John Hammond, the general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks, recognizes a trend when he sees one and he said that both the NBA and Major League Baseball were seeing it more and more.
"The idea of hiring a coach or manager without experience is a trend we are seeing now," Hammond said last week before a Bucks’ playoff game. "They bring a unique set of skills to the job."
Both the NBA and MLB have, for ages, been revolving doors of a coach or manager getting fired and then showing up as the head of another team before too long.
That appears to be changing, and with the announcement of Craig Counsell as the new Brewers manager and Jason Kidd heading the Bucks, Milwaukee is the site of two guys who have become head men without any previous experience.
While fans may have mixed reactions to these kind of hires, players generally support one of their own taking the reigns.
"It's a risk, but I think it's somebody we can grow with," guard Deron Williams slaid when Kidd was named head coach of the Nets. "I think it's somebody we're definitely going to respect and listen to. And I'm excited about the ways he's going to help me as a player and a leader."
Kidd and Counsell would seem to have some of the similar qualities that have become highly valued.
Both men are obviously smart. They have long and successful careers behind them and have a clear understanding of the way the game is played today.
Their recent pasts as players should work as an advantage with today’s players, not all of whom react well to a coach who cut his teeth decades ago. Professional athletes are a unique breed, and having their respect is crucial to success.
In addition both men are smooth, each projecting a sense of confidence that things are going to be okay. That’s important for players and for fans.
Counsell played with many of the players on the Brewers and on his Twitter feed, he addressed that issue.
"I view it as a positive," he said. "There’s already a relationship there. To me, it’s a positive."
While rare, the coaches who have taken over without any previous experience have been pretty successful.
In baseball the current managers who took over without any experience include Mike Matheny at St. Louis, Brad Ausmus in Detroit, Robin Ventura with the White Sox and Walt Weiss in Colorado.
In the NBA some head coaches who got their job without any previous experience include Doc Rivers, Mark Jackson, Larry Bird, Danny Ainge, Steve Kerr and Mike Dunleavy.
The future of the two Milwaukee professional sports teams are now in the hand of coaches who have never done it before.
And the two men share a lot of traits that may well lead to a strong endorsement of their hiring.
With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.
He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.
This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.
Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.
