The coaching career of Marc Trestman deserves a look from Phil Emery because its littered with success. Born just north in the land of 10,000 lakes, Trestman has served as head coach of the CFLs Montreal Alouettes the last five seasons while taking part in the cottage industry of preparing quarterbacks for the NFL Draft.
He taps into his great understanding of the position as Trestman played quarterback for the University of Minnesota Gophers before transferring his senior year to Minnesota State University Moorhead.
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Timing more than anything else, has been Trestmans biggest nemesis in the NFL, not his ability to coach. Everywhere Trestman has been hired to correct offensive issues, the head coach was fired. Through his travels, Trestman has tutored some of the NFLs greatest quarterbacks like Bernie Kozar, Steve Young and Rich Gannon.
Trestman even brought productivity to average quarterbacks like the Lions' Scott Mitchell who threw for 3,500 yards under Trestmans guidance or rookie quarterbacks like Arizona Cardinals' Jake Plummer, who burst onto the scene under Trestman.
For good measure, Treastman was so fed up with the NFL he went to Canada to finally call his own shots as head coach of the Montreal Allouettes, who have three Grey Cup Championship appearances in Treastmans five seasons.
Treastmans Allouettes have won two of those three Grey Cup Championships plus his quarterback Anthony Calvillo won back to back CFL MVP awards during the process.
NFL
Many who do not know, will downplay the CFL claiming it is not NFL caliber. Its simply not true because at the end of the day, its still football. Six-time NFL Executive of the Year Bill Polian spent time in the CFL winning Grey Cups also.
If anything, it improves Trestmans resume, as he is a championship head coach who can build a team while being heavily involved in the decision making process of a winning organization. Furthermore, for Trestman to adapt to the CFL style of play under a different set of rules is impressive.
These are all strengths for Trestman, not weaknesses. Plus two of Trestmans pre-draft protoges were on the Bears' roster at the end of the season. Both Jay Cutler and Jason Campbell utilized Trestman during pre-draft workouts before both were selected in the first round of the annual NFL Draft.
Lastly, I talked with one of Trestmans former quarterbacks, Gannon, who spent two stints with Trestman during his NFL career. One stop was in Minnesota, where Gannon spent two years with Trestman stating, "It was young in Trestmans career where he did not have the ability to be more hands on. He couldnt call the shots."
The other stop was in Oakland, where Gannon went on to win the NFL MVP award while the Raiders marched to a Super Bowl appearance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Trestman was seasoned at this point in his coaching career from all of his prior coaching stops. Gannons analysis of Treastman was glowing when he said, He was smart, innovative, quarterback friendly and pass protection-conscious.
In summation, Treastman is a serious contender to be the Bears' next head coach. Gannons last statement alone will perk up many Bears fans, when pass protection is mentioned as a priority.
Treastman is an quality coach who should be coaching in the NFL, but as many know, timing is everything and it has not been in Treastmans favor. He has worked well with every quarterback hes coached and productivity has followed.
Lastly, Treastman may even be able to work his own contract as hes been a member of the Florida Bar since 1983 when he graduated from the Miami School of Law while coaching Bernie Kozar and the Hurricanes to the National Championship.