---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I'd watch myself coaching, I'd say…"
description: "\"When I'd watch myself coaching, I'd say, 'Man, I look bad,' but I never felt I didn't have a sense of humor with the team. Maybe I was too over-the-top..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5f/jeff-van-gundy-4113_bad_when-i-d-watch-myself-coaching-i-d-say-m_1149519.png"
---

#  When I'd watch myself coaching, I'd say, 'Man, I look…

![“When I'd watch myself coaching, I'd say, 'Man, I look bad,' but I never felt I didn't have a sense of humor with the team. Maybe I was too over-the-top serious.” quote by Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5f/jeff-van-gundy-4113_bad_when-i-d-watch-myself-coaching-i-d-say-m_1149519.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5f/jeff-van-gundy-4113_bad_when-i-d-watch-myself-coaching-i-d-say-m_1149519.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5f/jeff-van-gundy-4113_bad_when-i-d-watch-myself-coaching-i-d-say-m_1149519.png)

> “When I'd watch myself coaching, I'd say, 'Man, I look bad,' but I never felt I didn't have a sense of humor with the team. Maybe I was too over-the-top serious.”

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Self‑critique reveals tension between performance anxiety and team humor, highlighting the need for balanced confidence.

**In simple terms:** I notice my flaws but keep humor with teammates.

Key Takeaway

Balance seriousness with levity.

Themes

self‑awareness team dynamics confidence

Mood

reflective lighthearted

Type

motivational self‑reflection

When to use this quote

- coaching sessions
- team meetings
- public speaking
- self‑review

Key Concepts

psychology leadership humor

Questions to Reflect On

- How does humor affect team trust?
- When is seriousness more effective?

A Different Perspective

May over‑emphasis on humor undermine authority.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Sense of humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humor/)

## Related quotes

> [I think if you're going to be a little bit innovative or risk-taking, sometimes you're going to be wrong, and it's going to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nurse/i-think-if-you-re-going-to-be-a-little-bit-innovative-or-risk-taking/)

[Nick Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nurse/)

> [“Mildred sat quite still, and when she heard Veda drive off she was consumed by a fury so cold that it almost seemed as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/mildred-sat-quite-still-and-when-she-heard-veda-drive-off-she-was/)

[James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/)

> [I got to a point when I was 20 that I dropped out of university because I felt I didn't have any purpose, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/i-got-to-a-point-when-i-was-20-that-i-dropped-out-of-university/)

[Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/)

> [I felt that I didn't want to be in show business anymore. I felt that I wanted to be a farmer. I was milking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-hines/i-felt-that-i-didn-t-want-to-be-in-show-business-anymore-i-felt-that/)

[Gregory Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-hines/)

> [“Sometimes life just did things, he felt, and they didn't have to make sense. It helped when they did, and often the sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-p-knave/sometimes-life-just-did-things-he-felt-and-they-didn-t-have-to-make/)

[Adam P. Knave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-p-knave/)

> [“Sometimes I wore smiles but didn’t feel them. Sometimes I felt them and didn’t wear them. I didn’t want her to know how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-wore-smiles-but-didn-t-feel-them-sometimes-i-felt-them/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> ['Waldo' was one episode I always felt I didn't quite crack. And weirdly, now that feels like one of the more prescient ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/waldo-was-one-episode-i-always-felt-i-didn-t-quite-crack-and-weirdly/)

[Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/)

> [I grew up an only child, and I always felt as if I didn't fit in. In middle school, in grammar school, and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanice-williams/i-grew-up-an-only-child-and-i-always-felt-as-if-i-didn-t-fit-in-in/)

[Shanice Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shanice-williams/)

> ['Cause I felt I didn't have anything else to prove as a musician... and boy was I wrong about that one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-allen/cause-i-felt-i-didn-t-have-anything-else-to-prove-as-a-musician-and/)

[Rick Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-allen/)

> [“Sidda looked like she could not have been born from my body. This was the first time I ever felt that she was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-wells/sidda-looked-like-she-could-not-have-been-born-from-my-body-this-was/)

[Rebecca Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-wells/)

> [I had horrible moment at the end of a very successful day, where I realized I just felt nothing about it and I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-povenmire/i-had-horrible-moment-at-the-end-of-a-very-successful-day-where-i/)

[Dan Povenmire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-povenmire/)

> [Only once have I taken on a role where I felt that I didn't quite understand her, but I said yes anyway. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-anderson/only-once-have-i-taken-on-a-role-where-i-felt-that-i-didn-t-quite/)

