Lately, the Hat Trick has been sharing the best of the Twittersphere with you. Today we have a guest article from Carol Brown of Online College. If you are looking for the bet that the merging of coaching and Twitter have to offer, check out the following. The original article can also be found at the blog at http://www.onlinecollege.org/. Thanks again, Carol!

50 College Coaches You Should Follow on Twitter

In the world of college sports, Twitter is a divisive subject. Many coaches go so far as to ban their players from using the social networking site for fear it will distract players or be used as a vehicle for trash talking. Then there's the ambivalent group, the coaches who don't block players from using Twitter, but will probably go to their graves without ever sending a tweet themselves. But some forward-thinking coaches have embraced Twitter as a way to connect with die-hard fans and give them news and info that can't be had anywhere else. These 50 are the ones who do that the best.

Basketball

1. John Calipari: This three-time National Coach of the Year will keep you up to date with news from current and former players from the reigning Division I men's hoops championship team at University of Kentucky.
2. Billy Donovan: More than 70,000 followers keep in touch with this successful head of the Florida Gators men's program, who tweets team news like updates on the all-important recruiting situation.
3. Chris Collins: Collins is a former high school and college b-ball star and an up-and-coming associate head coach at Duke under the legendary Coach K. Keep an eye on this kid by following his Twitter feed.
4. Seth Greenberg: Although he was recently let go after nine years as the head coach of Virginia Tech's men's basketball team, this 2005 ACC Coach of the Year will land on his feet. In the meantime, he's tweeting basketball wisdom from his years of experience.
5. Scott Nagy: South Dakota State made a decent showing in March Madness this year, giving eventual Elite 8 team Baylor a run for their money. Coach Nagy runs a fun Twitter feed, but don't be surprised if he corrects your spelling.
6. Bill Self: Every basketball season, there are a few usual suspects for who will make the Final Four. Kansas is one of those, so Coach Self's feed is a can't-miss.
7. Scott Drew: Coach Drew has completely transformed Baylor men's basketball, taking them from a 1-15 team to a serious championship contender. He's got a lot to be happy about, and his positive tweets show it.
8. Jim Carr: Longtime Rutgers coach Jim Carr recently took a job as an assistant coach at University of Rhode Island. He brings his reputation for wit and politeness to his Twitter feed.
9. Gary Blair: He must be doing something right. Under Coach Blair's guidance, the Texas A&M women's basketball team won it all in 2011. He's your best source of women's hoops news from Aggieland.
10. Marvin Menzies: His success at New Mexico State has had other schools trying to lure him away. For the near future, Coach Menzies goal is for the Aggies to improve on their disappointing first-round tournament exit in 2012.
11. Kevin McGuff: @CoachMcGuff says the University of Washington has "some of the most intense women's basketball fans in the country." He tries to keep them informed with this Twitter feed.
12. Steve Wojciechowski: This associate head coach at Duke is a serial tweeter, offering recruiting updates, inspiring quotes, and chats with Blue Devil hoops fans and former players-turned-pros.
13. Pat Summitt: The famous "head coach emeritus" has recently begun tweeting again, keeping followers informed of Volunteer news and information about her foundation that deals with early-onset dementia.
14. Tom Crean: After seeing success as Marquette's head coach, Crean inherited a struggling Indiana team in 2008 that he led to the Sweet Sixteen this year. Subscribing to his Twitter feed is a good way to keep tabs on this coach whose stock continues to rise.
15. Cliff Warren: Jacksonville U head coach Cliff Warren provides a good variety of tweeted material, regular featuring uplifting quotes and stats from pastors, former coaches, and successful businesspeople, in addition to team and school updates.
16. Chris Mack: Xavier is a solid postseason team led by Coach Mack and his excellent 50-17 record. But his Twitter feed proves he's not afraid to mix it up with fans or to share his thoughts on life as a husband and dad to two little girls.
17. Jay Wright: Villanova hasn't made the NCAA tournament since 2008. They're always a team to watch and if Coach Wright keeps up the frenetic pace of his tweets come basketball season, this will be a feed to follow.
18. Bacari Alexander: Assistant coach Alexander "strives to be a leader" for Michigan's men's basketball. His feed is a composite of positive quotes from A Godly Life, Inspirational Quotes, African Proverbs, and other Twitter feeds.
19. Kim Mulkey: Mulkey's coaching no doubt had a lot to do with Baylor women's 40-0 2011-2012 season, the first ever in NCAA history. However, the possibility of sanctions looms. Stay tuned into this feed for news.

