The man after ‘the man’: Mitch Johnson joins ranks of coaches to be successful a family identify

On Friday, mythical San Antonio Spurs trainer Gregg Popovich transitioned from head trainer of the crew to a entrance place of work function. While he was once making just right growth in his restoration from a November 2024 stroke, the daily grind of training an NBA franchise turned into an excessive amount of for him.

He’ll be succeeded via Mitch Johnson, who led the crew to a 31-45 file after taking on for Popovich for the rest of final season. Johnson has his paintings lower out for him — Popovich received 5 NBA titles with the crew and his 1,422 wins are an NBA file. Fortunately, it is not remarkable for somebody following a mythical trainer to have good fortune — however it is not simple.

Here’s a pass recreation take a look at different coaches who adopted mythical names.

Calipari’s resume with the Wildcats was once improbable — 410-122, a countrywide identify within the 2011-12 season, and 7 appearances within the Sweet 16. After he left final season, Mark Pope took over ably, main the crew to a 24-12 file and some other Sweet 16.

Harbaugh left the Wolverines on best, having led his alma mater to its first nationwide championship since 1997. Moore’s promotion to co-offensive coordinator (later taking sole keep watch over of the location) coincided with Michigan’s highest run beneath Harbaugh, with the Wolverines beating the Ohio State Buckeyes and making the College Football Playoff in 3 directly years. Moore led the Wolverines’ offensive line to Joe Moore Award victories in 2021 and 2022.

Moore has already been Michigan’s game-day trainer on 5 separate events, main the Wolverines to victories over the Bowling Green Falcons, Penn State Nittany Lions, Maryland Terrapins and Ohio State in 2023 with Harbaugh suspended. He led the Wolverines to an 8-5 file in his first season, had a 13-10 dissatisfied victor over Ohio State, and beat No. 11 Alabama within the ReliaQuest Bowl.

At 37 years outdated, the promotion made Mayo the youngest head trainer within the NFL — a identify up to now held via the Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay (one month older than Mayo). W He joined Belichick’s training team of workers in 2019, serving as linebackers trainer. Before that, he performed linebacker for New England from 2008 to 2015 after being decided on within the first spherical. Mayo was once accustomed to the franchise and had famous make stronger from avid gamers. His debut was once a crisis, then again, with the crew going 4-13. The crew fired him on the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.

Mike Krzyzewski to Jon Scheyer (Duke Blue Devils)

After a 47-year training profession and 5 nationwide titles, Krzyzewski retired and Scheyer took over with some large sneakers to fill. Scheyer proved to be up for the problem. He led the Blue Devils to a 27-9 mark in his first season, successful the ACC event and going undefeated at house. Scheyer was once the primary trainer in convention historical past to publish an undefeated house file in a debut season. He led the Blue Devils to the Final Four in his 3rd yr.

Davis made a touch in his first season as North Carolina Tar Heels trainer. Williams’ successor introduced his squad on an epic run throughout the NCAA event, culminating in a commute to the nationwide championship sport. Davis joined the elite membership of those that have long past to a Final Four as a participant (1991), an assistant trainer (2016 and 2017) and as a head trainer (2022). In his 3rd season, he led the crew to the Sweet 16, however fell within the Round of 64 in his fourth.

Phil Jackson to Tim Floyd (Chicago Bulls)

This is terribly unfair to Floyd — now not handiest did he need to apply up Jackson’s 545-193 file and 6 NBA titles, he needed to do it with out Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman or Steve Kerr. Floyd went 49-190 all over his time with the Bulls and resigned in December 2001.

Not simple to exchange the man for whom they named the championship trophy. And no marvel — Lombardi received 5 titles, two of which have been Super Bowls, to head in conjunction with an 89-29-4 file. Bengtson succeeded him after the 1967 season however controlled just a 20-21-1 mark with a unmarried successful season. He resigned sooner than the 1971 season.

Few people in historical past constitute girls’s faculty basketball like Pat Summitt. She coached Tennessee from 1974 to her retirement in 2012, racking up a 1,098-208 file with 8 NCAA event titles. Warlick coached the crew till 2019, and whilst she did not win a identify, she was once no slouch — Tennessee went 172-67 with 3 Sweet 16 and two Elite Eight appearances all over her tenure.

John Wooden to Gene Bartow (UCLA Bruins males’s basketball)

Imagine following a faculty basketball icon who received 10 NCAA championships, seven of them consecutively. That was once the duty dealing with Gene Bartow when he succeeded John Wooden after the latter received his ultimate identify all over the 1974-75 season. Oddly sufficient, Bartow in reality had an total higher successful share (.836 in comparison to Wooden’s .808) with UCLA, however was once there for handiest two seasons and made the Final Four as soon as.

Tom Landry to Jimmy Johnson (Dallas Cowboys)

Tom Landry did not have a successful file till his 7th season as Cowboys head trainer — which makes his ultimate file of 250-162 with two Super Bowl titles all of the extra spectacular. Johnson, previously the trainer of the Miami Hurricanes, began his Cowboys tenure in an identical model, going 8-24 in his first two seasons, sooner than turning it round and successful a couple of Super Bowls with America’s crew. Speaking of following an icon …

Don Shula to Jimmy Johnson (Miami Dolphins)

Shula stays the NFL’s winningest head trainer with 328 common season victories. He had a .659 successful share with the Dolphins and led them to 2 Super Bowl championships, together with the league’s handiest undefeated season. The Dolphins employed Johnson as Shula’s successor for the 1996-97 season. Despite now not having coached since 1993-94, Johnson stored the Dolphins first rate, main them to a 36-28 file with two playoff wins in 4 seasons.

Few managers have had a greater run in baseball than Joe Torre with the Yankees. In 12 seasons managing the crew, he had a .605 successful share and received 4 World Series titles, 3 of them consecutively. The crew fell to 3rd position within the AL East in Girardi’s first season, however got here roaring again in his sophomore effort to win the 2009 World Series. New York would have a .562 successful share all over Girardi’s tenure and he left when his contract expired after the 2017 season.

McGraw’s Fighting Irish made the NCAA event once a year from 1995 to 2019 and received all of it two times, in 2001 and 2018. She went 848-251 for a .772 successful share all over her time at Notre Dame. Ivey’s first season as her successor was once lower brief as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, however she made the Sweet 16 in her 2nd and has a 34-20 file total.

Bowden received 21 bowl video games with Florida State, together with two nationwide championships, for an total file of 304-97-4. Jimbo Fisher picked up proper the place he left off, successful a identify in his fourth season with the crew and compiling an 83-23 file for a successful share of .783 — a better mark than Bowden’s. Fisher would stick with the crew from 2010 to 2017 sooner than leaving to train Texas A&M.

Barry Switzer to Gary Gibbs (Oklahoma Sooners soccer)

Switzer received 3 nationwide titles and submit a 157-29-4 file as Oklahoma’s head trainer, however resigned amid a number of scandals in 1989. Gibbs confronted the problem of a number of NCAA sanctions at the Sooners’ program, however nonetheless controlled a 44-23-2 file with two bowl wins all over his time as head trainer.