Alright I know I'm gonna look like a complete dumb ass, but I guess I've never fully understood the role of a head coach. A team gets so much blame/praise directed at the coaches, but what do they do other than inspire a team and look pissed on the sideline? They must be an integral part of calling plays, etc.?
Lookin at you [MENTION=325]EffEmDoubleyou[/MENTION] for an answer
The coach in football has more of an influence than in pretty much any sport. His duties include:
* Having a say in what players the team drafts or which free agent players the team pursues (some coaches have much more say than others)
* Designing the team's practice schedule and travel protocol
* Hiring the rest of the coaching staff and consequently determining the offensive and defensive philosophies the team will employ, which in turn determines what sort of player the team acquires
* Enforcing team rules and meting out discipline
* Being in charge of in-game management, which depending on the coach can include formulating the game plan, determining the active roster, calling plays on offense and/or defense, clock management, and making decisions on strategy at key moments in the game
* Assisting in recruiting during the free agent period
* Scouting college all-star games in the few weeks after the Super Bowl
* Holding press conferences and dealing with the media
That's all I can think of right now. Pretty much anything megalomaniacal.