Being a role model comes naturally to a lot of people. But when it comes to Charles Barkley, he had made it clear years ago that he never wanted to be a “role model.” How about coaching then? Yeah, that’s not his thing either. Chuck being someone who has always flaunted being a great grandpa, would have changed his mind when his grandkids asked him to coach now wouldn’t he? Well apparently, we were all wrong. So what exactly does Chuck have against coaching that he said no even when Henry Hoffman and Charlie Eliza Hoffman, his grandkids asked him to help?
In a recent episode of The Stream Room podcast, Chuck didn’t hold back when asked about stepping into a coaching role for them. During the podcast, a fan asked if he’d consider it, Barkley responded in classic Chuck fashion: “I would rather somebody hit me in the head with a shovel to the crap.” That’s a pretty strong no, but what’s behind his aversion to coaching?
For Barkley, it’s not just about the hassle—it’s about the chaos that comes with youth sports. “I see parents screaming at their kids, beating up referees. Every time I see something like that… I’m like, just go to the game, watch your kids! You can’t scream them into playing better. The refs are probably not even getting paid anything. Refs have gotten killed in sports in the last few years! I’m like, why would you fight the ref?” he explained.
That frustration is exactly why he doesn’t even attend high school games anymore. “I used to go to high school games a lot. I always tried to see my high school play, but it became so contentious between the players and the parents, I did not enjoy it, I was so lucky and blessed—I had a great mother and Grandma. They just sat there and cheered,” Barkley added.
So, why has Chuck always been against coaching? Back in 1995, in his book Sir Charles: Wit and Wisdom, he was asked if he’d ever coach as Paul Westphal did after retiring. His response? “No, I’ll be retired. I’ll be a black—oh, I’m sorry—a multimillionaire.” Yet, despite swearing off coaching, he has flirted with front-office roles over the years.
Charles Barkley’s front office story
Charles Barkley has been a TV staple for over two decades, but at one point, he nearly walked away for an NBA front-office gig. In fact, he revealed on The Dan Patrick Show last year that he had interviewed for a GM role not once, but three times in the last five to seven years. Turns out, Chuck wasn’t just thinking about it—he was serious.
“I’ve interviewed for three front-office jobs,” Barkley admitted. “… It’s been probably about five or seven years. But I wanted complete control because as a general manager or president of basketball operations, you get to fire like four guys before people realize you’re the problem. I do.”
That’s exactly why he saw the GM role as one of the best jobs in basketball. “I think being the president or the GM is the best job,” he said. “Because you’re the one picking the players and you’re the one who’s making trades. But I think you get to scapegoat at least three more—like four coaches—because people never say who put this crappy ass team together. It’s easier to fire the coach, and you get to hide out behind closed doors.”
But which teams did he interview with? That’s something Barkley refused to spill. Keeping that under wraps is impressive, but these days, he’s not looking for another shot. When asked if he’d consider a front-office job now, the 61-year-old made it clear—his window has passed. He wanted this role during his 50s. Looks like Barkley is sticking to TV after all.
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