The Boston Herald recently reported that former offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers Joe Philbin has been hired by the Miami Dolphins as the team's new head coach. Philbin will be taking over a team that had a terrible start this past season, but finished very strong, including a last-week victory over the New York Jets to put the latter out of playoff contention.

According to the news provider, the coach has had a very long and storied career, full of many victories and failures, leading up to his eventual hiring as a head coach of the Dolphins. This included several jobless times, as well as a variety of low-level and low-profile positions on the high school and collegiate levels. The source adds that his leadership abilities are comparable, already, to many of the greats.

Philbin had an impressive career as the offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, including many shattered records and a Super Bowl victory. One of his former players, Greg Jennings of the Packers, sounded off about the coach in the Miami Herald this past weekend.

"He does a ton," Jennings explained. "He runs the walk-throughs, the meetings. He's comfortable being in front of the team. He's definitely fully capable of being a head coach."

The Miami Herald went on the explain that the coach had led the Packer's offense to five consecutive top-10 finishes throughout his tenure with the team. Former head coach Mike McCarthy also explained his admiration of Philbin to the Herald.

"Joe Philbin is a special, special human being," he explained last week. "What Joe has gone through and what his family has gone through, obviously tough is not the proper word. A man of very high character. Joe is a class act. I think the world of Joe Philbin."

McCarthy was citing the death of Philbin's son, Michael, 21, earlier this January in an apparent drowning accident. While some questioned the decision, none can knock the strength of the coach who returned to be with his team only two weeks after the incident.

MSNBC recently reported on the Dallas Cowboys organization's discussions regarding the promotion of Rob Ryan from defensive coordinator to head coach. Rob Ryan, fraternal twin of New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan, has stayed true to his family's name with an exceptional ability to foster powerful and consistent defensive strategies.

The source believes that Rob might not be ready for the full-time head coaching job, but many fans and analysts agree that it could improve the Cowboys chances of becoming a force close to what they had been in the 1990s.

Buddy Ryan paved the way for his two boys, acting as a defensive line coach for the New York Jets in the late 1960s and early '70s, with whom he received his first of several Super Bowl rings after a win against the Baltimore Colts in '69.

Much of the family's success has been a product of what many refer to as the Ryan 46 defense. CNN published an excerpt from a book written by Sports Illustrated writer Tim Layden explaining the lasting impact of Buddy, Rex and Rob's marquee defensive strategy.

According to the source, the 1985 Chicago Bears Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots was one of the first that experts believed to be an undeniable product of defense, which Buddy Ryan was in control of. The 46 defense was named after tenacious Bears free safety, Doug Plank, who wore number 46.

The innovative strategy, in Buddy Ryan's words, works to throw off offensive blocking patterns and schemes by overloading the middle of the field and putting a nose tackle on the center. In Layden's piece, Buddy Ryan explained how as the years went on past the inception of the strategy, the ability of the opposing offense to accomplish their strategy dwindled rapidly, which eventually resulted in a Super Bowl win for the Chicago team. 

While coaching degrees are a great way to enter the field, an unfaltering love of the game coupled with creative innovation of strategy can bring prospective coaching professionals to the upper echelons of sporting history.

Though he did not receive a coaching degree during his education, his love of the game and proven motivational skills likely landed him the spot at Arkansas State. Additionally, Malzahn expressed his desire to take on a head coaching role after several years of offensive coordinating and quarterback coaching.

"The last two years, I've kind of got the bug to be a head coach," Malzahn told The Associate Press, according to ESPN.com. "I think you have to investigate each opportunity, but you've got to wait until your feel right and this did."

According to The Times, Malzahn, from Fort Smith, Arkansas, will replace Hugh Freeze as the new head coach of the team, after an illustrious career on both the high school and collegiate level. The Times also notes that Malzahn won three high school state football championships in Arkansas in the beginning of his career.

Coach Malzahn's strategy is heavily rooted in offensive dynamics, and he has proven his worth several times. One example was his performance as a quarterback coach for Cam Newton at Auburn in 2010, when the now professional player claimed the Heisman Trophy and the school won the BCS National Championship.

Earlier this year, Smart Football published a page out of Coach Malzahn's playbook. The source explained that Malzahn brings professional-styled passing plays and strategies into the college setting, which, when armed with a stellar quarterback like Newton, spells disaster for many defenses.

Ryan Aplin was the starting quarterback for the Red Wolves this year, and is expected to start next season. According to the school's website, Aplin has been described by analysts as one of the best scramblers in the Sun Belt conference, as well as "coolest in the clutch." His ability to move outside of the pocket and make plays will likely be very cohesive with Malzahn's demanding offensive strategy.

Malzahn proves that with extensive training, including coaching degrees, experience and passion for the game of football, the sky is the limit with opportunities.

