You see more non-great in their sport coaches in Basketball and Football at the highest level (some never having competed in the sport even). Doesn't work in wrestling. Wrestling is such a feel sport that you can't just teach Xs and Os. Now, being the best wrestler isn't necessary, but having some level of success is. And, as proven by the 3 best coach-wrestler combos (Gable, Smith, Sanderson) they have a feel for the sport that can't be read in a book and can only be taught by show and feel (and they have amazing mental side to relate to athletes as well). They can both show proper movement, proper execution, and can give the correct feel and pressure when working directly with athletes. I was talking with a retired professional football player recently and I told him that the difference between coaching football and wrestling is, wrestling coaches actually wrestle with heir athletes. Football coaches give instructions.