The Coaching Carousel: Who Fell Off and Why

The Psychology of Sports

On The Couch: An Analysis of Current Topics
and Issues in Sports
By Dr. Richard Lustberg

December 2003

What is going on in New York is a carousel of coaching changes, after the dismissals of Jim Fassel (right photo), Scott Layden, and Mike Jarvis. Talk is rampant about Don Chaney and Herman Edwards, with Chaney's head still on the chopping block, and Edwards looking for a better situation. Who knows how long Byron Scott will last? And finally, I cannot keep track of how many coaches the Islanders have had.

The firing of Jim Fassel, the soon to be the ex-coach of the New York Giants, was not surprising. What was surprising were some of the reasons Fassel and the Giant organization attributed to his departure. Fassel's resignation-firing was scripted and self-serving for all parties involved. Keep in mind that there were a number of psychological and emotional factors that went into this story. Some of them were quite obvious. Make no mistake about it; Fassel is surely upset as are the Giants. This is to be expected when egos, emotions, personalities and business converge.

So it was no surprise that the parties involved did not necessarily tell us the whole story. Perhaps this is the way it should be since neither the Fassel nor the Giants wanted to look bad, and certainly both wanted to be seen in the most favorable light possible. Thus, some of the reasons given by the parties involved were not expected to be necessarily truthful or made sense.

The most obvious example of this was Fassel's and ownership's explanation that the players needed to hear a different voice in the locker room. This reason was not factual, and defied common sense. This would suggest that Fassel has been speaking to the same players for his entire seven year tenure, which has clearly not been the case since the Giant's roster like every other team in the NFL, has changed considerably every year.

Based upon Fassel's complete record with the team there appeared to be no reason to let him go. But Fassel played the role of the good soldier, although it is rarely ever one individual's fault. The Giants appear to have drafted several busts in the last few years, including Ron Dwayne and perhaps William Josephs, although the jury is still out on the later. It is definitely fair to say Ernie Accorsi and the rest of the Giant organization are also responsible for the team's play. Hey, Accorsi was man enough to admit it was partially his fault, except he got to keep his job.

One head has to role. The axiom that a head coach in the NFL is inevitably going to be fired is factually correct. While there are a myriad of reasons why coaches get fired, it is under what circumstances a coach is fired that are most important and interesting.

Dan Reeves, Mike Jarvis, and Scott Layden were fired for different reasons and under different circumstances than Fassel. Jarvis did not win, complained, and never really got along with Father Harrington. Layden was a casualty of his own political naiveté, job incompetence and by all accounts had to deal with an overbearing meddling owner.

In Fassel's case it appears that the most obvious explanation he was let go was that the fans screamed and yelled about the team's play and demanded Fassel's head. It was the empty seats, signs, and the fan chants that moved Wellington Mara, one of the most respected, revered, and classiest owners in sport to say that the fans' discontentment had to be taken seriously.

Any statement made by Mara, no matter how trivial, is covered in New York. Make no mistake about it, when Mr. Mara spoke, Fassel was as good as gone. In a recent ESPN poll the Giants came in a close second to the Bucs as the team that had the most disappointing season, Mr. Mara had read the tea leaves correctly.

Finally, while it might appear that coaching jobs in sports are more precarious than in other occupations, this is only partially true. Many coaches make their own decisions to take other jobs when discontented with their work situation. Perhaps society is catching up to sport or visa versa. The length of time that people in the work force stay in the same job or position has steadily decreased. This trend will continue as people's life spans increase which creates new options at different stages of their lives.

Bill Parcells seems to be ahead of the curve in this regard. He knows how to play the system better than most. He truly is a master of self-preservation and control over his own future. Of course his leverage is derived by the fact that when all is said and done he is going to go down in history as one of the greatest of all time.

Parcells was seen speaking to and purportedly offering Fassel solace and advice before the Giant vs. Dallas game this past weekend. Research and common sense suggests that Fassel and all those that lost their jobs need to honestly assess their roles in what went wrong. This is a mark of a well-adjusted, intelligent individual.

As for he Fassel he would be wise to take a lesson or two from Parcells before he ventures into the next arena. It's tough to take blame when you're not entirely at fault and when no other head falls, but yours.

The ever-moving carousel has certainly been moved by fan power. Perhaps this is a harbinger of a new era in sport. Empty seats speak!

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