Studies have revealed that younger athletes are far more susceptible to concussions than older and professional individuals, while the lasting effects of the injury are far more prevalent in teen athletes, the Baltimore Sun reports. The source cites a National Center for Injury and Prevention study from 2006 that found that close to half of high school football players experience a concussion each year.

Much of the reason for this is likely because of the less developed physical features of high school players when compared to professionals, and the majority of U.S. states have created stringent laws pertaining to the injury, the news provider added.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, concussions can directly lead to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), a disorder that affects more than 1.5 million Americans each year. The lasting effects to the brain once sustaining TBIs are serious, including amnesia and long periods of unconsciousness. Repeated blows to the head associated with concussions and TBIs are very common in football.

Some states and local school districts are taking progressive steps toward combating this problem, The Sun reported. One such method was launched in Burtonsville, Maryland, when the local football league began asking parents with medical backgrounds to attend each game.

"We only know so much as a coaching staff on what to do with treatment and such, so we need [that] extra help on hand," Coach Walter Moyer told the news provider. "The problem comes when the kid is a star kid and he has that desire to get back out there and a coach who may not be as well versed in the injury, and the coach tries to look out for the best interests of the team and the game instead of the kid."

The awareness among coaches is certainly a good sign, as more high school, collegiate and professional level athletic administrators initiate more stringent coaching degree programs that involve concussion prevention, recognition and treatment stratagem.

The Huffington Post reports that the true reasoning behind the AP nod might have been the product of the poise and aplomb Miles exhibited through a speed-bump-filled season. Even so, the team had a stellar record, finished the regular season with the top rank in the country and is currently preparing for the Bowl Championship Series title game against Alabama on January 9.

"I'm not going, 'Ha! How do you like me now?' I'm really not," Miles explained at a conference, according to the Huffington Post. "The support that is given to this program is tremendous. I could never do this without LSU. Our team is a quality group of men that just have to have victory, that will scrap and fight you tooth and nail for it. And I've got a quality group of coaches who love their pyers and put together great game plans. We fight together I don't pretend for a minute that it's only me. It's not even close."

His acceptance speech is very characteristic of his coaching style. Unlike many head coaches with defensive-oriented strategies, Miles is incredibly humble and rarely loses his temper. Many of his players have gone on to be successful professionals in the NFL, and almost all express gratitude when discussing their collegiate days under Miles.

According to the school's website, Miles has a total record of 75 and 17 in his six seasons as head coach, beginning in 2005. Miles has also already won one National Championship, and will look to add another trophy to the school's case come January 9. Above all else, though, Miles consistently expresses his love for the game.

"For you not to enjoy playing in a match-up with two nationally ranked guys, both teams undefeated, to not have enjoyment of that circumstance, I don't know if I could do it," he explained in the Times-Picayune in 2010.

According to the source, 43 states have either passed concussion legislation or currently have legislation pending. Montana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida and Hawaii are the only seven states without any legislation, though many believe every state will pass laws regarding student-athlete concussions soon.

"It is only a matter of time until there are data showing how these state concussion laws are preventing catastrophic injuries, saving lives and preventing chronic outcomes from repeated concussion," Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, an expert in the field, explained to the news source.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Traumatic Brain Injury often results from concussions or other repeated blows to the head. The CDC estimated 1.7 million Americans sustain brain injuries annually, leading many coaches, administrators and legislators to rethink regulations regarding concussions and continued play among student athletes.

Though the New York Giants have had topsy-turvy seasons throughout the last decade, head coach Tom Coughlin remains among the most respected coaches in the NFL, and his recent victory over the New York Jets on Christmas Eve has many celebrating his career, CBS Sports reports.

According to the news provider, Coughlin led the Giants to a big win over the Jets and put them in a good position leading into the final game of the season against the Dallas Cowboys, their fiercest rival in recent years. Many are saying that Coughlin's job is on the line, though others believe he might leave regardless of a Super Bowl victory or missing the playoffs.

Coughlin has long been cited as a fierce coach both on and off the field. His strategies seem to hinge on the respect he demands from his players. The coach rarely shies away from an interrogating analyst or misbehaving players, likely leading to players working harder to back up their coach's passion and confidence.

According to NFL.com, Coughlin began his career with the Giants in 2004. Within just two years, Coughlin managed to repair the team, leading them to a Super Bowl Championship victory only two seasons after the team went four and twelve in the regular season. That year, the Giants notably defeated the Patriots in the final game, though they were major underdogs to the undefeated New England team.

Coughlin is known for his speeches, leading his players, staff and fans to enjoy and respect his sometimes-fierce and sometimes-warm rhetoric.

"The best part of it for me is the idea that this group of young men, who came together and believed in themselves, bought the team concept completely, took the names off the back of the jersey, checked the egos at the door," he said in a 2008 press conference, according to Giants Gab. "The reinforcement for team is the greatest source of satisfaction for me."

