Top 10 scary coaches

Former Springbok coach Rudolph Straeuli. Photo / Getty Images

Norma Plummer once again revealed her nasty side when she questioned the legitimacy of Irene van Dyk's 100th test for the Silver Ferns.

So in honour of the Australian netball coach's comments, we've dug up the top ten list of sporting mentors who strike fear into the hearts of fans and players alike.

Mike Ditka, American football
Known as "Iron Mike", Ditka is a former NFL coach who led the Chicago Bears to the Super Bowl championship in 1985. Ditka is a fiery character who had run-ins with his staff and fans but often let his anger get the better of him. Broke his wrist while punching a locker during one halftime outburst in 1983.

Peter de Villiers, Rugby
De Villiers may not appear a very scary person but he has the South African Rugby Union shaking in their boots every time he opens his mouth.

"If we are going on like this, why don't we go to the nearest ballet shop, get some tutus and get a dancing shop going? There will be no eye-gouging, no tackling, no nothing and we will enjoy it" and "The same people who threw their robes on the ground when Jesus rode on a donkey were the same people who crowned him and hit him with sticks, and were the same people who said afterwards how we shouldn't have done that, he's the son of God. So that's exactly what we do. You have to look at history as repeating itself. And I'm not saying that I'm God" are just some of the beauties the Springboks coach has come out with this year.

Craig Bellamy, League
The Storm coach comes across cool and calm in the media but put him in a coach's box and he's an eruption waiting to happen. Bellamy cost his club $50,000 after he was fined for a scathing attack on the NRL judiciary prior to last year's grand final loss to Manly.

Graham Henry, Rugby
Worst, best, overrated, arrogant - there's not a top 10 coaches list Graham Henry isn't on these days and despite his dry sense of humour and kissing antics with Mils Muliaina, the All Blacks coach can strike fear into players and media alike. Is likely to be a lot scarier after the season the All Blacks have had.

Norma Plummer, Netball
The lady Silver Ferns fans love to hate. In one of her first acts as Australian coach she described the Ferns as a "bunch of scrubbers" and has continued to stick the boot in ever since. Someone needs to tell her it's OK to smile every now and then.

Alex Wylie, Rugby
Former All Blacks coach Alex 'Grizz' Wylie had a rough and abrasive style, particularly with the media. Grizz wasn't known for his communication skills but had the intimidation factor through his imposing figure and reputation as a player.

Lou Piniella, Baseball
Known for his aggressive and explosive behaviour, Piniella has been managing baseball clubs since 1986 and is the currently in charge of the Chicago Cubs. During this time "Sweet Lou" has fought with players, kicked dirt at umpires and been ejected 61 times to put him right up there amongst the scariest coaches in sport.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Soccer
Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the great managers of the modern era but it pays not to get on his bad side - just ask David Beckham. Any coach who puts a boot into one of his player's forehead is definitely not one to be messed with.


Bobby Knight, Basketball
America's most successful college basketball coach, Knight is also one of the most controversial. His rap sheet includes throwing a chair across the court to protest a referee's call, being restrained by police from going after a fan, repeated run-ins with the media and reportedly choking one of his players (a claim which Knight denied).


Rudolph Straeuli, Rugby
Straeuli was an imposing loose forward who played 10 tests for the Springboks but it was his deeds as a coach which had most people on edge. In preparation for the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Straeuli sent his players to camp Kamp Staaldraad where they were forced into a freezing lake naked to pump rugby balls under water (and forced back at gunpoint if they tried to get out), crawl naked across gravel and sing the national anthem naked while ice-cold water was poured over them. Thankfully, his training methods never caught on as the Springboks were bundled out of the World Cup in the quarterfinals and Straeuli was sent packing.

- NZ HERALD STAFF