The evolution of coaching, through Steve Kerr's eyes

Steve Kerr learned from the all-time greats. His four-year college career also were coach Lute Olson's first four over his storied tenure at the University of Arizona. Kerr's 15-year NBA career as a player included being coached by Cotton Fitzsimmons, Lenny Wilkens, Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich and Maurice Cheeks. 

Between his days in college and as a pro, Kerr was guided by six future Hall of Famers. All brought different styles to the court, influencing how Kerr coaches the Warriors. Some can be seen in his system, others in the environment and culture Kerr wants in the building. The Warriors have a family-rich environment, something that Jackson and Popovich instilled into Kerr. 

Two of Kerr's three children were born when Kerr played for the Chicago Bulls and Jackson made sure players felt comfortable bringing their kids in the building and getting to know families. Popovich was the first coach Kerr had who let families on the team plane and stay at the hotel on road trips, something that stuck with Kerr forever, which is why he has the same open policy with the Warriors.

From being a player to a general manager, a color analyst and eventually leading the Warriors, the now 57-year-old has the seen the evolution of a coach. Yes, voices of his past coaches will never leave him. He also can't be spitting images of them. 

"I think the role itself isn’t that different," Kerr said to NBC Sports Bay Area in an exclusive interview for the latest episode of Dubs Talk. "But the way you have to coach now is much different. In the old days, the coach was king. If the coach wanted to berate you and humiliate you, he could do that. 

"Now, I’m lucky that I played for really good coaches, Hall of Fame coaches. I didn’t have coaches who did that, but I know a lot of fellow NBA players who did. You do that today as a coach, you get fired. That’s a positive change. The flip side to that, though, is it’s much harder to maintain authority when that shift has occurred. 

"The best coaches in the past understood that there’s a line you can’t cross, but you hold the players accountable and you love them and you take care of them. But you also are tough on them. That’s how I try to approach my job."

Then there's the technological changes. On the court, Kerr can't just rely on his eyes and drawing up a few plays on his clipboard. He and his coaching staff have loads of numbers and information at their fingertips. 

So do his players, for better or worse. Kerr's Bulls teams were surrounded by cameras and craziness nonstop with all the attention surrounding Michael Jordan. The time also was the 1990s, far before the social media age. 

These Warriors have a handful of veteran superstars. They also have six players who are 23 years old or younger, including rookies Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins, who along with Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody are only 20.

"I think, frankly, you can’t be nearly as tough on them now in the age of social media because these guys are getting crushed and judged and criticized on a daily basis and that criticism is coming right through their phone," Kerr said. "So they’re staring at it every single day. I think the coach’s role now is much more comforting and trying to help guys get through what is a difficult process. 

"You advise and you coach, but you love them up and you really encourage them. But you have to maintain your authority at the same time. It’s a different job." 

And a difficult one at that, wearing multiple hats in a single day. 

Dealing with social media is both something Kerr talks about with his players and something he leans on his veteran players to do. He also has to have the pulse of the room. Sometimes that means stepping forward, sometimes it means taking a step back.

Earlier this season, Klay Thompson, who will be 33 in February, is a four-time champion and future Hall of Fame player admitted that Twitter trolls got under his skin and affected his play. It was a moment of vulnerability, something that his older and younger teammates could appreciate. Kerr certainly did, too. 

Back in the spring of 2021, Kerr quit Twitter. His decision to do so wasn't a singular one, though. 

"A couple years ago, I went to James Wiseman and I asked him how he was doing with the social media stuff and he goes, 'Yeah, it’s a little tough,''" Kerr shared. "I said, 'Why don’t we both quit Twitter for a while,' and he said, 'Yeah, that’s a good idea.' I literally haven’t been back. It’s been two years, I think, for me. I asked him recently and he said, 'Yeah, I’m not on either.' 

"So a guy like James, I had a conversation and we both agreed it might be a good idea and it turned out to be great for both of us. I feel way healthier, it’s really refreshing not knowing that people are crushing every decision I make. Ignorance is bliss, in some ways. But there are also a lot of really great stories that come from social media. [Steph Curry] is a master of handling social media. He does so much good on his platforms, so one size doesn’t fit all. 

"I just try to remind our guys that if you’re going down a path that’s not healthy, then try a different path."

Kerr's voice reaches those far outside a basketball court. He has been outspoken politically, especially on gun violence, as well as social justice and race issues in our country and beyond. Even as someone who is, and should be seen as, more than a coach, Kerr stays in his lane.

He is consumed by sports and coaching, and is a major advocate for young athletes playing multiple sports. Some of his own stars like Curry and Thompson grew up as multi-sport athletes, and Kerr was in awe when he spoke with Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash about how he used his hockey skills growing up in Canada to navigate the floor in basketball under and around the basket. Kerr always is trying to learn from others, and when he picks up a book, it usually is a sports one -- basketball or not -- and he tends to read about coaches from other sports. 

On his list of people he would love to meet, the name at the top has the same job title of himself. The person also coaches a different sport, in a completely different country. 

"I would love to meet Pep Guardiola, the Man City coach who’s generally regarded as one of the best soccer coaches, football coaches. I met with Jurgen Klopp last summer, the Liverpool coach, and he was brilliant. 

"I love meeting people from other sports and coaches from other sports and comparing notes."

RELATED: Where Kerr sees Curry, Thompson, Green in 20 years

In the Bay Area, Kerr has gotten to know 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch. He also has ties to the 49ers' rivals, the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has had a huge influence on Kerr and the two are great friends. More recently, Kerr and Rams coach Sean McVay have formed a friendship and the two text each other and compare notes. 

Sports are ever-changing. A basketball game can have a dash of soccer, football or hockey at any given moment, We're all learning from each other, and Kerr isn't any different. 

"The sports are different, but the job is the same," Kerr said. "You’re trying to galvanize a group and communicate with individual players and get the best out of them individually and collectively. I’m a huge fan of other sports, I watch everything."

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