Football

20. Lane Kiffin: Who knows what this polarizing USC head coach will take to Twitter to do next? Commit a recruiting violation? Wish Britney Spears happy birthday? The only way to find out is to follow along.
21. Les Miles: Some consider Coach Miles' Twitter feed to be perfect. Follow the LSU head coach and decide for yourself.
22. Lou Holtz: OK, technically he hasn't coached since 2004. But that year was Lou Holtz's 45th year of coaching in both college and the NFL, meaning the guy knows his stuff and is worth keeping up with.
23. Mike Leach: He's been called a "bully" and a "certified nut job." Can Coach Leach get it together and return to his glory days coaching at a major program like Texas Tech? Find out here.
24. Will Muschamp: In 2010, Muschamp took over at Florida from the winningest coach in SEC history, and things have gotten off to a rocky start. Follow along as he tries to restore the Gators to the high level of success they're used to.
25. Daon Roberts: This WVU assistant coach has all the makings of an intriguing tweeter: Harvard-educated professor, connoisseur of catfish, and sweet tea sommelier. Check him out.
26. Jim Mora: Former Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks coach Jim Mora just signed a five-year contract with UCLA. He's fired up to be coaching again and it will be interesting to see where he can take the Bruins.
27. Steve Sarkisian: Coach Sark does a lot of work with Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and uses his Twitter feed to keep followers updated on it, in addition to news on his #21-ranked Huskies.
28. Hugh Freeze: The Ole Miss head coach regularly posts encouraging tweets with the tag #wintheday, with a healthy dose of fishing trip pictures thrown in for good measure.
29. Butch Jones: The 2011 Big East Coach of the Year keeps fans abreast of Cincinnati football developments. They're coming off a strong 2011 season capped by a bowl victory over Vanderbilt and look to maintain that momentum this year.
30. David Shaw: You may have seen Coach Shaw working as a commentator for the NFL Network's coverage of the draft. His day job is coaching the Stanford football team (hopefully) back to a bowl game without Andrew Luck running the offense.
31. Joker Phillips: Kentucky football may not enjoy the same success as the men's basketball team, but coach Joker Phillips keeps fan interest alive by regularly picking up the team, its achievements, and events on his Twitter feed.
32. June Jones: Southern Methodist is looking to go out on a high note before it leaves Conference USA for the Big East. Follow along from recruitment to the post-season, if there is one, on Coach Jones' feed.
33. Mike Gundy: Mike Gundy is the man who's turned Oklahoma State into a top-tier football program. Check up on his tweets for everything that's happening with the Cowboys.
34. Bret Bielema: This coach led Wisconsin to a great 2011 season that included a Big Ten championship. Their recruiting for this year has been solid and their prospects for the 2012 season look like they'll make for some happy tweets.
35. Kevin Sumlin: The former Houston head coach is looking to reverse the sagging fortunes of his new team, the Texas Aggies. You and the Aggie faithful can get your introduction to the new coach here.
36. Jemal Singleton: OSU running backs coach @CoachSings provides a refreshing change to the priority schedule for many coaches. His bio proudly states it's "faith+family+football."

Baseball

37. Mike Bianco: As of this writing, Ole Miss is safely into the NCAA tournament. Coach Bianco should be tweeting updates — like what movie they're watching on the bus — along the way.
38. Billy Kennedy: This Texas A&M "bus driver" (school slang for coach) has the eighth-ranked Aggies in prime position for a run at a national title, so keep an eye on their progress from the coach's spot on the bench.
39. Chad Holbrook: Check out the tweets from associate head coach Chad Holbrook as the South Carolina Gamecocks seek their third national championship in the last three years.
40. Jim Morris: Miami has clenched a berth in the NCAA tournament, but they've been dealing with injuries late in the season. See if Coach Morris can lead them to a deep postseason run, and get the details here.
41. Sunny Golloway: A strong late-season push should be enough to secure a tournament bid for the Sooners. Send your thoughts to coach Golloway as they make their run, or just enjoy his positive #keepfighting, #onepitchatatime, and #wineverypitch tags.
42. Steve Smith: Baylor head coach Steve Smith invites you to "Follow to get his view from the dugout." It's a great time to be a sports fan at Baylor, and the baseball is no exception, so jump on the bandwagon.
43. Tracy Smith: Indiana's head coach runs this feed that keeps fans connected with Hoosier stickball news, with some personal thoughts and major league baseball takes from Smith.

