There are 32 head coaches in the NHL, another 32 in the NFL, and 30 apiece in MLB and the NBA. While most spend their days drawing up plays, reviewing film, and wondering whether they'll still have a job next season, RotoGrinders decided to investigate a far more important issue: Which professional sports coach is the most handsome?
Obviously, fans can forget winning percentages, championship rings, and Coach of the Year awards because apparently, the hottest competition in professional sports has nothing to do with what happens on the ice, court, or field. Using facial landmarks and computer-generated analysis, RotoGrinders ranked all 124 coaches based on their physical appearance. Meanwhile, somewhere, an analytics department is wondering why it spent millions creating advanced statistics for a competitive edge when all it needed was a headshot and a ruler.
Unfortunately, the Vegas Golden Knights suffered another devastating defeat, this time without getting onto the ice. First-year head coach Ryan Craig finished second among NHL coaches and seventh overall, losing hockey's unofficial beauty contest to Manny Malhotra of the Vancouver Canucks. It appears that Craig can spend countless hours preparing his players to suit up against Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, but apparently, he couldn't overcome Malhotra's cheekbones.
Ryan Craig was robbed of the Jaw Adams Award
Every season, NHL coaches compete for the Jack Adams Award, presented to the league's top bench boss. However, thanks to RotoGrinders, there's apparently another trophy worth pursuing: the Jaw Adams Award.
Despite coaching in Las Vegas, a city famous for beautiful people, extravagant entertainment, and questionable late-night decisions, Craig couldn't secure the top spot. Perhaps Craig should consider changing his pregame routine and seek advice from Elvis impersonators or Wayne Newton. Moreover, according to the data, he should forget double-checking his last-minute notes, but spending a little extra time in front of the mirror might be the difference between second place and immortality.
After all, you can teach defensive positioning on a penalty kill, but you can't teach facial symmetry.
Vegas has another top-10 performer who doesn't count against the salary cap
Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Mark Stone might be the true box office draws for the Golden Knights, but after the RotoGrinders story broke, perhaps it's time for the franchise to start marketing its handsome head coach as the next leading man on the Las Vegas Strip.
It's hard to deny Craig his day in the spotlight, since his seventh-place finish puts him ahead of 117 other coaches across four major North American sports leagues, including the bragging rights he has in Las Vegas. That's pretty impressive for someone whose primary job involves standing behind a bench, yelling instructions, and occasionally looking disappointed at referees.
Best of all, Craig's appearance doesn't count against the Golden Knights' salary cap. Moreover, Kelly McCrimmon didn't even need to look outside the organization for this, since Craig has been part of the franchise since day one and most recently coached Henderson in the AHL. This scenario leading to one question that will linger on fans' minds for years to come. If this study came out last season, would Craig have won the title in the AHL?
Maybe next year's rankings will be kinder. Maybe another Stanley Cup ring or a particularly flattering television angle will help him overtake Malhotra. Until then, Vegas will have to settle for having the NHL's second-most handsome coach. Meanwhile, somewhere in Western Canada, Malhotra is smiling.
And according to RotoGrinders, that's precisely why he won.
Add us as a preferred source on Google