---
title: "8 Coaches Quotes By Red Auerbach"
description: "8 Coaches quotes by Red Auerbach. Plus more from Red Auerbach and more Coaches sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a98/red-auerbach-14429_basketball_you-don-t-win-games-as-a-coach-during-ga_877975.jpg"
---

> [You don't win games as a coach during games. You win games as a coach before games. Players win during games, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/you-don-t-win-games-as-a-coach-during-games-you-win-games-as-a-coach/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a98/red-auerbach-14429_basketball_you-don-t-win-games-as-a-coach-during-ga_877975.jpg)

> [The coach should be the absolute boss, but he still should maintain an open mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/the-coach-should-be-the-absolute-boss-but-he-still-should-maintain-an/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/red-auerbach-14429_absolutes_the-coach-should-be-the-absolute-boss-bu_941341.jpg)

> [When players are used to winning, they put out a little more. Basketball 3rd winningest coach (regular season and playoffs) in NBA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/when-players-are-used-to-winning-they-put-out-a-little-more/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/red-auerbach-14429_basketball_when-players-are-used-to-winning-they-pu_1639201.jpg)

> [To be a successful coach you should be and look prepared. You must be a man of integrity. Never break your word.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/to-be-a-successful-coach-you-should-be-and-look-prepared-you-must-be/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cda/red-auerbach-14429_and-off_to-be-a-successful-coach-you-should-be-a_2103445.jpg)

> [Strategy is something anyone can learn. But not all coaches take the time to understand a man's personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/strategy-is-something-anyone-can-learn-but-not-all-coaches-take-the/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/red-auerbach-14429_coaches_strategy-is-something-anyone-can-learn-b_2138071.jpg)

> [The most important thing in coaching is communication. It's not what you say as much as what they absorb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/the-most-important-thing-in-coaching-is-communication-it-s-not-what/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/red-auerbach-14429_absorbing_the-most-important-thing-in-coaching-is_2530370.jpg)

> [Any coach needs talent. You start with talent. Without talent, we're all in the soup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/any-coach-needs-talent-you-start-with-talent-without-talent-we-re-all/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/656/red-auerbach-14429_coaches_any-coach-needs-talent-you-start-with-ta_2546426.jpg)

> [If I'm going to coach the players, I want some say on who they're going to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/if-i-m-going-to-coach-the-players-i-want-some-say-on-who-they-re/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/red-auerbach-14429_coach_if-i-m-going-to-coach-the-players-i-want_3082596.jpg)

## Other authors on Coaches

## More by Red Auerbach

> [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [The best way to forget ones self is to look at the world with attention and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/the-best-way-to-forget-ones-self-is-to-look-at-the-world-with/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [“Who could better motivate Bill Russell than Bill Russell?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/who-could-better-motivate-bill-russell-than-bill-russell/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [I've turned down a lot of trades where I might have gotten a better player, but I wasn't totally sure of the chemistry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/i-ve-turned-down-a-lot-of-trades-where-i-might-have-gotten-a-better/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [Many, many times, the kids with the less talent become the better athletes because they're more dedicated to achieving their full potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/many-many-times-the-kids-with-the-less-talent-become-the-better/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [Just do what you do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/just-do-what-you-do-best/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [Take pride in what you do. The kind of pride I'm talking about is not the arrogant puffed-up kind; it's just the whole idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/take-pride-in-what-you-do-the-kind-of-pride-i-m-talking-about-is-not/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [Everyone is born with a certain potential. You may never achieve your full potential, but how close you come depends on how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/everyone-is-born-with-a-certain-potential-you-may-never-achieve-your/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [To a father, when a child dies, the future dies; to a child when a parent dies, the past dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/to-a-father-when-a-child-dies-the-future-dies-to-a-child-when-a/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [You see, in sports you have so many things that aren't expected. There's so much uncertainty. So when players find themselves in a situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/you-see-in-sports-you-have-so-many-things-that-aren-t-expected-there/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [You don't win games as a coach during games. You win games as a coach before games. Players win during games, not coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/you-don-t-win-games-as-a-coach-during-games-you-win-games-as-a-coach/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [When business is good it pays to advertise; when it is bad you have got to advertise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/when-business-is-good-it-pays-to-advertise-when-it-is-bad-you-have/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [The coach should be the absolute boss, but he still should maintain an open mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/the-coach-should-be-the-absolute-boss-but-he-still-should-maintain-an/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [You handle animals. You deal with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/you-handle-animals-you-deal-with-people/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

> [It's not what you tell your players that counts. It's what they hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/it-s-not-what-you-tell-your-players-that-counts-it-s-what-they-hear/)

[Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/)

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