Joe Girardi will not return as manager of the New York Yankees in 2018, ending a 10-year run for the former MLB catcher as the team’s bench boss.
The decade of stability in New York was impressively long; before Girardi’s dismissal, it was the third-longest active stretch of its kind in baseball. Only Mike Scioscia (Los Angeles Angels) and Bruce Bochy (San Francisco Giants) have lasted longer among current managers.
Here’s a look at the longest tenures for managers around the majors.
| Coach | Team | Start date | Time on job |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mike Scioscia | Los Angeles Angels | Nov. 18, 1999 | 17 years, 11 months, 8 days |
| 2. Bruce Bochy | San Francisco Giants | Oct. 27, 2006 | 10 years, 11 months, 29 days |
| 3. Ned Yost | Kansas City Royals | May 13, 2010 | 7 years, 5 months, 13 days |
| 4. Buck Showalter | Baltimore Orioles | Jul. 29, 2010 | 7 years, 2 months, 27 days |
| 5. Clint Hurdle | Pittsburgh Pirates | Nov. 14, 2010 | 6 years, 11 months, 12 days |
The NHL would appear to be the least stable of the “Big Four” North American professional sports leagues.
Its longest-tenured coach, Joel Quenneville was hired by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2008, but his next-closest counterpart (John Cooper, Tampa Bay Lightning) was hired in 2013.
| Coach | Team | Start date | Time on job |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Joel Quenneville | Chicago Blackhawks | Oct. 16, 2008 | 9 years, 10 days |
| 2. Jon Cooper | Tampa Bay Lightning | Mar. 25, 2013 | 4 years, 7 months, 1 day |
| 3. Alain Vigneault | New York Rangers | Jun. 21, 2013 | 4 years, 4 months, 5 days |
| 4. Paul Maurice | Winnipeg Jets | Jan. 12, 2014 | 3 years, 9 months, 14 days |
| 5. Peter Lavioloette | Nashville Predators | May 6, 2014 | 3 years, 5 months, 20 days |
When discussing longest-tenured active coaches in pro sports, one name stands out more than any other: Gregg Popovich.
“Pop” has been coaching the San Antonio Spurs since Dec. 10, 1996 (a full year before the first Palm Pilot was launched for consumption), and has won five NBA titles since.
Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey finds himself as the fourth-longest-tenured coach in the league, having been hired on June 21, 2011.
| Coach | Team | Start date | Time on job |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Gregg Popovich | San Antonio Spurs | Dec. 10, 1996 | 20 years, 10 months, 16 days |
| 2. Erik Spoelstra | Miami Heat | Apr. 28, 2008 | 9 years, 5 months, 28 days |
| 3. Rick Carlisle | Dallas Mavericks | May 9, 2008 | 9 years, 5 months, 17 days |
| 4. Dwane Casey | Toronto Raptors | Jun. 21, 2011 | 6 years, 4 months, 5 days |
| 5. Terry Stotts | Portland Trail Blazers | Aug. 7, 2012 | 5 years, 2 months, 19 days |
It’s no surprise to see Bill Belichick’s name atop the list of the longest-tenured NFL coaches.
The New England Patriots have won five Super Bowls since Belichick took control in 2000.
Marvin Lewis has held his position with the Cincinnati Bengals since 2003 despite zero playoff wins. He has led the team to seven playoff appearances, however.
| Coach | Team | Start date | Time on job |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Bill Belichick | New England Patriots | Hired in 2000 | 18 years |
| 2. Marvin Lewis | Cincinnati Bengals | Hired in 2003 | 15 years |
| 3. Mike McCarthy | Green Bay Packers | Hired in 2006 | 12 years |
| 4. Sean Payton | New Orleans Saints | Hired in 2006 | 12 years |
| 5. Mike Tomlin | Pittsburgh Steelers | Hired in 2007 | 11 years |
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