Basketball coaching Quotes · Page 5

Compare where you are to where you want to be, and you'll get nowhere

— Sara Bareilles

Over coaching is the worst thing you can do to a player.

— Dean Smith

The worst thing we can do is put the (other) team in a one-and-one.

— Mike Krzyzewski

Players who are late say that their time is more important than the team.

— Don Meyer

Morale and attitude are the fundamentals to success.

— Bud Wilkinson

Good sound habits are more important than rules - use concepts.

— Mike Krzyzewski

He who controlleth the backboard, controlleth the game.

— Adolph Rupp

Criticize on defense and encourage on offense.

— John Brady

Administrators are like pigs; don't wrestle with a pig because you both get dirty and the pig likes it.

— Don Meyer

A lot of guys go through their whole careers and don't win a championship, but are still great coaches.

— Chuck Daly

I would never recruit a player who yells at his teammates, disrespected his high school coach, or scores 33 points a game…

— Dean Smith

I don't try to get players emotionally up for a game; it creates too many peaks and valleys... I strive for even…

— Denny Crum

Practices should be for the players and not the coach. Practices should be fun for the players, positive in nature, and last…

— Norm Sloan

The most important quality I look for in a player is accountability. You've got to be accountable for who you are. It's…

— Lenny Wilkens

I'm looking for players who make their teammates better. You do that with enthusiasm and passion.

— Mike Krzyzewski

It's better to have a good player with the basketball in late game situations than to have plays.

— Rick Pitino

Put your two best players away from the ball and bring it back to them.

— Don Meyer

Only run special plays for special players; find plays that fit your players.

— Don Meyer

Remember this, the choices you make in life, make you.

— John Wooden

I've always believed in quickness over strength and size.

— Dean Smith

Your defense will save you on the nights that your offense isn't working.

— Adolph Rupp

False Hustle = cheap fouls, lunging, reaching, etc.

— Billy Donovan

You can't defer if you're the person who's in the leadership position.

— Mike Krzyzewski

Rebounding wins championships, you need to emphasize it and work with kids on it.

— Pat Summitt

Use different basketball offensive alignments to cause confusion for the other team.

— Hubie Brown

It's what you get from games you lose that is extremely important.

— Pat Riley

The better conditioned team will probably win in the long run.

— John Wooden

Simplify the game as much as possible. When you add, you must subtract.

— Don Meyer

Everyone wants to win, but not everyone is willing to prepare to win.

— Bobby Knight

It is foolish to expect a young man to follow your advice and to ignore your example.

— Don Meyer

I don't think we surprise people. We try to out-execute them.

— Mike Krzyzewski

When it comes to celebrating, act like you've been there before.

— Terry Bowden

It's not what you teach, it's what you emphasize.

— John Wooden

It's not what you tell your players that counts. It's what they here.

— Red Auerbach

What to do with a mistake: recognize it, admit it, learn from it, forget it.

— Dean Smith

Kentucky is the best job in basketball coaching. Why would I leave?

— John Calipari

Play and practice like you are trying to make the team.

— Mike Krzyzewski

It doesn't matter where you coach, it matters why you coach.

— Don Meyer

Recognize and reward players who put the team first, not just the gifted ones.

— Don Meyer

All really successful coaches have a system.

— Jim Valvano