--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Over the years, Coach Staley has become…" description: "\"Over the years, Coach Staley has become like my second mom. And she has helped me with so much on the basketball court that I don't think I ever direct..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/a-ja-wilson-6569_basketball_over-the-years-coach-staley-has-become-l_587397.jpg" --- # Over the years, Coach Staley has become like my second… ![“Over the years, Coach Staley has become like my second mom. And she has helped me with so much on the basketball court that I don't think I ever directly told her how important she has been in helping me deal with the things that aren't related to basketball. Especially with dyslexia.” quote by A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/a-ja-wilson-6569_basketball_over-the-years-coach-staley-has-become-l_587397.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/a-ja-wilson-6569_basketball_over-the-years-coach-staley-has-become-l_587397.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/a-ja-wilson-6569_basketball_over-the-years-coach-staley-has-become-l_587397.jpg) > “Over the years, Coach Staley has become like my second mom. And she has helped me with so much on the basketball court that I don't think I ever directly told her how important she has been in helping me deal with the things that aren't related to basketball. Especially with dyslexia.” [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A mentor can become a parental figure, offering support beyond the sport, especially for challenges like dyslexia. **In simple terms:** Coaches can provide life guidance, not just athletic advice. Key Takeaway Seek mentors who support both sport and personal growth. Themes mentorship family education disability support Mood supportive reflective Type motivational informational When to use this quote - basketball training - academic tutoring - mental health counseling - team building Key Concepts coach‑athlete relationship learning differences personal development Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize healthy mentorship? - What resources help athletes with learning challenges? A Different Perspective Mentor may overstep personal boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-court/) [Coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach/) [Coach Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach-staley-2219269/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Helped Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helped-basketball-3114652/) [Important Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-helping-635500/) [Mentorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Mom Helped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom-helped-445844/) [She](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/she/) ## Related quotes > [Coach Staley is the real boss. You're talking about a woman who won three Olympic gold medals for our country. You're talking about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/coach-staley-is-the-real-boss-you-re-talking-about-a-woman-who-won/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [Sometimes, I'm in my own way. I have to let people come in and tell me things that I need to hear, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/sometimes-i-m-in-my-own-way-i-have-to-let-people-come-in-and-tell-me/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [I'm still grateful to have people like Coach Staley in my life that made me read the scripture before shootaround. That made me get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/i-m-still-grateful-to-have-people-like-coach-staley-in-my-life-that/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [I'm happy that I helped basketball develop; I was trying to help basketball be the world's most popular sport, to bring people together from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vlade-divac/i-m-happy-that-i-helped-basketball-develop-i-was-trying-to-help/) [Vlade Divac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vlade-divac/) > [He helped my career, helped me basketball-wise and every other way. I'm a big fan of Thibs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calipari/he-helped-my-career-helped-me-basketball-wise-and-every-other-way-i-m/) [John Calipari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calipari/) > [Coach Staley definitely had me doing overtime. It has been fun, though, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-mack/coach-staley-definitely-had-me-doing-overtime-it-has-been-fun-though/) [Khalil Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-mack/) > [I wasn't one to go out and buy a new car and stereo system and expensive clothes. My mom helped keep me grounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-applegate/i-wasn-t-one-to-go-out-and-buy-a-new-car-and-stereo-system-and/) [Christina Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-applegate/) > [My mom has helped me nurture my interest and hone my talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hansika-motwani/my-mom-has-helped-me-nurture-my-interest-and-hone-my-talent/) [Hansika Motwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hansika-motwani/) > [They couldn't wait to get me out. My dad found my place, my mom helped me pack, and my brother was making architectural plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-bateman/they-couldn-t-wait-to-get-me-out-my-dad-found-my-place-my-mom-helped/) [Justine Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-bateman/) > [I definitely wanted to give acting a shot. And Mom helped me decide what I should do by insisting that my decision should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riya-sen/i-definitely-wanted-to-give-acting-a-shot-and-mom-helped-me-decide/) [Riya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riya-sen/) > [My mom has helped me so much. She has great style, and she's an amazing dresser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lourdes-leon/my-mom-has-helped-me-so-much-she-has-great-style-and-she-s-an-amazing/) [Lourdes Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lourdes-leon/) > [“Knowing that only minutes earlier I had walked to the car, my mom helped me out and stood me up in the parking lot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-todd-hammer/knowing-that-only-minutes-earlier-i-had-walked-to-the-car-my-mom/) [Sarah Todd Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-todd-hammer/) > [we come to realize that other people's welfare is just as important as our own. In helping them, we help ourselves. In helping ourselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/we-come-to-realize-that-other-people-s-welfare-is-just-as-important/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [My parents are the people that led me here. My mom helped me learn to sing and she travels with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-jones/my-parents-are-the-people-that-led-me-here-my-mom-helped-me-learn-to/) [Coco Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-jones/) > [My mom helped me. I was very shy growing up, but my shyness sort of manifested in a big personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/my-mom-helped-me-i-was-very-shy-growing-up-but-my-shyness-sort-of/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) ## More by A'ja Wilson > [There are so many standards that people want you to meet, but you're never going to meet them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/there-are-so-many-standards-that-people-want-you-to-meet-but-you-re/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [Due to my collegiate accolades, it was a goal but it was something that I kinda had at the back of my head that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/due-to-my-collegiate-accolades-it-was-a-goal-but-it-was-something/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [I come from teams where they expect me to do a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/i-come-from-teams-where-they-expect-me-to-do-a-lot/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [Scouting, man, it's so different up here in the W. Because in college, we'd have all of this time between games. So we'd spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/scouting-man-it-s-so-different-up-here-in-the-w-because-in-college-we/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [My dad had always encouraged me to play basketball, he didn't push me too much at first - he wanted me to try out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/my-dad-had-always-encouraged-me-to-play-basketball-he-didn-t-push-me/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [As Black women, there's so much pressure on us to be everything to everyone. We're expected to wear so many different hats, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/as-black-women-there-s-so-much-pressure-on-us-to-be-everything-to/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [If you would have asked me when I was 16 would I play in the WNBA, I probably would have laughed in your face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/if-you-would-have-asked-me-when-i-was-16-would-i-play-in-the-wnba-i/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [Mary J. Blige and 2000s R&B, I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/mary-j-blige-and-2000s-r-b-i-love-it/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [You could ask any of my closest friends - they know I'm going to speak what's on my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/you-could-ask-any-of-my-closest-friends-they-know-i-m-going-to-speak/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [During my rookie year, my parents always talked about me needing vegetables. I was like, 'I'm not a cook. I'm not a chef. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/during-my-rookie-year-my-parents-always-talked-about-me-needing/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [Proving the haters wrong is fun, and you're able to play freely when there aren't expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/proving-the-haters-wrong-is-fun-and-you-re-able-to-play-freely-when/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [I'm trying to use my voice to bring people together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/i-m-trying-to-use-my-voice-to-bring-people-together/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [I love candles, they help me relax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/i-love-candles-they-help-me-relax/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [I was a really weird kid. My head was huge. I had a skinny body, long arms. My kneecaps were oddly big. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/i-was-a-really-weird-kid-my-head-was-huge-i-had-a-skinny-body-long/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [Yes, you see me in a uniform. Yes, you can see the banners, the trophies and the rings. But behind all that, I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/yes-you-see-me-in-a-uniform-yes-you-can-see-the-banners-the-trophies/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) [Explore all 98 A'ja Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Over the years, Coach Staley has become like my second mom. 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