--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never thought I'd end up coaching. It…" description: "\"I never thought I'd end up coaching. It wasn't the plan.\" — Jill Ellis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bc/jill-ellis-6642_coaching_i-never-thought-i-d-end-up-coaching-it-w_3073787.jpg" --- # I never thought I'd end up coaching. It wasn't the plan. ![“I never thought I'd end up coaching. It wasn't the plan.” quote by Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bc/jill-ellis-6642_coaching_i-never-thought-i-d-end-up-coaching-it-w_3073787.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bc/jill-ellis-6642_coaching_i-never-thought-i-d-end-up-coaching-it-w_3073787.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bc/jill-ellis-6642_coaching_i-never-thought-i-d-end-up-coaching-it-w_3073787.jpg) > “I never thought I'd end up coaching. It wasn't the plan.” [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpected career paths can lead to rewarding roles despite original plans. **In simple terms:** Life takes unexpected turns. Key Takeaway Embrace new opportunities. Themes career adaptability growth leadership Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational career When to use this quote - sports coaching - career counseling - mentorship - life planning Key Concepts career pivots coaching personal development Questions to Reflect On - What skills can you develop to thrive in an unexpected role? - How do you reframe setbacks as opportunities? A Different Perspective Coaching may require skills you haven't yet developed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching/) [Coaching Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching-wasn-603891/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [End Coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-coaching-3512048/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plan/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Wasn Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasn-plan-1956086/) ## Related quotes > [When I was coaching, I wasn't worried about what I was making. I was worried about winning a championship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cowher/when-i-was-coaching-i-wasn-t-worried-about-what-i-was-making-i-was/) [Bill Cowher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cowher/) > [I didn't want to end my coaching career as an assistant in the NBA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-sampson/i-didn-t-want-to-end-my-coaching-career-as-an-assistant-in-the-nba/) [Kelvin Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-sampson/) > [I thought 2013 was the end of my coaching career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/i-thought-2013-was-the-end-of-my-coaching-career/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [“It wasn’t part of my plan, that’s for sure,” says Peeta with a frown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-wasn-t-part-of-my-plan-that-s-for-sure-says-peeta-with-a-frown/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [When I started at NBC, I'm quite sure there wasn't a plan or initiative that we need to make sure the girls are anchoring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/when-i-started-at-nbc-i-m-quite-sure-there-wasn-t-a-plan-or/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [“It wasn't much of a plan, and already there had been mistakes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/it-wasn-t-much-of-a-plan-and-already-there-had-been-mistakes/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [You have to remember that coaching wasn't sophisticated back then - you didn't have the camps, clinics and all the technical advances that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-cousy/you-have-to-remember-that-coaching-wasn-t-sophisticated-back-then-you/) [Bob Cousy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-cousy/) > [Back in the day I said in an interview coaching wasn't Arsene's strong point. Actually in the original draft, I said he couldn't coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-adams/back-in-the-day-i-said-in-an-interview-coaching-wasn-t-arsene-s/) [Tony Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-adams/) > [Back in the day I said in an interview coaching wasn't Arsene's strong point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-adams/back-in-the-day-i-said-in-an-interview-coaching-wasn-t-arsene-s-2/) [Tony Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-adams/) > [What soccer and coaching gave me was sort of a stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/what-soccer-and-coaching-gave-me-was-sort-of-a-stage/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [I went into coaching never worrying about what I was coaching for other than trying to make sure that I can prepare my team,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/i-went-into-coaching-never-worrying-about-what-i-was-coaching-for/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [Coaches understand that pressure is part of the rush of coaching. The challenge of trying to outplay your opponent is part of the fun,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/coaches-understand-that-pressure-is-part-of-the-rush-of-coaching-the/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [it's never been a plan to have this or that. It's just where I am in my life, at that time, and where my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-gigandet/it-s-never-been-a-plan-to-have-this-or-that-it-s-just-where-i-am-in/) [Cam Gigandet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-gigandet/) > [When we shipped 'Borderlands 2,' we didn't ship it with a plan of how the level cap was going to increase. We didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pitchford/when-we-shipped-borderlands-2-we-didn-t-ship-it-with-a-plan-of-how/) [Randy Pitchford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pitchford/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) ## More by Jill Ellis > [What I know about Ali Krieger is no moment is ever going to be too big for her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/what-i-know-about-ali-krieger-is-no-moment-is-ever-going-to-be-too/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [We've got to make sure we have players that can break teams down because there's no space in behind; we need to problem-solve in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/we-ve-got-to-make-sure-we-have-players-that-can-break-teams-down/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [We have to get to a point in this country where our top players are seeking out the most challenging environments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/we-have-to-get-to-a-point-in-this-country-where-our-top-players-are/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [The players come out and want to be as fresh as they can, press, keep a team in their end, create chances, create set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/the-players-come-out-and-want-to-be-as-fresh-as-they-can-press-keep-a/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [If a team has multiple looks, it's so hard to stand in front of your team and say, 'This is the scouting report. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/if-a-team-has-multiple-looks-it-s-so-hard-to-stand-in-front-of-your/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [Little things that I've emphasized are turning in pockets and looking to penetrate and finding these spaces and playing at a good tempo when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/little-things-that-i-ve-emphasized-are-turning-in-pockets-and-looking/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [I think people get hung up on starters and 11s, and that number kind of rings through a lot of media's heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/i-think-people-get-hung-up-on-starters-and-11s-and-that-number-kind/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [My job is to bring in players I think can help this team, regardless of where they're playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/my-job-is-to-bring-in-players-i-think-can-help-this-team-regardless/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [Coaches understand that pressure is part of the rush of coaching. The challenge of trying to outplay your opponent is part of the fun,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/coaches-understand-that-pressure-is-part-of-the-rush-of-coaching-the/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [I always want to know about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/i-always-want-to-know-about-things/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [It's incumbent on you to play games outside your region that will really test you. That's important to keep your edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/it-s-incumbent-on-you-to-play-games-outside-your-region-that-will/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [Many people say, 'Your dad was so ahead of his time,' and he was a feminist in the truest sense, but he's very much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/many-people-say-your-dad-was-so-ahead-of-his-time-and-he-was-a/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [You've got to make sure you're listening to the people that are important to listen to. And then everything else, you kind of have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/you-ve-got-to-make-sure-you-re-listening-to-the-people-that-are/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [I had zero opportunity to play football over the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/i-had-zero-opportunity-to-play-football-over-the-years/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) > [It's fascinating to me how they build bridges or tunnels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/it-s-fascinating-to-me-how-they-build-bridges-or-tunnels/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) [Explore all 98 Jill Ellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) ## 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": "I never thought I'd end up coaching. 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