The life of a football coach is often romanticized—the roar of the crowd, the thrill of victory, the adulation of fans. But behind the whistle and the clipboard lies a reality that's far less glamorous: a marriage under siege. According to Michael Lombardi, a former NFL executive and current general manager at North Carolina, the divorce rate among college and NFL coaches is estimated to be between 60 and 70 percent. That's a staggering number when you consider that the national average for marriages ending in divorce has hovered around 50 percent for years.
Lombardi recently took to social media to shine a light on this often-overlooked aspect of coaching life. He highlighted the story of Joshua Eargle, a longtime college coach who has managed to beat the odds. Eargle has spent 23 years in the coaching ranks, appearing in five FBS bowl games and sending 13 players to the NFL. His wife, Kristen, has moved with him through 14 different programs, a nomadic existence that would test any relationship.
But the challenges go far beyond packing boxes. Their daughter, Landrey, has faced 23 hospitalizations and requires around-the-clock care. Despite these immense pressures, the Eargles have stayed together, a testament to their resilience. Now, as Eargle builds the first football program at Texas A&M-Texarkana, he's hung a motto on the wall: "All families. All the time. Always welcome." It's a philosophy born from years of seeing families—especially coaches' families—treated as an afterthought.
Lombardi's post struck a nerve, drawing a flood of responses from football fans. Some expressed sympathy, recognizing the sacrifices coaches and their families make. Others were less forgiving, arguing that coaches choose this path and should prioritize their families over their careers. One commenter wrote, "I would hope each and every coach when broached with the prospect of relocating, asks their family first." Another was blunt: "So we're supposed to feel sorry for them for the choices they make? (expletive) that and (expletive) them." A third offered a middle ground: "In the end, they're performing for our entertainment, so yeah, maybe try to empathize with the sacrifices."
The high divorce rate isn't hard to explain. Coaching is a profession defined by instability. Jobs are won and lost on a whim, and coaches often bring their entire staffs with them when they move. That means uprooting families, sometimes to entirely different states, with little notice. The constant pressure to perform, the long hours, the time away from home—it all takes a toll. As Lombardi noted, "When a coach gets the job, his family gets the lifestyle. Nobody asks them first."
This isn't just a college football issue. The same pressures exist in the NFL, where the stakes are even higher and the scrutiny is relentless. The recent JSN drop against the 49ers is a reminder of how quickly a player's—or coach's—fortunes can change. But while players can be traded or cut, coaches often find themselves in a cycle of hiring and firing that leaves their personal lives in chaos.
For fans, the connection to the game is purely emotional. We live and die with every play, but we rarely think about the human cost. The next time you're watching a college football slate filled with ranked showdowns, remember that behind every coach on the sideline is a family making sacrifices we never see. The antics of Pat McAfee on College GameDay might entertain us, but the real drama often unfolds far from the cameras.
So, what's the takeaway? Coaching football is a dream job for many, but it comes with a price. The divorce rate among coaches is a stark reminder that success on the field doesn't always translate to happiness at home. For those considering a career in coaching, the advice from the Eargles' story is clear: make family a priority, and find a program that values that commitment. As Eargle's motto suggests, "All families. All the time. Always welcome." It's a lesson the entire sport could stand to learn.