Other Sports

44. Randy Waldrum: The Twitter feed for the head coach of the women's soccer team at Notre Dame is worth following on the strength of one funny tweet: "Just got locked in the bathroom @ ND for 45 minutes…had to be rescued through the ceiling!"
45. Nikki Izzo-Brown: West Virginia women's soccer had a solid 10-4 season last year. Coach Izzo-Brown will keep you connected with the team's schedule, as well as her interest in the fight against breast cancer.
46. Rico Blasi: He's the most successful hockey coach in Miami University's history. Follow Coach Blasi as Miami gears up to take to the ice this fall.
47. Tom Anastos: Michigan State hockey currently holds a solid pre-season ranking of 15th in the country. As training heats up, this is the feed to follow for all your Spartan rink news.
48. Patrick Murphy: Alabama's softball team holds the #2 spot in the nation's rankings right now. If you want to know something about their coach before the NCAA tourney starts, this is the place to look.
49. Stacey Nuveman Deniz: Somehow this former gold-medal Olympian finds time in between coaching softball at San Diego State and raising a "bouncing baby boy" to keep her followers up to speed on her life.
50. Rhonda Revelle: Nebraska softball head coach Revelle alternates her tweets between inspiring quotes and news from around the Cornhusker baseball and softball diamonds.

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

"There's two kinds of coaches, them that's fired and them that's gonna be fired and I've been both."
Bum Phillips
NFL Head Coach, Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints
(1975-1985)

Coaches come and go in every sport. It's inevitable. Yesterday, Virginia Tech University Head Men's Basketball Coach Seth Greenberg was fired after nine years on the job. He was informed of his firing at 1:30 in the afternoon. The press conference announcing his termination was called before noon. There is a right way and a wrong way to fire a coach and I think this was the wrong way.

Former University of Arkansas Head Football Coach Bobby Petrino was fired in light of a sex scandal. Petrino was in a motorcycle accident while his mistress, a 25 year old university employee named Jessica Dorrell, whom Petrino helped hire, was a passenger. Petrino attempted to cover up his relationship with Ms. Dorrell prior to her hiring. He also attempted to cover up her involvement in the accident. Petrino was fired within days. This was a fair firing.

Today, Katina Solomon of Zen College Life shares an article with us about eight unfair firings in sports. Thanks again, Katina. The original article can be found at http://www.zencollegelife.com/. Enjoy!

8 Coaches Who Were Unfairly Fired 

When it comes to coaching, a termination is much more than the loss of a job. It has the potential to tarnish one's reputation and damage a coaching career for life. For the most part, coaches are measured on their wins and losses. They depend on the talent, health, and cooperation of their players to make wins happen, but when the team falls short, somebody is to blame. And as the figurehead of team, it's typically the coaches who get the boot first. Sometimes the win-loss ratio isn't the problem at all, but actually an issue of insubordination or bad judgment on the coach's part. But are these good enough reasons to fire a coach and damage the team morale? If everyone deserves a second chance, then maybe we should reconsider the fairness in these eight coaches' dismissals.

1. Sam Mitchell

   Former Toronto Raptors coach Sam Mitchell may have been honored as the NBA's coach of the year for 2006-2007, but his unfair termination proves that even the league's most prestigious awards don't hold much weight if your team isn't winning. Toronto decided to let go of Mitchell after only 17 games into the 2008-2009 season and a disappointing 8-9 start, which was mostly due to injuries. Although Mitchell's last season was an ugly one, he did help rebuild the Raptors and propel them into the playoffs during his last two seasons.

2. Todd Haley

   In 2009, the Kansas City Chiefs took a chance on a young, lightly experienced Todd Haley and gave him the job as head coach. In Haley's second season, he helped bring the Chiefs its first AFC West championship since 2003 and finish the season with an impressive 10-6 record. In 2010, the Chiefs made a six-win improvement, marking the franchise's biggest victory jump ever. But the 2011 season proved to be less than stellar, falling to a 5-8 record before he was pulled from his role as head coach.

