Suit up: Why dressing for the occasion still matters
· Yahoo Sports
Nearly two months ago, I released a spreadsheet which featured the name of every head coach in the country, their sideline attire and the attire of their staff. Since then, I’ve connected with 20 suit-wearing mid-major head coaches, getting their perspectives on continuing to wear a suit.
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For some coaches, suit-wearing is rooted in experience in past jobs. For others, there’s family members pushing them to do so. And for some, it’s simply respect for their university and the tradition which lost its traction as a result of COVID.
In this article, you’ll find the spreadsheet itself with every Division-I head coach, as well as the 20 statements I’ve received from coaches. I’ve grouped the statements I’ve received thus far into categories, and for the statements which fit into multiple categories, I went with my best judgement so each coach appears in the article just once.
View LinkMotivated or inspired by family members
Ted Hotaling – New Haven: “Game days are special, and my mother would be pleased!”
Andrew Toole – Robert Morris: “The reason I wear the suit is a combination of a few things. First, it feels a little more important when you put a suit on, it shows some respect for the game! Also, three seasons ago we won two games during suits and sneakers week. My two sons told me if we win both games, I needed to go back to suits! And we did! I don’t wear a tie because that can get uncomfortable!”
Jay Ladner – Southern Miss: “The reason I think it’s important to wear a suit and tie are for a couple of reasons. My Dad was a high school basketball coach in Mississippi. He was always adamant about dressing and grooming professionally, not just for basketball games but for all occasions, like mass and special occasions. Secondly, the tradition of basketball coaches wearing suits and ties. And thirdly, I’m proud to have the title of COACH and want to show respect to my profession.”
Tobin Anderson – Tennessee Tech: “My wife likes it when I wear suits, and I like to keep her happy.”
Being a positive reflection of the university
Flynn Clayman – High Point: “We wear suits because High Point University is first class in all facets. Our entire administration comes dressed to impress daily, so our basketball staff is no different. Additionally, it shows respect to the game and the fans. Division-I college basketball games are entertainment events, in which fans deserve maximum effort from all involved in the competition, not just the players on the court.”
Grant Billmeier – NJIT: “I feel as though I should join my President and Athletic Director in the same attire.”
“Coach [Kevin] Willard was into wearing suits, and I feel as one of the top figures on campus, it is my responsibility to dress like it for all of our home games.”
Tom Pecora – Quinnipiac: “You’re representing your university. Do it with a little style!”
Tim Miles – San Jose State: “I decided to go back to the suit for home games. I’m not going to pack a suit for the road games, but I decided to wear a suit because one, I just like the way it makes the coach look. You dress up, you look good, you feel good. You’re the head coach, you’re representing something more than yourself, and I think that you should dress appropriate in that way. It’ll be fun.”
Andrew Wilson – VMI: “I wear a suit because our entire student body (corps of cadets) is required to be in uniform everyday for class. I figured wearing a suit to represent VMI’s basketball program was the least I could do.”
The importance of gameday
A.W. Hamilton – Eastern Kentucky: “My players get to wear the game jersey 30-plus times a year. They pour their hearts into EKU basketball, and that jersey is so special. I wear my coat to honor the players and our fans. Game days are something we treasure at EKU.”
Matt Majkrzak – Northern Illinois: “Suits at home, casual on the road. Respect the people who come to games and care. Don’t think the suit rubs anyone the wrong way. On the road, it’s easier to pack. Convey being calm on the road.”
James Jones – Yale: “I’m a creature of habit, I’ve always showered right before the game, at home or on the road. Dressing up in a suit makes the game special, and makes me look and feel professional. Let’s my players know that games are special.”
Honoring the tradition and history of the sport and their program
Ronnie Thomas – Longwood: “One of the biggest reasons I continue to value wearing a suit is the tradition it represents of all previous coaches before my time, when I had the dream to be a college head coach. I believe it reflects the standards of our university. As the premier athletic program on campus, I believe it is important to be aligned with the President.”
John Gallagher – Manhattan: “At home, I believe wearing a suit is about honoring the program and the people that came before you. Majority of the time on the road it’s casual to keep it simple from a packing standpoint.”
Chris Mooney – Richmond: “I would say there are two reasons. Coaches have dressed up forever and I respect the tradition. Second, I believe coaches started dressing more casually during the COVID response… I have never really understood that reason.”
Pat Skerry – Towson: “For me, it’s more of a traditional thing, plus I like my blazer game. My staff lobbied hard for them to wear quarter zips but me personally, I’m most comfortable in my blazer.”
Josh Pastner – UNLV: “I wear a suit for multiple reasons. One, respect to all the former coaches that have sat in the seat here before me at UNLV. All wore a shirt and tie, especially coach [Jerry] Tark. Two, I like wearing a shirt and tie when the opportunity presents itself. Three, I am probably not a great dresser at all so this is the one time in my life I can try to dress decently I guess.”
Upholding a standard of professionalism
Dustin Kerns – Appalachian State: “Coaching is a profession. We need it to look more professional at times because it has gone away from it. I wear a coat at home because our fans appreciate it, and it has become part of what I do. I don’t on the road simply because of travel and making that easier.”
Craig Doty – Houston Christian: “I have been a head coach since 2012, and we always wore suits. I liked the professionalism of it, and starting as a 28-year-old head college basketball coach, I felt it was important to look professional on the sideline. After COVID ignited the change in college coaching attire across the industry, we decided we would stand by the tradition of wearing suits for all games. Things changed when my Emporia State team played Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse on Nov. 3, 2021 in front of 16,200 fans.
“When Bill Self came out about 90 seconds prior to tip, he came over to our bench to welcome us and shake hands. He looked at me funny as I was fully suited and he was in a quarter zip. He smiled and asked, ‘You guys are still wearing those?’
“Kansas proceeded to beat our NCAA Division-II team 86-60 that evening and I made the decision moving forward that our staff wouldn’t show up as someone’s guest wearing business professional attire while they are casual.
“As of November 4, 2021 our new dress code was (and still is):
*Home Games: Our staff wears suits
*Road Games: Our staff produces a scouting report for our opposing coaching staff’s attire.. If they are typically casual then we dress casual (Lulu/chino style pant with a team issued polo, quarter zip, or high-end team branded shirt). If they wear suits, then we wear suits on the road.”
Mike Jones – Old Dominion: “There’s a very spirited conversation amongst my staff. When I was at Dematha, we wore suits more often than not. So, I would say one, it’s just routine and being comfortable doing that. Two, when I got to Virginia Tech, we wore suits more often than we didn’t, and then when I was at Maryland, we wore suits every game, so it’s just something that I’ve been used to.
“I won’t say I’m more comfortable, but I’m easily as comfortable in a suit as I am in regular clothes. To me, it represents seriousness and professionalism. You’re at a job, you’re representing your community and trying to do it in the best way possible. You go for a job interview, you try to look your best. You go for your first meeting with anyone, you try to look your best. And to me, every game is just that.”