Parcells Autobiography

That football coaching success does not happen overnight is the most striking conclusion of this readable autobiography by the man who led the New York Giants to victory in Super Bowl XXI and coauthor Lupica, sports essayist on the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. Parcells held jobs as an assistant coach at Hastings, Wichita State, West Point, Florida State, Vanderbilt and Texas Tech, as head coach at the Air Force academy, then as an assistant in the pros with the New England Patriots and the Giants before he got the top spot with the Giants. More fully than other recent books by coaches, this volume shows the complexity of play in pro football and the burdens that coaching carries: it is assuredly no sinecure. Parcells is close-mouthed about drug problems among his players, but outspoken in favor of mandatory testing of athletes. Photos not seen by PW. 75,000 first printing; author tour. (August 24)