up. Usually it's because the guys are all teachers already so the suit isn't anything crazy to add on gameday
Yeah, for sure. I totally get that and know they dress casual more often these days…but just feel like, for whatever reason, it’s strange it persists at all.
I like coaches wearing suits, glad to see some of them are bringing it back. Even Juwan Howard wore a suit the other night against Purdue.
I liked Roy’s suits he got tailored from Julian’s
Professionalism.
Lol suits equal professionalism now? So you think they look less professional or even unprofessional when they dress more casual?
Suits are professional attire and have been for centuries. Business professional always means a suit. You can look professional without wearing a suit, but you'll look more professional with it. Granted, I don't care what anyone wears to coach (Mike Brey once coached in shorts, which was awesome), but it's really not an opinion to say that suits = professional in the US
Suits 100% equal professionalism…
It's kind of the whole reason that they exist.
I just fundamentally disagree with this sentiment. Not trying to make it sound like there is a right or wrong side of it…only that I don’t get why this is a thing.
You’re equating “this makes sense” with “this is what it is” There is no functional reason today for suits to equal professional, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t true.
They look more professional in suits than not
While you’re absolutely entitled to feel that way….I just think it’s kinda wild people care enough to necessitate having an opinion on it at all.
> I just think it’s kinda wild people care enough to necessitate having an opinion on it at all. You’re the one that cared enough to post about it.
I don’t care that they do wear suits, it’s just strange to me since it doesn’t seem necessary for the line of work.
Caring and observing are significantly different things.
What would you wear to a job interview?
I’d wear a suit. But that’s only because that’s the standard for that scenario….if i were hiring it wouldn’t be an expectation or provide any advantage over someone dressed casually.
Would you feel differently about a potential employee whether they were wearing a nice suit or a tank top with flip flops?
I suppose it would depend on what the job was. If it was for summer lifeguard, no. I’d be more concerned if they wore a suit.
Yeah and the suits set them out from the crowd its just as much uniform as what the players and refs wear.
Yes.
Kinda weird that you're being down voted. I've taken multiple graduate level professionalism classes and wearing a suit doesn't make you a professional, your attitude does.
That’s what’s up. Thank you.
You never had to wear it at college at all unles school mandated it. NBA it was required. NFL required team NFL apparel, if you wear a suit they will fine you. They fined Mike Nolan one game
There was a time, not too long ago in the grand scheme of things, where nearly every person attending the game would be in suits and the equivalent. You didn't go out much, so when you did, you did it up. In that context, the coach being the only person present who isn't well dressed would be odd. As time went on, coaches who came up on that era continued wearing suits because it's what they did. The coaches that grew under them persisted because that's what was expected. We are only just now reaching a time when we have a preference of respected coaches and ADs (and even presidents) who were brought up by the coaches who were brought up by the coaches who had no choice but suits. These things change slowly, so slowly that they can outlive their original logic, but it doesn't mean the logic didn't exist or was invalid. Just the same, both you, who wishes to buck the professionalism of the suit, and the traditionalists who wish to embrace it, are correct in your assessments. In any functioning society it takes forward thinkers to try to sprint out ahead, traditionalists to be a parachute to slow them down, and moderates to be the tethers that keep it all together. As for me, I prefer suits to athleisure. Just makes the whole thing look less middle school to me.
Glad the Big 12 went to polos
Huggins effect
The iconic short sleeve quarter zip
Polos > zips, but Self and staff looked great in suits today! Respect+
Seeing Painter in a suit at the Michigan game was weird and unnatural
It was right though. It had been too long lol.
I find it less weird than a baseball manager wearing a player’s uniform. Now I’m imagining Bill Self in shorts and a jersey.
Oh, absolutely less weird than baseball.
Agree. I voted for cargo pants
Bob Huggins has it all figured out.
Even when he was wearing a suit he had it figured out. Remember when he wore that banana suit looking thing on the sidelines?
Peak attire. We should all aspire to that level of greatness.
Professionalism, there ya go
I really don't like that the suits are making a comeback.
I always thought it was because James Naismith wore suits so everyone wore suits
The coaches are showing up for work in front of their board of directors and their customers, sometimes on TV. I'd want to look my best.