Are they Really a Weasel?

Writer Gregg Easterbrook has a running meme through his ESPN Tuesday Morning Quarterback column titled ‘Weasel Coach Watch’. The Weasel Coach is basically defined as a coach, mostly college football, leaving a position before the conclusion of a season and their contract. Easterbrook is hardly the only writer who takes the occasion of coaches moving about for what ostensively is a better job to hammer out a pious column calling out the so-called offender. To me, it’s difficult to get worked up about it happening. Mostly because it’s a common occurrence and the composition of the college football season lends itself to it. Basically with prime recruiting season starting during that time in between a college team’s final regular season and bowl game, college teams actively attempt to hire coaches during that time. It’s also difficult to imagine that a coach, no matter how tenured, wouldn’t leave when they have to for a new, preferable opportunity (that is, based on the timeline and requirements of the new job) for whatever reason. Certainly it’s tough for continuity but those same coaches can be fired at any moment. Perhaps there is an effect on the players who remain but they are young adults and no matter how disappointed they may be, a coach leaving does not diminish their abilities or status on the team. While ‘weasel coach’ might make a good headline, it’s really just a person attempting to do better for themselves.