The personification of an object and the emergence of coaching

Purpose – This article aims to place the emergence of coaching in its appropriate historical context and address the lack of historical attention given to this subject. In tracing the path the coach has taken in becoming a management concept, the article seeks to draw attention to its unique history as an object that has been transformed into a popular management concept. Design/methodology/approach – This article reviews how coaching has been portrayed in various books, articles and research papers since appearing as a transportation object in the 15 th century. Findings – The coach began as a technology used for transportation, evolved into an object that was associated with a type of status and then became a prominent character in sport, before ultimately becoming an influential management concept. Across historical periods discussions of coaching have tended to involve individuals who experience coaching. A consistent feature of these discussions is the issue of professionals and professionalism. Research limitations/implications – It is difficult to determine the date when our contemporary notions of the coach were first discussed, as these discussions originally involved slang, and a lag exists between talking about coaching and writing about it. Practical implications – Concerns have been raised in the management discipline regarding the influence of research on practice and as advocates of coaching seek professional and scientific legitimacy, this historical review offers a perspective that can enhance discussions of these issues. Originality/value – This paper places the popularity of this concept within a historical context that outlines how the idea of coaching evolved from a form of technology to a concept associated with a wide array of management topics.