# What coach/manager has gone the longest in any sport with NEVER winning a championship? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 2, 2020, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370 "2020-02-02T05:42:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/1 "2020-02-02T05:42:19Z")
With all the hype around Andy Reid maybe winning his first Super Bowl after being an NFL coach for 20 years, and yes there have been worse, who holds the title for longest reign of futility? I have a feeling it will be a college coach, but off the top of my head in the pros I think of Jerry Sloan who coached the Utah Jazz for 23 years without a title, but I’m sure there are better examples. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/2 "2020-02-02T05:59:35Z")
DAMMITT! Mods—I accidentally posted this and the Fantasy thread here, please move to Game Room:smack::smack::smack::smack::smack: ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/3 "2020-02-02T06:04:08Z")
[Gene Mauch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Mauch) managed four baseball teams for a total of 26 years without ever winning a pennant, let alone a championship. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/4 "2020-02-02T06:04:32Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > DAMMITT! > > Mods—I accidentally posted this and the Fantasy thread here, please move to Game Room:smack::smack::smack::smack::smack: Done. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/5 "2020-02-02T06:12:49Z")
Looking up Andy Reid, wiki says he **has** [won a SuperBowl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Reid). My choices. Mauricio Pochettino. Kevin Keegan. Glenn Hoddle. Maurizio Sarri till last year. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/6 "2020-02-02T06:36:57Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Looking up Andy Reid, wiki says he **has** [won a SuperBowl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Reid). Err, wat? It says he led the Chiefs and Eagle to Super Bowl appearances but never won one. (yet) ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/7 "2020-02-02T08:16:41Z")
Dan Reeves coached three NFL teams (Broncos, Giants, Falcons) over 23 seasons without winning a Super Bowl. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/8 "2020-02-02T09:13:29Z")
Jeff Fisher was head coach of the Titans and Rams for 22 combined seasons. He got the Titans to the Super Bowl but lost, ironically it was to the Rams. He only has a .510 career record as head coach and has the dubious honor of being tied all time in regular season losses in the NFL, with the aforementioned Dan Reeves. Reeves had a better overall record though, at .536 and made it into 4 Super Bowls (of course winning none). ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/9 "2020-02-02T12:22:22Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Err, wat? It says he led the Chiefs and Eagle to Super Bowl appearances but never won one. (yet) The career highlights info box says “SuperBowl Champion (XXXI)” ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/10 "2020-02-02T12:53:43Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The career highlights info box says “SuperBowl Champion (XXXI)” He was an assistant coach for Green Bay, not a head coach. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/11 "2020-02-02T14:00:47Z")
Don Nelson coached in the NBA for 31 seasons, for four teams, and never won it all. Someone else would have to help with, say, the major soccer leagues. Reid still has to go years to catch Nelson or Mauch, and of course could take himself out of the conversation today, although I’ve got the Niners. I believe the record in the NHL is held by Paul Maurice, who has coached 19 seasons without winning a Stanley Cup. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/12 "2020-02-02T14:32:36Z")
Guy Lewis NCAA hoops at Houston , 31 years no titles but did make 5 final 4s. Also in college BB Ray Meyer at Depaul, his best was 2 final 4s in 30 years. His son coached Depaul after him for 14 years with no titles. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/13 "2020-02-02T16:51:30Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > He was an assistant coach for Green Bay, not a head coach. Does the OP count being an assistant? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/14 "2020-02-02T17:00:33Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Someone else would have to help with, say, the major soccer leagues. Problem is that there are 2-4 trophies available for most top flight soccer clubs a year. The national league, the national cup and possible a league cup. Plus a continental league if they qualify. What counts as “never won”. Guy who never won a national league and continental cup, but won multiple national & league cup. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-coach-manager-has-gone-the-longest-in-any-sport-with-never-winning-a-championship/847370/15 "2020-02-02T18:26:50Z")
May I present [Michael David Martin Sr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Martin_(baseball_coach))? Former Coach of Men’s Baseball at Florida State University (retired last season) Career Record: 2029–736–4 (Most Wins All-Time) 40 Straight 40 Win Seasons (Longest Active Streak 40 Straight Post-Season Appearances 17 College World Series Appearances 0 College World Series Titles That is all.