Coaches and Their Favorite Watches
There’s a quote from Remember the Titans, one of the greatest sports movies ever made, that gets directly to the mindset of every coach, at every level, from pee-wee to pro:
“We will be perfect in every aspect. You drop a pass, you run a mile. You miss a blocking assignment, you run a mile. You make a fumble, I will break my foot off in your John Brown hind parts and then you will run a mile. Perfection.”
– Coach Boone
Every coach strives for perfection from their team, and they use all the tools at their disposal to achieve it. Those tools include “the human element” – the players, coaching staff, and myriad personnel who contribute to a team. But they also include things like training equipment and a proper training schedule. Not to be overlooked, for many coaches, an indispensable tool includes a durable, accurate watch to keep them on time in crucial moments. Here are a few elite-level coaches and their favorite watches.
Doug Pederson, Head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and his G-Shock GW9400-BJ1 Black Panther
In a progression that almost seems pre-ordained, Pederson went from NFL quarterback, to coaching assistant, to offensive coordinator, to head coach, culminating in a Super Bowl win for his Philadelphia Eagles in 2017. Now, as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pederson sweats the details, and you can see that in every facet of his life, from his on-field demeanor to the watch on his wrist—The G-Shock Black Panther. This is a tough, timepiece specifically designed to stand up to the most adverse conditions—like, say, Buffalo in December. Rugged black resin case and strap with a wealth of features, including an alarm, stopwatch, mud and shock resistance, digital function window, and much more make the Rangeman line of G-Shocks some of the sturdiest around. This G-Shock is as tough as they come. Shop a similar model.
Erik Spoelstra, Head Coach of the Miami Heat, and his G-Shock GA100-1A1
Basketball is a game where mere seconds can be the difference between failure and perfection. Few coaches know that better than Spoelstra, who led the Heat to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances, and two NBA championships, as head coach. Spoelstra, known for his good style on and off the court, knows how to pick the right watch for the occasion and on gameday, he’s been spotted rocking his watch of choice, the G-Shock GA100-1A1. The black resin case, strap, and shatter-resistant mineral glass crystal are tough enough to handle whatever you throw at it. Shock and magnetic resistant, this timepiece has an alarm, countdown timer, stopwatch, full auto-calendar, LED light, month, day, and date indicator, and an abundance of other features. Take command of the court, or the boardroom, in style, with this G-Shock.
Matt LaFleur, Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers, and his Breitling Professional Endurance Pro
Matt LaFleur has held numerous positions throughout his coaching career, from quarterback coach, to offensive coordinator, to his current job as head coach of the Green Bay Packers. It’s a good fit—the Midwest-raised, uncompromising LaFleur and the hard-nosed, take-no-prisoners Packers. His favorite timepiece, the Breitling Professional Endurance Pro, is just as uncompromising. With a case crafted from Breitling’s proprietary high-tech polymer, Breitlight which is lighter than steel or titanium, yet significantly harder with superior scratch and corrosion resistance. Features include a bidirectional rotating bezel with compass scale, screwed-in caseback, and Super-LumiNova coated hands. Water resistant to 100 meters, in case you want to do a Lambeau Leap into one of the Great Lakes.
Jürgen Klopp, Manager of Premier League FC Liverpool, and his IWC Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar
As manager of the heralded FC Liverpool, Klopp is considered by many to be one of the world’s best club managers. He is widely known as a proponent of immediately attacking to win back the ball after losing possession, rather than retreating to defense. This fierce attitude can be seen in his coaching style, and in his personal style as well, where his favorite watch, the IWC Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar, fits right in. The Aquatimer is a diving watch, yes, but it’s so much more. Tailor made for rugged individualists who attack life with ferocity, it’s built to last with styles in bronze, titanium, or stainless steel. This timepiece is the ultimate in style and functionality.
Aaron Boone, Manager of the New York Yankees, and his Oris Big Crown ProPilot
There’s legendary, and then there’s legendary. As manager of the absolutely legendary New York Yankees, Boone has led the team to five consecutive playoff appearances. And make no mistake, when you represent a team from the Big Apple, your style gets noticed. No worries for Boone, whose choice of Oris timepieces is a winner on the wrist. Whether you’re piloting a championship baseball team or a fighter jet, the Oris Big Crown ProPilot is a function-forward design marvel with a variety of innovative features that never sacrifices good looks for functionality. Shop the collection.
Mike McDaniel, Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins, and his Breitling for Bentley
McDaniel is part of the new breed of NFL head coaches—young, educated (he has a degree in history from Yale), and above all, passionate. That passion extends to every part of his life, from the sidelines where he commands his troops, to the Miami community that he enthusiastically supports. He’s also passionate about timepieces, if his choice of the Breitling for Bentley is any indication. An unconventional choice for the sidelines, the high luxury of such a watch is the perfect corollary for the iconoclasm McDaniel represents in the new era of professional football. Elegant yet rugged, with sophistication, high-level performance, and impeccable design that is Breitling in its purest form. Breitling for Bentley includes a host of features that offer enhanced functionality and legibility. Shop the collection.
Bill Self, Head Men’s Basketball Coach of the University of Kansas Jayhawks, and his Tudor Black Bay ref. 79220R
In his 19 seasons as head coach of the Jayhawks, Self has led the team to four NCAA Final Four appearances, including the NCAA Championship in 2022. As impressive as that is, this stat may be even more incredible—his team has a record of 292-16 at home. That shows an unparalleled level of commitment, not just from coach and team, but from fans as well. Self shows that same level of commitment in the horological choices he makes: the Tudor Black Bay ref. 79220R. The iconic Black Bay color scheme of black dial, white indices with gold accents, and burgundy unidirectional rotating bezel, is perfectly paired with a stainless steel case and riveted bracelet. A domed dial and luminescent hands and hour markers complete the look. The Tudor Black Bay is a watch fit for a champion.
Dave Roberts, Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and his IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Edition ‘Mojave Desert’
“Doc” Roberts’ baseball career, as both outfielder and team manager, is impressive by any measure, and includes a World Series Championship in 2020. Shepherding a team over a long season to a World Series win requires toughness, durability, and precision—coincidentally all part of what makes Roberts’ favorite watch, the IWC Mojave Desert, so special. The ceramic case with screw-in crown and transparent sapphire glass case back contains a myriad of features, including perpetual moon phase display, month, day, and date subdials, and a year window display. The dark brown dial with luminescence, coupled with a beige rubber with textile inlay strap, makes a bold statement, for anyone bold enough to wear it.
Discover these and other luxury watches at Feldmar. Browse our online store or stop into our flagship location.
About The Author: Tom Roth
Born in Washington state, Tom developed an interest in photography during college at University of San Diego. There, he got started in music journalism, interviewing artists and taking photos at concerts. A life-long tinkerer and collector, it wasn’t long before Tom became fascinated with fountain pens and watches.
Those interests collided in November 2020 when Tom started at Feldmar Watch Company where he lives out every watch geek’s dream: photographing and writing about timepieces. When he’s not tinkering with his watch collection, Tom can be found traveling, biting his nails while watching PNW sports teams, and taking flying lessons.
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