Coaching Legends

Latest Update on the Best Coaches in the World

All rankings ↗Global edition
Coaching Legends rankings, ordered by editorial rank
RankNameFieldRemembered for
01Portrait of Bill CampbellBill CampbellBusiness & Technology · Coaching Silicon Valley's greatest leadersBusiness & TechnologyCoaching Silicon Valley's greatest leaders
02Portrait of John WoodenJohn WoodenBasketball & Leadership · UCLA dynasty and the Pyramid of SuccessBasketball & LeadershipUCLA dynasty and the Pyramid of Success
03Portrait of Jim RohnJim RohnPersonal Development · Mentoring Tony Robbins and shaping modern personal developmentPersonal DevelopmentMentoring Tony Robbins and shaping modern personal development
04Portrait of Vince LombardiVince LombardiAmerican Football · Green Bay Packers dynasty and leadership philosophyAmerican FootballGreen Bay Packers dynasty and leadership philosophy
05Portrait of Dale CarnegieDale CarnegieLeadership & Personal Development · Modern communication and people-skills educationLeadership & Personal DevelopmentModern communication and people-skills education
06Portrait of Steve JobsSteve JobsTechnology & Mentorship · Mentoring Mark Zuckerberg and influencing technology leadershipTechnology & MentorshipMentoring Mark Zuckerberg and influencing technology leadership
07Portrait of Napoleon HillNapoleon HillSuccess & Personal Development · Think and Grow Rich and success philosophySuccess & Personal DevelopmentThink and Grow Rich and success philosophy
08Portrait of Bill WalshBill WalshAmerican Football · West Coast Offense and organizational leadershipAmerican FootballWest Coast Offense and organizational leadership
09Portrait of Sir Alex FergusonSir Alex FergusonFootball · Manchester United's transformational dynastyFootballManchester United's transformational dynasty
10Portrait of Ramakant AchrekarRamakant AchrekarCricket · Coaching Sachin Tendulkar and India's great cricketersCricketCoaching Sachin Tendulkar and India's great cricketers
11Portrait of Phil JacksonPhil JacksonBasketballBasketball—
12Portrait of Rinus MichelsRinus MichelsFootball · Total Football and tactical innovationFootballTotal Football and tactical innovation
13Portrait of Johan CruyffJohan CruyffFootball · Revolutionary football philosophy and coachingFootballRevolutionary football philosophy and coaching
14Portrait of Brian CloughBrian CloughFootball · Nottingham Forest transformationFootballNottingham Forest transformation
15Portrait of Bill ShanklyBill ShanklyFootball · Building Liverpool's football cultureFootballBuilding Liverpool's football culture
16Portrait of Matt BusbyMatt BusbyFootball · Manchester United's Busby BabesFootballManchester United's Busby Babes
17Portrait of Arrigo SacchiArrigo SacchiFootball · Modern tactical revolutionFootballModern tactical revolution
18Portrait of César Luis MenottiCésar Luis MenottiFootball · Argentina's 1978 World CupFootballArgentina's 1978 World Cup
19Portrait of Sven-Göran ErikssonSven-Göran ErikssonFootball · International and club managementFootballInternational and club management
20Portrait of Franz BeckenbauerFranz BeckenbauerFootball · Player, coach and World Cup-winning managerFootballPlayer, coach and World Cup-winning manager
21Portrait of Bob PaisleyBob PaisleyFootball · Liverpool's extraordinary European successFootballLiverpool's extraordinary European success
22Portrait of Jock SteinJock SteinFootball · Celtic's European Cup triumphFootballCeltic's European Cup triumph
23Portrait of Vicente FeolaVicente FeolaFootball · Brazil's 1958 World CupFootballBrazil's 1958 World Cup
24Portrait of Mario ZagalloMario ZagalloFootball · World Cup-winning player and coachFootballWorld Cup-winning player and coach
25Portrait of Alf RamseyAlf RamseyFootball · England's 1966 World CupFootballEngland's 1966 World Cup
26Portrait of Don ShulaDon ShulaAmerican Football · NFL longevity and 1972 undefeated DolphinsAmerican FootballNFL longevity and 1972 undefeated Dolphins
27Portrait of George HalasGeorge HalasAmerican Football · Chicago Bears and founding NFL leadershipAmerican FootballChicago Bears and founding NFL leadership
28Portrait of Tom LandryTom LandryAmerican Football · Dallas Cowboys dynasty and coaching innovationAmerican FootballDallas Cowboys dynasty and coaching innovation
29Portrait of Paul BrownPaul BrownAmerican Football · Modern professional football systemsAmerican FootballModern professional football systems
30Portrait of Bear BryantBear BryantAmerican Football · Alabama dynastyAmerican FootballAlabama dynasty
31Portrait of Joe PaternoJoe PaternoAmerican Football · Penn State's historic coaching tenureAmerican FootballPenn State's historic coaching tenure
32Portrait of Bobby KnightBobby KnightBasketball · NCAA championships and defensive philosophyBasketballNCAA championships and defensive philosophy
33Portrait of Dean SmithDean SmithBasketball · North Carolina and player developmentBasketballNorth Carolina and player development
