Should coaches in college be considered the best fit for the NFL?  Here are some examples:

1. Bobby Bowden (FSU)- One of the best to coach the game in college and he said on many occasions he would not coach pro and said he would have struggled and not lasted.

2. Joe P. (Penn State)- Another great coach that said he would never coach at the pro level and said he knew his style would never work with pro athletes.

3. Steve Spurrier (SC)- One of the best coaches to coach college and his moment with the NFL was a complete mess.  He said he hated the experience and knew quickly he was clearly a better fit for college.  Like or hate.. a great coach.

4. Pete C. (USC)- Another great college coach that clearly was not suited for the NFL.

These four coaches are national champion coaches but that means nothing at the pro level.  The experience that the Dolphins and Falcons are having is clearly there lack of common sense in hiring an experience coach. 

The best fit for the NFL is a coach who has been an asst. coach at the pro level for some time.  If they do not want an experienced head coach; that is the better fit.  The Asst. coach sees the pampered player and knows the system.  We have many great coaches that worked as asst. coaches first and learned the ropes watching the failures and good things that worked from their head coaches.

Do not get me wrong.. some can convert but not many.  The money in college is so good now (ask Saban) it is only the glamour of being a pro coach that seems exciting.  That quickly leaves when you do not win each year.

Nick Saban actually had a shot at the pro level but clearly was a better fit in college.  He would have never been more than average with a few average years in the NFL.  He is now at a school with tradition and with his schedule can become a "great coach" again.  The Auburn coach said it best when asked if he would leave.  He said why would he trade tradition and control to develop a team his way to the pros where you are a small piece of a huge dream.  Do you think the Tennessee coach would do well in the NFL?

Nebraska has a coach who brought his NFL dream to the college level.. not too good right now.  Some coaches excell and are some of the best but in the NFL they would be lost and do not belong.  Some coaches in the NFL leave for less stress and in college struggle.

College coaches should work from HS to college asst. and then Head Coach.  NFL coaches should be former college coaches that are asst. coaches with several years experience before head coaching.  I think Atlanta needed a seasoned coach to deal with the off and on the field issues.  The dolphins needing a seasoned coach that could develop and rebuild and they needed to know the NFL. 

Your thoughts and examples of coaches who should have stayed where they were?