College to Majors- Bobby Winkles...

[GGC]

... is the only manager that I am aware of that came from the college coach ranks. There have been many coaches who have made the transition from the NCAA to the NBA or NFL. Granted, hiring a college coach doesn't always work. But how come it doesn't happen more often in MLB?

GGC

[Wolf Hopper]

Different skillsets required for the NCAA baseball manager and the big league manager, IMHO.

Not to say that a NCAA Mgr could not be an excellent pro-MGR in short season A, A-ball, or maybe even AA - - - but, once you get towards AAA, the MGR is less of a teacher/baby-sitter and more of a on the field, dealing with media, playing politics type of guy.

[sweaver]

True. A number of major league players have become college coaches, but I can't think of anyone who has been successful going from coaching college to pros.

[SmedIndy]

I think a lot of the issues would be inflicted on people who say a college coach couldn't do the job - because he's a college coach - then when a mistake is made jump up and down and say, "SEE!"

Look what happened to John Boles - thanks to that EEEDIOT Miceli.

[pathogan]

...for along time colleges were viewed askance by MLB,the proving grounds were the minor leagues...that thinking has changed...Could Rod deadeux have managed in the Majors? Why not...

[KCBOOMER]

I would think it would be a different world for a college coach to try and manage a BLB team. In college the players know it is their job to show the coach they are worthy of playing time. In MLB the manager has to prove to the players he is worthy of them.

[GGC]

All of these are valid points, but I don't think that there is anything that precludes a man from having both the requisite skill sets to be a college coach AND the skill sets to coach professionals. It has been done a few times in other sports.