--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first started coaching, one of the…" description: "\"When I first started coaching, one of the worst things that I think I heard was 'It will be O.K.' I would wonder, 'How the hell is it going to be O.K.?..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/bobby-knight-2680_coaching_when-i-first-started-coaching-one-of-the_1932163.jpg" --- # When I first started coaching, one of the worst things… ![“When I first started coaching, one of the worst things that I think I heard was 'It will be O.K.' I would wonder, 'How the hell is it going to be O.K.?' The worst word in the English language is 'hope.'” quote by Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/bobby-knight-2680_coaching_when-i-first-started-coaching-one-of-the_1932163.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/bobby-knight-2680_coaching_when-i-first-started-coaching-one-of-the_1932163.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15f/bobby-knight-2680_coaching_when-i-first-started-coaching-one-of-the_1932163.jpg) > “When I first started coaching, one of the worst things that I think I heard was 'It will be O.K.' I would wonder, 'How the hell is it going to be O.K.?' The worst word in the English language is 'hope.'” [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Empty reassurance can be harmful; true hope requires actionable plans and realistic expectations. **In simple terms:** Blind hope can be dangerous. Key Takeaway Seek concrete solutions. Themes hope reassurance coaching Mood critical motivational Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - team leadership - personal development - crisis management Key Concepts psychology motivation Questions to Reflect On - What concrete steps replace empty reassurance? - How can you balance optimism with realism? A Different Perspective Hope without action may breed complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching/) [Coaching Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching-worst-3029989/) [English language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-language/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Language Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-hope-960276/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) [Worst things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-things/) [Worst Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-word-1625133/) ## Related quotes > [Over coaching is the worst thing you can do to a player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/over-coaching-is-the-worst-thing-you-can-do-to-a-player/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [The most important word in the English language is hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/the-most-important-word-in-the-english-language-is-hope/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Should, is the worst word in the English language. People always think things "should" be a certain way, and when they're not, they're disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/should-is-the-worst-word-in-the-english-language-people-always-think/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“Your religion of origin has such a bone-deep hold on you that, as with a native language, it's your only hope for true religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lindbeck/your-religion-of-origin-has-such-a-bone-deep-hold-on-you-that-as-with/) [George Lindbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lindbeck/) > [“Should," I suddenly recal myself saying to Samantha and Miranda, "is the worst word in the English language. People always thing thing 'should' be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/should-i-suddenly-recal-myself-saying-to-samantha-and-miranda-is-the/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“You know what sucks about sorry? It's the worst word in the world. Because it always happens after you fuck up something good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/you-know-what-sucks-about-sorry-it-s-the-worst-word-in-the-world/) [Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/) > [Fake is, like, the worst word you could possibly use to describe anything, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rollins/fake-is-like-the-worst-word-you-could-possibly-use-to-describe/) [Seth Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rollins/) > [“Can't is the worst word that's written or spoken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-a-guest/can-t-is-the-worst-word-that-s-written-or-spoken/) [Edgar A. Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-a-guest/) > [Nice is the worst word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/nice-is-the-worst-word/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [“Friend is the worst word you can hear when professing your love to someone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-eulberg/friend-is-the-worst-word-you-can-hear-when-professing-your-love-to/) [Elizabeth Eulberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-eulberg/) > [The single most important aspect of coaching is running effective practices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/the-single-most-important-aspect-of-coaching-is-running-effective/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [Offense at Indiana is not equal opportunity. Those players who shoot best are going to shoot most. It is important that every player know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/offense-at-indiana-is-not-equal-opportunity-those-players-who-shoot/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [There are as many guys in coaching who do a lousy job as there are in the media. Those are two professions that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/there-are-as-many-guys-in-coaching-who-do-a-lousy-job-as-there-are-in/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [Worst thing in the world? John is completely out of it. Good luck, ladies. He's a freak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/worst-thing-in-the-world-john-is-completely-out-of-it-good-luck/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) ## More by Bobby Knight > [I also believe that when something negative comes out about you in the media, that's only one person's opinion. These guys sometimes believe they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/i-also-believe-that-when-something-negative-comes-out-about-you-in/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [My overall point is that 'one and dones' are not healthy for college basketball. I should not have made it personal to Kentucky and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/my-overall-point-is-that-one-and-dones-are-not-healthy-for-college/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [There