Monte Kiffin, one of the most influential coaches in NFL history and a true defensive pioneer, passed away last week at the age of 84. Kiffin had a lasting impact on the game and the people he worked with throughout his 59-year coaching career. Count former Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll among those heavily influenced by Kiffin.
In Carroll's book "Win Forever," he credited Kiffin for helping him become a better tactical coach. "Of all the great coaches I have worked with, none would have a more fundamental impact on the tactical side of my coaching than Monte Kiffin," writes Carroll. However, Kiffin's greatest impact on Carroll had nothing to do with X's and O's:
His great contribution to my career, however, came early on—long before I ever entered the NFL—when he impressed upon me a simple but powerful belief: ‘In order to be successful, you must have a consistent philosophy. If you change who you are from year to year,’ he explained, ‘you’re never going to be great at anything.’ I remember vividly when Monte pulled out a sheet of paper, which had no more than five or six sentences on it, and shared his philosophy. The essence of his philosophy was crystal clear: For him, it came down to playing with great effort and great discipline. Everything else flowed from that. -- Pete Carroll
When you think about Pete Carroll's consistent demeanor through both good and bad times, it's clear that Kiffin's message truly resonated with him. Carroll and the Seahawks mutually agreed to part ways during the offseason, ending his tenure as head coach of the Seahawks after 14 seasons. Under Carroll, the team had a record of 137-89-1 and appeared in two Super Bowls.
New head coach Mike Macdonald is expected to bring some fresh ideas to Seattle's defense this season. The 37-year-old has some big shoes to fill. As Carroll proved over the last 15 years, it takes more than a good scheme to be successful.