If this is Coughlin's last season, the Giants team will look to send him off with a story-book ending to an already illustrious career as head coach.

According to the source, before the week 16 match-up between the New York Jets and New York Giants, Rex Ryan made several comments at a press conference explaining that a loss would be on him.

"I feel like I have to win this game because I put it out there, I want to be the better team in our city, there's no doubt," Ryan said, according to the source. "It's going to fall on one person, and that's the way it should be. It's coming right on top of me, and that's fine. And when we win, it'll be about the Jets."

Ryan has time and time again expressed his supreme confidence in his football squad publicly, and the faith he puts in each player has definitely paid off in the end. For example, in his first two seasons as a head coach in the NFL, Ryan lead his team to two AFC Championship games. However, many of his public displays have been unconventional at best.

Flash back to last season after the Jets lost big to the New England Patriots, 45 to 3, in one of the last games of the season. Ryan famously buried a football beneath the field, as symbol to his team as well as the opposition. Though strange, the team responded in an undeniable fashion, as they went on to defeat the Indianapolis Colts in their next game, which happened to be the playoffs, and went on to knock off the Patriots one week later.

His father, Buddy Ryan, had his own infamous moment when acting as the defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles in the late 1980s. Full of emotion during the end of a hard-fought but ultimately unsuccessful game, Buddy Ryan expressed his emotions in classic fashion.

Suffice it to say the Ryan's do not pull their punches, and coupled with their experiential coaching educations, it has worked in their favor.

The Washington Post recently reported that Washington State announced Mike Leach as the new head coach of its football program. Leach's highly creative approach to college football has earned him much success throughout his tenures at the University of Kentucky and University of Oklahoma as an offensive coordinator, and finally Texas Tech as a head coach.

According to Texas Tech's website, the Red Raiders football program had its best years, without a doubt, during Leach's 10 years as head coach. The school notes that the nine teams between 2000 and 2009 set more than 150 school records, while the coach was awarded three national coaching awards in 2008. The list of accolades, awards and records received and set by Leach and his Red Raiders could go on forever.

Leach is heralded for his ability to spread out the field. In what many believed to be a risky offensive strategy from the outset, the team is constantly focused on passing, placing as many as five wide receivers out on some plays. This is a highly abnormal set-up for a college team, but because of Leach's comprehensive approach to his strategies, Texas Tech had the best passing offense in the country for years.

While Texas Tech blossomed into a serious contender in the NCAA, Washington State has been in peril for the past four seasons. According to The Post, the school, under head coach Paul Wulff, experienced a 9-40 record since 2006, prompting administrators to fire Wulff and avidly court Leach. The new contract will guarantee Leach more than $2 million a year, with the ability to attain performance bonuses, The Post explained.

Leach has high hopes for his new team, and has already garnered excitement from the school's fan base. When asked why he moved to a struggling program, Leach responded, in front of many fans and players, "I think that's a stupid question. You can win here and win big, I believe," The Post reported.  

Krzyzewski got his start in college basketball in 1967, wearing an Army jersey and playing for Knight.

After graduating in 1969, Krzyzewski served as an officer in the U.S. Army for five years before kick starting his coaching career by joining Knight once again as a graduate assistant at Indiana University. After two years under Knight’s wing, the future Duke legend got his first coaching job at his alma mater. The Cadets put together a 73-59 record during his five seasons on their bench.

In 1980, the man who would later be known simply as Coach “K” was tabbed head coach of the Duke University Blue Devils men’s basketball team, setting off a successful marriage of coach and team that few have enjoyed.

In his 31 seasons at the helm, the Blue Devils have reached the NCAA Tournament 27 times, making the Final Four in 11 seasons. The Blue Devils have won the National Championship four times under the coach for which their basketball court is named. Krzyzewski has been named National Coach of the year eight times, while the Blue Devils have a won a dozen ACC regular championships and 13 ACC Tournament titles during his tenure.

Recognized for his efforts with induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001, Coach “K” has continued to build his already impressive resume for 10 years, finally ascending to the top of the coaching wins mountain. When he reached the summit of NCAA wins, Knight was there waiting for him, both figuratively and physically. The coaches embraced following the game as the torch was passed from one of the game’s all-time greats to another.

The two legendary men showcased very different styles in getting there.

Knight, known for his chair tossing ability as well as his general ease in drawing a technical foul, was often quick to anger on the court, yelling when things didn’t go correctly.

Coach Krzyzewki, while stern, has constantly maintained a cool, calm and collected demeanor and rarely lets his emotions take over a game.

As different as their on-court styles may be, both coaches have enjoyed massive amounts of success, both on the hardwood and off. While many Division I programs have annual success in the standings, this duo has famously done it with higher than normal graduation rates.

Styles vary from person-to-person, and getting a master’s degree in coaching can give aspiring coaches an opportunity to develop one that works for them.