CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Ray Ratto

Auburn University head football coach Hugh Freeze walks off the field surrounded by a police escort following the Tigers home loss to Kentucky on November 1, 2025

College Football

Auburn Gives Hugh Freeze The Hook

Head coach Brian Kelly of the LSU Tigers walks off the field after a game against Texas A&M on October 25 in Baton Rouge. He kind of looks like someone who is about to get fired.

The Coaching Hot Seat Is Now An Ejector Seat

Samer Kalaf

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel in the rain

Mike McDaniel’s Really Bombing Up There

Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions claps during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium on October 11, 2025 in State College, Pennsylvania.

When In Doubt, Fire The Coach

Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts in the first half of a game against the UCF Knights on September 20, 2025.

The Great Bill Belichick Experiment Is Already Deep In The Dumpster

Patrick Redford

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 22: Head coach Sandy Brondello of the New York Liberty gestures during the first quarter of the game against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on June 22, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

WNBA

New York Liberty Shock WNBA World By Firing Underperforming Coach

Bills Week

Bill Belichick’s Talent Is Becoming Tiresome

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez (4), left, with GM Mike Rizzo during the second day of full squad workouts at the Nationals training facility on February 22, 2023 in West Palm Beach, FL. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Mark Lerner Stops Neglecting The Nationals Long Enough To Fire Everyone

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 22: Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown looks on from the sideline in the fourth quarter of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Golden 1 Center on December 22, 2024 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

The Knicks Backed Their Way Into A Good Coach

New York Knicks owner James Dolan attends the game between the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden.

The Whole NBA Is Telling James Dolan To Piss Off

Barry Petchesky

, TX - MAY 29: Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer takes questions from the media after game 5 of the Western Conference Final between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers on May 29, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Pete DeBoer Just Loves Making Conference Finals And Getting Fired

Tom Ley

Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks reacts against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 25, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Knicks Decide They Are Too Good For Tom Thibodeau

<div class="author-header-content">
<p>Charles P. Pierce is a writer at <em>Esquire</em> and the author of four books, most recently <em>Idiot America</em>, and has been a working journalist since 1976. He lives near Boston with his wife but no longer his three children.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div class="author-header-shares"></div>


Charles P. Pierce

Head coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the first quarter of a game against the Denver Nuggets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 18, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Can The NBA Still Produce Interesting Coaches?

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 22: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice participates in a press conference after game two of the Eastern Conference Final of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 22, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Paul Maurice Is The Jack Adams Of Not Being A Jackass

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth speak during the teams training camp at the UCSD campus in La Jolla, California on Thursday, September 28, 2022.

Michael Malone And Calvin Booth Lose Their War Over The Soul Of The Nuggets

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 17: Head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies Taylor Jenkins looks on from the bench during the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on March 17, 2025 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Out Of Nowhere, Memphis Grizzlies Fire Coach Taylor Jenkins

Giri Nathan

Doug Gottlieb reacts while coaching the Green Bay Phoenix.

College Basketball

Doug Gottlieb Is Immersed In The Grim Men’s Lifestyle

<div dir="ltr">Dom Cosentino is a writer in Brooklyn who takes Pittsburgh sports way too seriously.</div>
<div class="yj6qo ajU"></div>


Dom Cosentino

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on prior to an NFL football wild card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

What’s Mike Tomlin’s Standard Now?

Doug Gottlieb Humbled By Michigan Tech, Life

Jon Gruden’s Quest To Coach Again Takes A Detour At The Dipshit Factory

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Tampa, Florida.

Jamboroo

Is Your Head Coach A Mayor?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon of the Chicago Sky complains about a call against her team during the fourth quarter of a home basketball game against the Washington Mystics at Wintrust Arena on August 28, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

What Happened To All The WNBA Coaches?

Aaron Rodgers and Robert Saleh talk on the sideline.

Aaron Rodgers Fires Robert Saleh

Josh Allen is injured after a play in the fourth quarter of the Bills-Texans game.

The Bills’ Management Of The Clock And Josh Allen Was Atrocious

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 24: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice raises the Stanley Cup during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, Game 7 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers on June 24th, 2024 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Coaches