John Farrell. Bobby Valentine. Terry Francona. Grady Little. Joe Kerrigan. Jimy Williams. Rick Pitino. Jim O’Brien. John Carroll. Doc Rivers. Pat Burns. Mike Keenan. Robbie Ftorek. Mike O’Connell. Mike Sullivan. Dave Lewis. Claude Julien.
They once led the Red Sox, Celtics or Bruins since the Patriots swiped Bill Belichick from the New York Jets in 2000.
Seventeen men. Seventeen years.
Blessed be the departed, real and metaphorical. Pray for Brad Stevens and Bruce Cassidy.
Meanwhile, Belichick goes for his 205th regular-season victory with the Patriots Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Some franchises are more stable than others.