34Portrait of Pat SummittPat SummittBasketball · Tennessee dynasty and women's basketballBasketballTennessee dynasty and women's basketball
35Portrait of Red AuerbachRed AuerbachBasketball · Boston Celtics dynastyBasketballBoston Celtics dynasty
36Portrait of Chuck DalyChuck DalyBasketball · Detroit Pistons and 1992 Dream TeamBasketballDetroit Pistons and 1992 Dream Team
37Portrait of John ThompsonJohn ThompsonBasketball · Georgetown and transformational leadershipBasketballGeorgetown and transformational leadership
38Portrait of Ray ArcelRay ArcelBoxing · Training multiple world championsBoxingTraining multiple world champions
39Portrait of Eddie FutchEddie FutchBoxing · Developing elite heavyweight and world championsBoxingDeveloping elite heavyweight and world champions
40Portrait of Angelo DundeeAngelo DundeeBoxing · Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray LeonardBoxingMuhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard
41Portrait of Cus D'AmatoCus D'AmatoBoxing · Mike Tyson and psychological masteryBoxingMike Tyson and psychological mastery
42Portrait of Emanuel StewardEmanuel StewardBoxing · Kronk Gym and generations of championsBoxingKronk Gym and generations of champions
43Portrait of Gil ClancyGil ClancyBoxing · Training world champions and Olympic fightersBoxingTraining world champions and Olympic fighters
44Portrait of Nick BollettieriNick BollettieriTennis · Developing generations of elite tennis playersTennisDeveloping generations of elite tennis players
45Portrait of Harry HopmanHarry HopmanTennis · Australian tennis dynastyTennisAustralian tennis dynasty
46Portrait of Vic BradenVic BradenTennis · Tennis instruction and sports psychologyTennisTennis instruction and sports psychology
47Portrait of Robert LansdorpRobert LansdorpTennis · Coaching elite American tennis playersTennisCoaching elite American tennis players
48Portrait of Bob WoolmerBob WoolmerCricket · International cricket coaching innovationCricketInternational cricket coaching innovation
49Portrait of James "Doc" CounsilmanJames "Doc" CounsilmanSwimming · Revolutionizing competitive swimming coachingSwimmingRevolutionizing competitive swimming coaching
50Portrait of Bill BowermanBill BowermanAthletics · Coaching Oregon runners and influencing NikeAthleticsCoaching Oregon runners and influencing Nike
51Portrait of Arthur LydiardArthur LydiardAthletics · Distance-running methodologyAthleticsDistance-running methodology
52Portrait of Percy CeruttyPercy CeruttyAthletics · Herb Elliott and elite endurance trainingAthleticsHerb Elliott and elite endurance training
53Portrait of Charlie FrancisCharlie FrancisSprinting · Ben Johnson and speed-training methodologySprintingBen Johnson and speed-training methodology
54Portrait of Glen MillsGlen MillsAthletics · Usain Bolt and Jamaican sprintingAthleticsUsain Bolt and Jamaican sprinting
55Portrait of Béla KárolyiBéla KárolyiGymnastics · Nadia Comăneci and elite gymnasticsGymnasticsNadia Comăneci and elite gymnastics
56Portrait of Herb BrooksHerb BrooksIce Hockey · 1980 "Miracle on Ice"Ice Hockey1980 "Miracle on Ice"
57Portrait of Scotty BowmanScotty BowmanIce Hockey · Record Stanley Cup coaching legacyIce HockeyRecord Stanley Cup coaching legacy
58Portrait of Roger NeilsonRoger NeilsonIce Hockey · Tactical innovation and player developmentIce HockeyTactical innovation and player development
59Portrait of Clive WoodwardClive WoodwardRugby · England's 2003 World CupRugbyEngland's 2003 World Cup
60Portrait of Fred AllenFred AllenRugby · New Zealand rugby coachingRugbyNew Zealand rugby coaching
61Portrait of Earl NightingaleEarl NightingalePersonal Development · Radio-based personal-development movementPersonal DevelopmentRadio-based personal-development movement
62Portrait of Zig ZiglarZig ZiglarSales & Personal Development · Sales coaching and motivational educationSales & Personal DevelopmentSales coaching and motivational education
63Portrait of Og MandinoOg MandinoPersonal Development · The Greatest Salesman in the WorldPersonal DevelopmentThe Greatest Salesman in the World
64Portrait of Stephen R. CoveyStephen R. CoveyLeadership · The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleLeadershipThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
65Portrait of W. Edwards DemingW. Edwards DemingManagement · Quality management and organizational improvementManagementQuality management and organizational improvement
66Portrait of Peter DruckerPeter DruckerManagement · Modern management thoughtManagementModern management thought
67Portrait of Warren BennisWarren BennisLeadership · Leadership scholarship and executive developmentLeadershipLeadership scholarship and executive development
68Portrait of David OgilvyDavid OgilvyAdvertising & Business · Modern advertising leadership and mentorshipAdvertising & BusinessModern advertising leadership and mentorship
