The recent turnover of several head coaches among the major pro and college teams in this market -- the Wild, Wolves, Vikings and Gophers football have all made changes in the past year -- has given us a great study in what Minnesota sports fans like (and don't like) in a coach. Here, then, is a list of the attributes that tend to play well here -- and we honestly believe that at least some of these traits are specific to this region. *Straight talk -- Minnesota fans love a coach who "tells it like it is." We have pretty good internal bull detectors in these parts. A well-scripted crock can only last so long. Truth can last a lot longer. This is where Jerry Kill is winning big early.

*Information -- We want the coach to tell us enough that we know what is going on with the team. This is where Mike Tice earned major points (even if he lost them elsewhere). This is where Brad Childress lost fans early on, and never got some of them back even as he got better.

*Bold moves -- Whether it is on-field innovation/risk-taking or a roster shake-up, Minnesota fans will generally enjoy seeing a few eggs broken in the name of making an omelet.

*Enforcement of accountability -- Nothing drives a Minnesota fan crazier than the thought that a coach has lost control of his team (see: last year's Vikings + Timberwolves and fan grumbles early in 2011 about the Twins). Nothing thrills them more than seeing someone who has clearly strayed from the line get benched or cut. See: Leslie Frazier vs. Bryant McKinnie.

*Clear authority -- This goes hand-in-hand with the enforcement of accountability but extends beyond just crisis situations. Two minutes left in a game. Do you look at the coach and have confidence that everything is under control and the players are sure they are in the best position to win?

*Humility -- We want coaches who have all the answers. We just don't want them to tell us they have all the answers.

*Intensity -- either quiet or expressed, this is a big one. Bud Grant's stoicism worked because fans could sense what was beneath the exterior based on how his teams played.

*Work ethic -- This goes along with intensity. This is no market in which to mail it in. If you give the appearance that you are doing everything possible to win or at least improve, you will gain major traction.

*Winning -- To quote Charlie Sheen: Duh.

To recap: Minnesota fans don't like lying, unimaginative, lazy, wishy-washy, arrogant coaches who lose games. In all seriousness, though, we really do believe that while some of the positive traits listed above are universal, there are others -- humility, work ethic, enforcement of accountability and straight talk perhaps chief among them -- that are of particular importance here. Your thoughts, as always, in the comments.