3. Terry Francona

   The firing of Boston Red Sox coach Terry Francona in 2011 was a controversial decision considering the incredible record the team had under his eight years of coaching. Last year was one of the most unforgiving seasons for Francona and the Red Sox, who went 7-20 during the month of September and had one of the worst collapses in MLB history. It was the last straw for Francona, and he was let go at the end of the season. It was an ugly showing on his part, but what about all of the amazing records and milestones Francona helped bring to Boston? Under Francona, the Red Sox won 744 games and took home two World Series titles in 2004 and 2007, which ended the legendary "Curse of the Bambino." What else could Boston ask for?

4. Mike Leach

   Texas Tech's decision to fire football coach Mike Leach was a controversial one that left many wondering if it was justified or set up. Leach coached for nine years at Tech and helped propel the team to new heights. The Red Raiders quickly became known for their high-scoring offense and dramatic comeback victories. 2008 was a great year for the Red Raiders, who defeated the No. 1 Texas Longhorns and ended the regular season with an 11-1 record. Leach won several awards and honors for the successful season, including "Big 12 Coach of the Year" by the Associated Press and the 2008 George Munger Award. In the December 2009, Coach Leach was suspended by Texas Tech in relation to an investigation of alleged mistreatment of one of his players, Adam James. Although Leach denied the allegations, he was fired for insubordination because he refused to apologize to James.

5. Bill Belichick

   Bill Belichick has certainly had a successful career coaching the New England Patriots over the last 11 years, but before he was winning Super Bowls with Tom Brady and Co., he was busy rebuilding the Cleveland Browns franchise from 1991-1995. As head coach of the Browns, Belichick helped lead the problematic team to a 36-44 record and get them to the playoffs in 1994. Despite the noticeable improvements, the Browns continued to disappoint both offensively and defensively, and Belichick was let go by owner Art Modell before he moved the team to Baltimore.

6. Hue Jackson

   After wrapping up an 8-8 season, the Oakland Raiders fired coach Hue Jackson after just one year of coaching. Over the last seven years, the Raiders have become notorious for firing coaches every one to two years, which has left many players and fans frustrated beyond belief. Jackson was the fifth coach the team has had in seven years. Although the season ended with a handful of losses and a devastating 28-27 loss at home, Jackson wasn't given enough time to show what else he could do for the team.

7. Roger Neilson

   Roger Neilson was a legendary hockey coach who, despite his important contributions to the game, was consistently mistreated by those above him. During his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Neilson helped lead the team to a .500 record and a conference final with a 41-29-10 record. The following year, Neilson was fired by the owner, Harold Ballard, because the team was having a bad slump. But when the owner couldn't find a replacement, he was forced to hire back the distraught Neilson and even asked if he would wear a paper bag over his head for more publicity, but like any self-respecting coach, Neilson refused to do it.

8. Avery Johnson

   Avery Johnson has been praised for rebuilding the Dallas Mavericks and guiding the once lowly team to the highest winning percentage in franchise history. Under Avery, the Mavericks made their very first NBA Finals appearance in 2006. The following year, the team and its beloved coach set an NBA record for winning 67 regular-season games over the course of Johnson's first 82 games as coach. But the winning streak came to a halt in the 2007-2008 season, when the Mavs failed to make it past the first round of the playoffs and Johnson was sadly let go as head coach.

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

Ten Product Endorsements You Will Never See

Star athletes have a good life. They are paid millions of dollars per year to play a game they are good at. They are famous. People want to be their friends. The single athletes can fish for women as if they were in a barrel. In fact...the married athletes can fish for women as if they were in a barrel. Life is good.

Of course, athletes are people, just like us. They make mistakes, just like us. Unlike us, when they make mistakes, the media often discovers these mistakes quickly and associates the athlete with their transgressions, sometimes as much as their athletic accomplishments.

The star athlete perk that has yet to be mentioned is product endorsements. Athletes who excel on the field are sought after to promote any of a variety of products. Some business people start an operation with the intent of including an athlete's name (i.e. an athlete's brand) in the name of the business itself. Some athletes, such as Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, are so popular that they have, during their careers, earned more money from product endorsements than from earnings in their respective sports.

The Daily Hat Trick is going to explore an alternative angle. Today, we will look at which products would make the worst possible pairings or certain athletes. Which product endorsements can you expect to never see in life?

