I disagree with the way you framed the question...everyone wants a coach that is...
the stag wrote:
dedicated to running,excellent motivator and communicator,
I've known too many Ph.D. professors and coaches that are...
the stag wrote:
obsessed with personal glory and success, cool and arrogant
If you have a choice and students and student-athletes rarely do, they would prefer someone they can relate to and communicate with. This isn't the army and the days of leading like General Patton are over. What you described for your Coach B are not qualities, just the opposite.
I've seen too many "Coaches" with all sorts of titles and accredidations, but they are lousy role models and human beings and no fun to be around. Do you want to be around someone who you dread seeing?
I've had more runners believe in me and follow me because I've taken the time to know them as individuals and get them to see and believe what I believe they are capable of.
You'd be shocked at the number of incompetents out there in positions of authority. Sure, they have advanced degrees which means they postponed getting out in the real world to coach and now that they have their degrees you would expect them to be brilliant from all the years they spent in classrooms. Your great expectations will result in great letdowns as these dim bulbs with the fancy titles have little to no practical experience, but they are set for life on some college campus as they meander and mosey and go through the motions to try to protect their tenure.
Bitter? Nope. Just telling it like it is. If you haven't seen or experienced what I have over the past 4 decades of running and coaching, that just means you're inexperienced or are lacking in vision.