69Portrait of Clayton ChristensenClayton ChristensenBusiness & Innovation · Disruptive innovationBusiness & InnovationDisruptive innovation
70Portrait of Jack WelchJack WelchBusiness Leadership · GE transformation and management philosophyBusiness LeadershipGE transformation and management philosophy
71Portrait of Edward de BonoEdward de BonoThinking & Creativity · Lateral thinkingThinking & CreativityLateral thinking
72Portrait of Tom PetersTom PetersLeadership & personal developmentLeadership & personal development—
73Portrait of Eliyahu M. GoldrattEliyahu M. GoldrattBusiness & Operations · Theory of ConstraintsBusiness & OperationsTheory of Constraints
74Portrait of Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiMihaly CsikszentmihalyiPsychology & Performance · Flow theoryPsychology & PerformanceFlow theory
75Portrait of Albert EllisAlbert EllisPsychology & Mind · Rational Emotive Behaviour TherapyPsychology & MindRational Emotive Behaviour Therapy
76Portrait of Aaron BeckAaron BeckPsychology & Mind · Cognitive therapyPsychology & MindCognitive therapy
77Portrait of Viktor FranklViktor FranklPsychology & Meaning · Logotherapy and meaning-centered psychologyPsychology & MeaningLogotherapy and meaning-centered psychology
78Portrait of Carl RogersCarl RogersPsychology & Human Development · Person-centered psychologyPsychology & Human DevelopmentPerson-centered psychology
79Portrait of Abraham MaslowAbraham MaslowPsychology · Hierarchy of needs and human potentialPsychologyHierarchy of needs and human potential
80Portrait of Milton EricksonMilton EricksonHypnotherapy & Psychology · Transformational therapeutic communicationHypnotherapy & PsychologyTransformational therapeutic communication
81Portrait of Virginia SatirVirginia SatirFamily Therapy · Family systems and transformational communicationFamily TherapyFamily systems and transformational communication
82Portrait of Erich FrommErich FrommPsychology & Philosophy · Humanistic psychologyPsychology & PhilosophyHumanistic psychology
83Portrait of Wayne DyerWayne DyerSpirituality & Personal Development · Personal transformation and self-developmentSpirituality & Personal DevelopmentPersonal transformation and self-development
84Portrait of Louise HayLouise HayMindset & Personal Development · Affirmations and self-loveMindset & Personal DevelopmentAffirmations and self-love
85Portrait of Ram DassRam DassSpirituality · Consciousness and spiritual transformationSpiritualityConsciousness and spiritual transformation
86Portrait of Thich Nhat HanhThich Nhat HanhMindfulness · Global mindfulness and compassionate livingMindfulnessGlobal mindfulness and compassionate living
87Portrait of Paramahansa YoganandaParamahansa YoganandaSpirituality & Meditation · Bringing yoga philosophy to Western audiencesSpirituality & MeditationBringing yoga philosophy to Western audiences
88Portrait of Ramana MaharshiRamana MaharshiSpirituality · Self-inquiry and realizationSpiritualitySelf-inquiry and realization
89Portrait of Neem Karoli BabaNeem Karoli BabaSpirituality · Spiritual influence on Steve Jobs and othersSpiritualitySpiritual influence on Steve Jobs and others
90Portrait of OshoOshoSpirituality & Meditation · Meditation and consciousness teachingsSpirituality & MeditationMeditation and consciousness teachings
91Portrait of Maya AngelouMaya AngelouLife & Human Development · Resilience, identity and human potentialLife & Human DevelopmentResilience, identity and human potential
92Portrait of Marcus AureliusMarcus AureliusPhilosophy & Leadership · Stoic leadership and self-masteryPhilosophy & LeadershipStoic leadership and self-mastery
93Portrait of SocratesSocratesPhilosophy & Teaching · Questioning as a method of learningPhilosophy & TeachingQuestioning as a method of learning
94Portrait of ConfuciusConfuciusPhilosophy & Leadership · Ethics, character and leadershipPhilosophy & LeadershipEthics, character and leadership
95Portrait of AristotleAristotlePhilosophy & Education · Ethics, rhetoric and systematic learningPhilosophy & EducationEthics, rhetoric and systematic learning
96Portrait of Miyamoto MusashiMiyamoto MusashiStrategy & Martial Arts · Strategy, discipline and masteryStrategy & Martial ArtsStrategy, discipline and mastery
97Portrait of Bruce LeeBruce LeeMartial Arts & Human Development · Jeet Kune Do and philosophy of self-masteryMartial Arts & Human DevelopmentJeet Kune Do and philosophy of self-mastery
98Portrait of Morihei UeshibaMorihei UeshibaMartial Arts & Spiritual Development · Aikido and mind-body disciplineMartial Arts & Spiritual DevelopmentAikido and mind-body discipline
99Portrait of Tirumalai KrishnamacharyaTirumalai KrishnamacharyaYoga · Modern yoga and teaching lineageYogaModern yoga and teaching lineage
How the rankings work

Rankings are curated by Coach Affairs within each category. Rank numbers reflect the editorial list; they are not calculated scores. A person may appear in more than one category.