10) Mike Leach First Aid Kit and Training DVD

For those not familiar with the background, in 2009, former Texas Tech Head Football Coach Mike Leach allegedly ordered Adam James, a player on the team and son of ESPN college football analyst Craig James, to stand in a darkened shed after doctors instructed Adam James not to practice following a concussion. The coach refused to apologize to the James family. Leach was fired less than two weeks later. Clearly, the forte of Coach Leach, known for his obsession with 18th century pirates and their function as a team, was coaching football and he did not miss his calling in life by not going to medical school. Arrrrrgh!

1

9) Tiger Woods Marriage Counseling

We all make mistakes in life and Tiger Woods made several dozen during his marriage. Often, the best way to overcome a weakness is to face it, head on. However, I think Woods did enough of that.



Is this the "mirror" technique? 2

 8) A-Rod School of Modeling

Dude...seriously?

There are gay dudes calling this, "gay." 3

7) Mark Mangino for Slim Fast

Former University of Kansas Head Football Coach, known for (allegedly) insulting and threatening his players as a motivational tactic, was often known for leading from the front, with a fork. I never understood how overweight head coaches could chastise their players for conditioning issues, yet not, minimally, make a token gesture to share in the commitment by exercising a little themselves. Perhaps Coach Mangino thought the calories burned by lifting cheeseburgers and pizza slices would catapult him to his fitness goals. I feel sorry for the catapult.

I think a reality show appearance may be more fitting than a weight loss beverage endorsement. 4

6) Junior Seau Driver's Training School

The future Hall of Fame linebacker drove his car off of a cliff this past October. Thankfully, there were no major injuries nor was there any loss of life. Reportedly, Seau fell asleep at the wheel. I am sure that Seau will invest his remaining earnings from football into some potentially profitable business ventures, as many retired long-time players do. A driving academy is not one of those potential ventures.

Perhaps he didn't adjust his mirrors before pulling out. 5

5) Antonio Cromartie for Trojan

Last year, the New York Jets advanced cornerback Antonio Cromartie a half-million dollars in salary to help him catch up on back child support payments. Multiple media outlets reported that Cromartie had fathered nine children by eight women in six states and was named in at least five different paternity suits. If there were a "seven" in this story, we would have a straight. Regardless, I doubt that the world's best known producer of condoms would sign a spokesperson who either does not use the product or cannot figure out the instructions.

Cromartie (left) and Derrelle Revis (right). Revis: "Why? For decoration?" 5

4) Ben Roethlisberger for Viagra

Viagra has restored zest and vigor into men whose spirit is willing, but bodies are not as able as they used to be. Like a gun, Viagra is to be used responsibly. Misuse could cause injury to others. I think Ben has fired off his gun enough, without any pharmaceutical assistance.

"Maybe Ben Roethlisberger's parents should have thought twice before letting him watch." 6

3) OJ Simpson Cutlery

The problem is identifying a target audience, not whether or not the product would work.

2) Rex Ryan for Foot Action

Last month, the Jets provided yet another gem of sex scandal related fodder to the world when a video surfaced on the Internet of Rex Ryan's wife, Michelle, and the voice of a man that sounded similar to Rex Ryan in a foot fetish video. Coach Ryan is known for putting his foot in his mouth. Apparently he practices at home.

Not the kind of Foot Action we associate with Coach Ryan 7

1) Brett Favre for Verizon Wireless

The Brett Favre "Text-gate" story has been the gift that keeps on giving for guys like me, who do not actually do anything, but write about other people. The Jenn Sterger gravy train seemed endless this past football season. As most of you know, in 2008, Brett Favre, then quarterback for the New York Jets, allegedly sent inappropriate message to Sterger, a then 25 year old Jets sideline reporter. The messages included Favre allegedly texting photos of his private parts to Sterger.

In spite of the limitless publicity that Favre has received for his acumen with the advanced data features on a cell phone, I do not believe that the executives at Verizon Wireless will be contacting Favre's agent to have the Ol' Gunslinger pitch any of the media messaging packages.

Why oh why oh WHY could the tables have not been turned in this story? I think Jenn Sterger could 1) gain an endorsement from a wireless provider and 2) the phones would fly off of the shelves like hotcakes, among male subscribers, if Sterger had been sending the texts to Favre. 8 

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1) Image from sundaymorningqb.com

2) Image from clevelandleader.com

3) Image from fantelligence.com

4) Image from bleacherreport.com

5) Image from ftrsports.com

6) Image from motifake.com

7) Image from thewordintown.com; logo is a trademark of Foot Action USA

8) Image from nflpassers.com