European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 7, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday March 7, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 23 commentary a vision of College coaching styles everyone who plays watches or writes about sports has a dream. It s that one great game or one great Day when the world takes notice. For one moment it s you who has the sports writers scram bling and the to commentators gushing comparing you to great names of the past. The Advent of the naga basketball tournament forms the backdrop of my dream. With 64 teams ranging from the great to the we re Here but Don t ask me Why variety the single elimination classic holds the possibility for a Cinderella team Villanova in 1985 or a we knew it All along squad North car Olina in 1982. My dream has nothing to do with on court activities. Sky Hooks slam dunks and three Point Field goals leave me cold. Fact is on court heroes lose their Luster soon after the final Buzzer. Can you name Vil Lanova s starting five of last year can you Tell me How Many Points Patrick Ewing scored in the 1985 showdown How soon we forget. Everyone though remembers the head coaches. Rollie Massimino used to conjure up images of a bricklayer truck Driver or Delicatessen owner before last year s Mcaa championship. And who does t know who John Thompson is not to mention Dean Smith Guy Lewis and Jim Valvano guide your team to the Mcaa championship game and your name is legend. In my heart of hearts i want to stroll the sidelines just like those Guys. I want to Wear a sports jacket and hitch up my trousers just before calling a timeout. I want to offer pained looks when the referee blows a Call and a look of stoicism when he gives my team a break. Unlike the players whose skills can be lumped into running jumping and shooting coaches offer a rain Bow of personalities and anomalies. And the top of the line mentors always display a trademark setting themselves apart from their adversaries who also coach players who Excel at running shooting and jumping. I m convinced it would t take too much to make me one of the top College coaches. Every team has Talent. But not every school has a coach with style the panache that separates the Good from the mediocre. Here s an in depth look at some of the top College coaches and Why Dean Smith forget the Talent four Corners and winning tradition. Concentrate on style. Dean Smith looks like a basketball coach. Try to picture what a head coach would look like and there s Dean Smith wearing that another Day at the office look. John Thompson i m convinced it s the Towel that does it. With that White Towel draped Over his Shoul Der Thompson gives the impression that his Job is As sweaty As that of his players. I know one thing with the teams Thompson has put together at Georgetown he has t had to use the thing to cry in. Jerry Tarkanian Tark the shark they Call him. Maybe jaws might be better. Anyone who Chews on towels during a game must be a fish out of water or up to something Good. Considering Nevada Las vegas record since Tarkanian took Over forget the fish reference. Denny Crum i swear this Guy models $500 suits for go Magazine in the of season. He always looks so Well dressed. But it s the frills that set him apart. Take the program. I be never seen him read it but Crum clutches that rolled up thing for 40 minutes. He sometimes wears a Flower in his Lapel. Since Victory Sunshine seems to Grace the cardinals Don t Knock the frills. Rollie Massimino he reminds me of the 8-year old boy forced to Wear his sunday Best Only to end up looking like the Street Orchin. With his tie Askew and Shirttail hanging out Massimino gives the profession a Blue Collar look. After the wildcats upset Triumph Over Georgetown at the conclusion of last year he gave the game a winning look. With these men As examples i thought i had it All figured. I d feature a Beret Argyle socks and carry a Popcorn cup. I d create my own style. But then my team would have to play. I d probably play the water boy at Center use up All my timeouts in the first five minutes and fall so far behind the scorekeeper would go Home Early. My dream would become a Nightmare. Maybe that s Why nobody has called offering a coaching Job. Looks Aren t everything. The stars and stripes North Carolina s Dean Smith file photo Villanova s Rollie Massimino file photo file photo Louisville s Denny Crum Georgetown s John Thompson file photo up photo Nevada Las vegas Jerry Tarkanian