Coaches come from among those who played the sport at some advanced level- college, pro, minor league. These are the same guys who ruled the roost in high school, generally eschewing the more advanced classes and spending a lot more time on the practice field than studying. They became accustomed to being the privileged class and having the world throw itself at their feet. So naturally they’re attracted to the party of the privileged anti-intellectuals.
Most football coaches believe that top down authority and strict obedience are the ingredients to success on the field and they may actually be right in that regard; the sport’s design kinda lends itself to that practice. That drive to “win” appears to be much more of a conservative trait than a non-conservative one. I certainly don’t share it and would be hard pressed to maintain a personal relationship with someone that competitive.
Lou Holtz endorsed Jesse Helms and people thought it might hurt him recruiting black players but it did not seem to have any impact on his recruiting.
Michael Jordan was asked to endorse a Dem and he did not , he said GOP folks buy his shoes too.
Not wanting Kaepernick on your team is not necessarily a symptom of conservatism. I don’t know any coach that wants a back up quarterback that is a distraction and the focus of the press. And not even for his play.
“Why are old rich white males Republican” That’s kinda their main demographic.
That’s my question too. I’d even expand that beyond the US. Are international team-sports coaches conservative, or leaning toward their national consensus, or what? Has this been documented?
English football (soccer) in the 20th century was probably the sport that had an overt left leaning mindset. Because rugby and cricket were the two sports considered for the upper class/privately educated people, while football was more popular in working class towns since it was an inexpensive and much more accessible game. Workers in mining communities, shipbuilding sites, construction valued going to the match on a Saturday as their escape from long and miserly work. And their children grew up in that environment. The formation of football clubs in local communities started off in some local pub or church a lot of the time and it was not a game that rewarded well financially until the latter part of the century. A lot of the best players from the 50s, 60s and 70s would end up owning a pub or working in a taxi as their second career. It was a different world than the endless financial pot the game has now where mediocre players drive Mercedes cars and own mansions.
Brian Clough (two time European Cup winner, two time English league champion)
Bill Shankly (three time English league champion)