are as many guys in coaching who do a lousy job as there are in the media. Those are two professions that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/there-are-as-many-guys-in-coaching-who-do-a-lousy-job-as-there-are-in/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [The goal is to make practice more difficult, physically/mentally, than anything your players will face during a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/the-goal-is-to-make-practice-more-difficult-physically-mentally-than/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [My practices were not set up to be easy or enjoyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/my-practices-were-not-set-up-to-be-easy-or-enjoyed/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [The key is not the will to win... everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/the-key-is-not-the-will-to-win-everybody-has-that-it-is-the-will-to/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [I've always felt that, you know, the Almighty has a lot of things to do other than help my basketball team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/i-ve-always-felt-that-you-know-the-almighty-has-a-lot-of-things-to-do/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [To me, the most enjoyable part is the practice and preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/to-me-the-most-enjoyable-part-is-the-practice-and-preparation/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [Good planning avoids the need for fixing up a project that plowed ahead without thought... about potential pitfalls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/good-planning-avoids-the-need-for-fixing-up-a-project-that-plowed/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [Victory favors the team making the fewest mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/victory-favors-the-team-making-the-fewest-mistakes/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [Everybody wants to be on a championship team, but nobody wants to come to practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/everybody-wants-to-be-on-a-championship-team-but-nobody-wants-to-come/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [Basketball is a full court game, so every drill must be done full court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/basketball-is-a-full-court-game-so-every-drill-must-be-done-full-court/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [Pat has been instrumental in what we've done here so far and the most selfish thing for me is that I want to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/pat-has-been-instrumental-in-what-we-ve-done-here-so-far-and-the-most/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [Everybody hears, but few listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/everybody-hears-but-few-listen/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [Defense is all about helping. No one can guard a good dribbler, You have to walk kids through how to help and then how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/defense-is-all-about-helping-no-one-can-guard-a-good-dribbler-you/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) [Explore all 155 Bobby Knight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) ## More Coaching quotes > [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/) > [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [Coaching Netherlands remains one of my ambitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/coaching-netherlands-remains-one-of-my-ambitions/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [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/) > [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/) > [There's not one year to the next that you don't go through a number of changes, whether it's personnel, whether it's coaching, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/there-s-not-one-year-to-the-next-that-you-don-t-go-through-a-number/) [Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/) > [It's not that easy for some of these players in China to get the coaching they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chang/it-s-not-that-easy-for-some-of-these-players-in-china-to-get-the/) [Michael Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chang/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [You never want to go through a coaching change mid-cycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/you-never-want-to-go-through-a-coaching-change-mid-cycle/) [Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/) > [I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would have my very own school - no way. And I had no idea I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liang-chow/i-never-thought-in-my-wildest-dreams-that-i-would-have-my-very-own/) [Liang Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liang-chow/) > [The only thing I pay attention to with free throws is what a guy does in the final four minutes of a game. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calipari/the-only-thing-i-pay-attention-to-with-free-throws-is-what-a-guy-does/) [John Calipari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calipari/) > [Set goals - high goals for you and your organization. When your organization has a goal to shoot for, you create teamwork, people working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/set-goals-high-goals-for-you-and-your-organization-when-your/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [From a player's standpoint, it's on you to make sure that you're watching the film, you're doing everything during the week necessary to improve,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kelce/from-a-player-s-standpoint-it-s-on-you-to-make-sure-that-you-re/) [Jason Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kelce/) > [For most of the projects I've worked on, I've been entrusted with some degree of musical responsibility, even if it's just like coaching for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-robbins/for-most-of-the-projects-i-ve-worked-on-i-ve-been-entrusted-with-some/) [J. Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-robbins/) > [Coaching is very complex: it's like a puzzle, and many things need to come together to make it work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-wawrinka/coaching-is-very-complex-it-s-like-a-puzzle-and-many-things-need-to/) [Stan Wawrinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-wawrinka/) [Browse all 1,416 Coaching quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I first started coaching, one of the worst things that I think I heard was 'It will be O.K.' I would wonder, 'How the hell is it going to be O.K.?' 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