[needle]

Sometimes I think that an older coach is less effective in relating to college players than someone closer to their age.

When Willingham was at Stanford, he was in his 40s.

I recall published reports of his doing conditioning drills with players. I don't want to make too much of that factoid. But I do think it's possible that for a few/some/many coaches, their age--no doubt compounded by the stress of the job--takes out some of their youthful EUTM and makes them less effective in motivating players.

[needle]

Sometimes I think that an older coach is less effective in relating to college players than someone closer to their age.

When Willingham was at Stanford, he was in his 40s.

I recall published reports of his doing conditioning drills with players. I don't want to make too much of that factoid. But I do think it's possible that for a few/some/many coaches, their age--no doubt compounded by the stress of the job--takes out some of their youthful EUTM and makes them less effective in motivating players.