[Gillian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-anderson/)

> [“I loved them, and would always love them. But there was no place where they could fit anymore, so I had nowhere to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-loved-them-and-would-always-love-them-but-there-was-no-place-where/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [It was only literally hours after the wedding when he felt he didn't have to keep up the facade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-goddard/it-was-only-literally-hours-after-the-wedding-when-he-felt-he-didn-t/)

[Trisha Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-goddard/)

> [I've never felt as though I didn't belong, I just acted as though I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-ve-never-felt-as-though-i-didn-t-belong-i-just-acted-as-though-i-did/)

[Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/)

## More by Jeff Van Gundy

> [Often, organizations don't know how good they have it with a player or coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/often-organizations-don-t-know-how-good-they-have-it-with-a-player-or/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [Dwight Howard is a Hall of Fame player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/dwight-howard-is-a-hall-of-fame-player/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [You start comparing people, and ultimately, somebody feels diminished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/you-start-comparing-people-and-ultimately-somebody-feels-diminished/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [I miss coaching - certain elements of coaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/i-miss-coaching-certain-elements-of-coaching/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [To be successful in anything, you have to have a passion for it, and that leads to being enthusiastic and demanding. I didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/to-be-successful-in-anything-you-have-to-have-a-passion-for-it-and/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [If your best offensive players go down, all you can do is hang on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/if-your-best-offensive-players-go-down-all-you-can-do-is-hang-on/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [The beauty of growing up in a coaching family, particularly one that isn't at the very highest level, is that you get to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/the-beauty-of-growing-up-in-a-coaching-family-particularly-one-that/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [Goaltending was brought in because of Mikan and Chamberlain. So rules do change for specific players, in concert with a need to stay up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/goaltending-was-brought-in-because-of-mikan-and-chamberlain-so-rules/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [Manu Ginobili - I like to watch him. I would pay to watch him play the game. He will try things that will drive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/manu-ginobili-i-like-to-watch-him-i-would-pay-to-watch-him-play-the/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [Shooting percentage is just as much about decision making as it is about technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/shooting-percentage-is-just-as-much-about-decision-making-as-it-is/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [When you know better and you don't do better, you're no better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/when-you-know-better-and-you-don-t-do-better-you-re-no-better/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [In one era, it's hard enough to compare people. But comparing people of different eras... that's next to impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/in-one-era-it-s-hard-enough-to-compare-people-but-comparing-people-of/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [Systems are overrated; players are underrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/systems-are-overrated-players-are-underrated/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [Just concentrate on what you're supposed to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/just-concentrate-on-what-you-re-supposed-to-do/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [I love listening to Coach Belichick's press conferences: even though they may not be what the media wants, they're great coaching, teaching tools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/i-love-listening-to-coach-belichick-s-press-conferences-even-though/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

[Explore all 116 Jeff Van Gundy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

## More Bad quotes

> [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/)

[Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/)

> [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/)

[Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/)

> [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/)

[Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/)

> [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/)

[Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/)

> [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/)

[Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/)

[Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/)

> [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/)

[Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/)

> [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/)

[Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/)

> [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/)

[Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/)

> [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/)

[Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/)

> [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/)

[David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/)

> [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/)

[Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/)

> [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/)

[Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/)

Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I'd watch myself coaching, I'd say, 'Man, I look bad,' but I never felt I didn't have a sense of humor with the team. Maybe I was too over-the-top serious.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jeff Van Gundy"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/when-i-d-watch-myself-coaching-i-d-say-man-i-look-bad-but-i-never/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bad"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/when-i-d-watch-myself-coaching-i-d-say-man-i-look-bad-but-i-never/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5f/jeff-van-gundy-4113_bad_when-i-d-watch-myself-coaching-i-d-say-m_1149519.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5f/jeff-van-gundy-4113_bad_when-i-d-watch-myself-coaching-i-d-say-m_1149519.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5f/jeff-van-gundy-4113_bad_when-i-d-watch-myself-coaching-i-d-say-m_1149519.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I'd watch myself coaching, I'd say, 'Man, I look bad,' but I never felt I didn't have a sense of humor…” — Jeff Van Gundy",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jeff Van Gundy",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I'd watch myself coaching, I'd...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/when-i-d-watch-myself-coaching-i-d-say-man-i-look-bad-but-i-never/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/when-i-d-watch-myself-coaching-i-d-say-man-i-look-bad-but-i-never/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
