In the genre of sports films, there is no team without an inspiring coach to lead them to victory. Throughout the years, there have been countless stories around athletics that have been beloved by the masses, from inspiring sports biopics to movies about the Olympics. With most sports movies, there is much emphasis put on the coach and their relationship with the team or athlete. At the same time, with many sports movies, you are likely to receive a great monologue delivered by the coach, as outlined by Bleacher Report. Even non-sports fans can appreciate a film based on athletes for the high stakes and dramatic circumstances. We have seen in films like Remember the Titans the sheer effect that athletics can have on youth and society.

With every sports film, their ending comes with a win or a loss. In Friday Night Lights, we saw the Texas high school football team fight their way to the State Championship only to lose by a few inches. Films like this teach us that it isn't about winning and losing: it is about knowing that you did your absolute best and, in the case of football, you were there for your fellow teammates. Many of these characters are beloved and iconic for the lessons that they teach and the inspiration they create. Let's dive into the best sports coaches in cinema.

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9 Gordon Bombay — The Mighty Ducks

A scene from The Mighty Ducks
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

The classic hockey film, The Mighty Ducks, follows attorney Gordan Bombay (Emilio Estevez) who is sentenced to coach youth hockey after a drunk-driving arrest. His team, the Ducks, are a group of misfits and very unique characters. Although it takes some time, Gordan eventually inspires the team and leads them to victory. At the same time, the team gives Gordan a new perspective on life. Gordan has become iconic in the world of sports movies, and Estevez reprised his role in the TV series, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.

8 Gary Gaines — Friday Night Lights

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Universal Pictures

In Friday Night Lights, Coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) leads his high school football team to the State Championship with an entire town of obsessed residents down his back. He handles the intense pressure and always sticks to his gut and intuition. He sincerely cares for his players, and he shows it through guidance as well as fierce emotion. In the third act of the film, Gaines gives an amazing sports monologues about teamwork and doing the best you can, making Friday Night Lights one of the best football movies of all time.

7 Tony D’Amato — Any Given Sunday

Foxx, Pacino, and Quaid in Any Given Sunday (1999)
Warner Bros.

In Any Given Sunday, Al Pacino plays Tony D'Amato, a football coach who is able to handle intense pressure as well as the ruthless politics around the game. He has made some mistakes throughout his life and career, but he knows the game, and he knows how to inspire. D'Amato gives one of the greatest sports monologues in history, about fighting your way to victory "inch by inch".

6 Norman Dale — Hoosiers

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Orion Pictures

In Hoosiers, Gene Hackman plays an aging basketball coach named Norman Dale who inspires a high school basketball team and leads them to victory. Dale focuses on hard work and discipline, as well as respect for your fellow teammates. Dale might have a somewhat troubled past, but he learns to leave it behind and become an inspiration for these young men. Hackman gives a fantastic in this iconic basketball film.

5 Danny O’Shea — Little Giants

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Warner Bros. 

In Little Giants, Danny O'Shea (Rick Moranis) takes a group of misfit children and forms a football team despite doubts from his hot-shot brother (Ed O'Neill) and everyone else. O'Shea teaches his players the importance of having fun, and he is determined to let outcasts have a shot at playing a sport that has rejected them. At the same time, he gives his skilled daughter the opportunity to shine on the field.

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4 Mickey Goldmill — Rocky

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United Artists 

When it comes to boxing films, there is no other coach like Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith) in Rocky. He is tough, outspoken, and sometimes, downright mean. With that said, he knows what it takes to become a champion, and he pushes Rocky to his very limits to become the best he can be. It is an iconic role and Meredith was brilliant in his performance.

3 Mr. Miyagi — The Karate Kid

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Delphi II Productions

The wise teachings of Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) are still quoted and referenced to this day, as outlined by Vanity Fair. In The Karate Kid, Miyagi teaches Daniel (Ralph Macchio) the skills and knowledge needed to become a champion in karate after Daniel faces violence in his high school. Probably the most famous method of Miyagi is when he forces Daniel to paint fences and wax cars only, in turn giving Daniel great fighting skills in karate. Miyagi is a beloved mentor still talked about to this day.

2 Ken Carter — Coach Carter

Sam Jackson in Coach Carter
MTV Films

In Coach Carter, the titular Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) completely changes the lives of the high school basketball team by forcing them to work on their studies and character just as hard as the game. At the same time, he is a brilliant basketball coach that focuses on hard work, speed, and agility. When everyone else has given up on these young men, Carter is there to guide them and help them through their unfortunate circumstances.

1 Herman Boone — Remember The Titans

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Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Not only does Coach Boone (Denzel Washington) lead his team through an undefeated season in Remeber the Titans, he also teaches them to look past their racial differences. Although Boon is extremely tough, his methods are only meant to make his players the best they can be. Washington's performance as Boone is phenomenal from start to finish. He changes the lives of his players and leads them to a State Championship despite violence and racist politics along the way.