Les Miles coach of the LSU Tigers and Nick Saban coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide just met on the football field. Saban’s team came away with the win in the last possession of the game erasing LSU’s lead and the hope for a win in their home stadium only to lose 21-17. Both coaches are proven winners but their birth orders show them to approach their jobs with different personalities.
Unmasking Personalities
Understanding Birth Order can unmask the personalities of people and understand how they see themselves and relate to others. Each birth order has both positive and negative qualities which are influenced by ones interaction with family members, especially with their siblings.
Les Miles a Firstborn
Les Miles is a Firstborn with a sister 3 years younger than himself. As a Firstborn he would look to the role of the dominant parent and in his case it was his father. Hope “Bubba” Miles was a big man of 300 lbs who loved to laugh and eat. He supported his firstborn son in everything he did.
Hope had been in the Navy and was a gregarious Irishman. He gave Les a good self image and the confidence to succeed. Les did not have to work to keep the throne and his position in the family. Being the oldest and a son to a father that loved sports secured the top spot for Les.
He would be relaxed in this position as he had no fear that his younger sister would dethrone him. Les was a natural leader and played both football, baseball and was on the wrestling team in high school. In college he was an offensive lineman for the University of Michigan. He replaced Nick Saban as head coach at LSU in 2005.
Personality Traits
The first born is the natural CEO, they like to be in charge. If they don’t feel threatened they can project a relaxed atmosphere but the work ethic is strong and if comfortably in their position they can make hard work look easy. Les likes to tell a lot of jokes and laughter is a frequent sound coming from his office. As hard workers most firstborns are harder on themselves than others.
For Les his late father is always never far from his thoughts. He has said, “I was a guy raised to please my Dad”. Firstborns also have a bit of an ego and like the limelight. He is described as the media’s darling and has done two commercials for ESPN. He even has a following on Twitter with 64,000 followers the most of any coach using social media.
On occasion he even “tastes” the grass from the football field much to the delight of his fans. Secure within himself he takes risk’s. Fake punts and onside kicks are just a few of his elaborate plays that have earned him the name, “Mad Hatter”. On his more personal side he is a family man with four children who he does not neglect and takes his role as a parent very seriously.
Nick Saban a Second Born
Nick Saban is a Second born with sister Dianna just one year older. His sister called him “Brother” as his father had the same first name. People in his coal mining town still call him “Brother”. His father, Nick Sr. was the owner and operator of Saban’s Service, a gas station but his passion was football.
He helped start the Pop Warner football program in the 1960’s which still survives today. In high school Nick played both quarterback and defensive back but was also a guard on the basketball team and shortstop on the baseball team.
He went to Kent Stateon a football scholarship playing cornerback and safety. He has had numerous coaching positions and was the Head coach for LSU in 2004 when they won the National Title at the Sugar Bowl. He then went on to the Miami Dolphins and the NFL.
Related: Can Birth Order be a Predictor of Presidential Elections?
Personality Traits
As the Second born Nick would instinctively try to “dethrone” his older sister, Dianna. At one time he tried to compete with her and play the accordion. His mother made him stop all athletics and practice, he soon changed his mind.
As a boy it would have been easy to demote his sister as his father was very involved in sports. Another trait of Second borns is that they don’t like to be told what to do. Usually they strive to earn enough money so others cannot control them.
As the Coach of the Alabama Tide Nick has a 32 million dollar 8 year contract, a record for any college coach. Coming back to college football from the NFL may also have something to do with the control of his players. He has said he wanted to come back to college because that is where he can make a difference in the lives of young people.
That may be true but they also don’t have multimillion dollar salaries. He is known as a no nonsense coach that is driven to win, another common trait of the Second born. Nick has been known to work all night looking at the same game film. Many reporters at news conferences see him as angry but Nick says he is just intense.
Another trait of this birth order is that Two’s can be very secretive. While with the Dolphins he forbade his assistant coaches from speaking to the media. His assistant coaches say he is very demanding and he works his people hard. He is slow to laugh as he takes everything very seriously.
As a perfectionist everything is focused on winning and success, anything that gets in the way is an obstacle. Some have labeled him a control freak and dictator but, just look at his results. As a Second born he feels everything that happens under him is a reflection on him and that he is responsible.
LSU vs. Alabama
Here we have the classic match up of two coaches one a Firstborn and the other a Second born that has moved up into the Firstborn position. Their football backgrounds show Les Miles to be more of an offensive man and Nick Saban would lean toward defense.
Nick will show less emotion and keep control of both himself and his team. He will be the less flashy. Les will be the risk taker but Nick will show that never give up number Two birth order as slow and steady wins the race. What will next year bring when these teams meet again?