"Name Dropping" a horse 
''Name-dropping is used to position oneself within a social hierarchy. It is often used to create a sense of superiority by raising one's status. By implying (or directly asserting) a connection to people of high status, the name-dropper hopes to raise his or her own social status to a level closer to that of those whose names he or she has dropped, and thus elevate himself or herself above, or into, present company.''
The Coach is obviously suffering from a low self-esteem, so he resorts to name-dropping. He probably feels that he is a nobody, and that rubbing shoulders with those who are well-known gives him some validity by his association with them , that's very sad Coach.
