--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Coach Mike Brey at Notre Dame was…" description: "\"When Coach Mike Brey at Notre Dame was recruiting me, he was like, 'There will be Irish on the front of the jersey; and Irish on the back of the jersey..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/pat-connaughton-6509_back_when-coach-mike-brey-at-notre-dame-was-r_615938.jpg" --- # When Coach Mike Brey at Notre Dame was recruiting me, he… ![“When Coach Mike Brey at Notre Dame was recruiting me, he was like, 'There will be Irish on the front of the jersey; and Irish on the back of the jersey.' But no one actually knows I am a citizen over there.” quote by Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/pat-connaughton-6509_back_when-coach-mike-brey-at-notre-dame-was-r_615938.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/pat-connaughton-6509_back_when-coach-mike-brey-at-notre-dame-was-r_615938.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/pat-connaughton-6509_back_when-coach-mike-brey-at-notre-dame-was-r_615938.jpg) > “When Coach Mike Brey at Notre Dame was recruiting me, he was like, 'There will be Irish on the front of the jersey; and Irish on the back of the jersey.' But no one actually knows I am a citizen over there.” [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker humorously notes that his Irish heritage is ambiguous despite a recruiter’s comment about Irish identity on a jersey. **In simple terms:** Irish identity is unclear despite assumptions. Key Takeaway Embrace your unique background. Themes identity heritage humor Mood playful reflective Type anecdotal humorous When to use this quote - sports recruitment - personal branding - team dynamics Key Concepts cultural perception self‑identification Questions to Reflect On - How do you define your own identity? - What assumptions do others make about you? A Different Perspective Assuming heritage can lead to misrepresentation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach/) [Irish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irish/) [Notre dame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notre-dame/) ## Related quotes > [“I think being a woman is like being Irish... Everyone says you're important and nice, but you take second place all the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/i-think-being-a-woman-is-like-being-irish-everyone-says-you-re/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [For me, being Catholic was who I was and who I am, just like I'm Irish and Slovak. It's just so ingrained in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-brett/for-me-being-catholic-was-who-i-was-and-who-i-am-just-like-i-m-irish/) [Regina Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-brett/) > [I said that when I looked at photographs of the firefighters who went into the Twin Towers, their faces looked to me like Irish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-toibin/i-said-that-when-i-looked-at-photographs-of-the-firefighters-who-went/) [Colm Toibin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-toibin/) > [Being the U.S. champion is a big deal for me. Knowing that my ancestors built this country, it's kind of like, the Irish were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheamus/being-the-u-s-champion-is-a-big-deal-for-me-knowing-that-my-ancestors/) [Sheamus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheamus/) > [There is no language like the Irish for soothing and quieting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-millington-synge/there-is-no-language-like-the-irish-for-soothing-and-quieting/) [John Millington Synge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-millington-synge/) > [Why do we like being Irish? Partly because It gives us a hold on the sentimental English As members of a world that never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-macneice/why-do-we-like-being-irish-partly-because-it-gives-us-a-hold-on-the/) [Louis MacNeice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-macneice/) > [For me, it was my dream as a kid to play two sports at the highest level I possibly could. Doing that at Notre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/for-me-it-was-my-dream-as-a-kid-to-play-two-sports-at-the-highest/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [Notre Dame was the first school to offer me basketball-wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/notre-dame-was-the-first-school-to-offer-me-basketball-wise/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [We were able to change the mold of the regular season for Notre Dame basketball, so we thought, 'Why can't we do it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/we-were-able-to-change-the-mold-of-the-regular-season-for-notre-dame/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [The one thing I try to do with my business in real estate is try to be as creative as I can, think outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/the-one-thing-i-try-to-do-with-my-business-in-real-estate-is-try-to/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [I graduated from Notre Dame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/i-graduated-from-notre-dame/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [I was a 52-year-old coach. But people don't realize I had 25 years as a head coach. Most coaches my age only had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-was-a-52-year-old-coach-but-people-don-t-realize-i-had-25-years-as/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [When I left the University of Notre Dame, I honestly felt I would never coach again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/when-i-left-the-university-of-notre-dame-i-honestly-felt-i-would/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [like any Irish mother, I am scar tissue to the bone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-stone/like-any-irish-mother-i-am-scar-tissue-to-the-bone/) [Jennifer Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-stone/) > [I've been typecast. People don't want to take a risk or a chance. Quite a few times they've come up to me and say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/i-ve-been-typecast-people-don-t-want-to-take-a-risk-or-a-chance-quite/) [Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/) ## More by Pat Connaughton > [I don't think I've hid the fact that I like being Milwaukee Buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/i-don-t-think-i-ve-hid-the-fact-that-i-like-being-milwaukee-buck/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [I want to see if I can play in the Big East, ACC, Pac-10, and pitch, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/i-want-to-see-if-i-can-play-in-the-big-east-acc-pac-10-and-pitch-too/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [I've always enjoyed the fact that a lot of people didn't have that much confidence in what I could do because I enjoy proving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/i-ve-always-enjoyed-the-fact-that-a-lot-of-people-didn-t-have-that/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [In today's day and age, where so many kids are taught to specialize so early, I want to show them you don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/in-today-s-day-and-age-where-so-many-kids-are-taught-to-specialize-so/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [I drank a lot of milk as a kid so maybe I can get on a 'Got Milk?' commercial at some point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/i-drank-a-lot-of-milk-as-a-kid-so-maybe-i-can-get-on-a-got-milk/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [I'm in a fortunate position where real estate isn't my full-time job, but I have an extreme passion in the field, so as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/i-m-in-a-fortunate-position-where-real-estate-isn-t-my-full-time-job/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [You know, if I cleaned out my backpack, which I don't really use anymore, I'd find a bunch of beads. I have a bunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/you-know-if-i-cleaned-out-my-backpack-which-i-don-t-really-use/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [If you would have told me when I was a kid that I would be sitting here with an ACC championship and been drafted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/if-you-would-have-told-me-when-i-was-a-kid-that-i-would-be-sitting/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [Basketball has always really helped me physically for baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/basketball-has-always-really-helped-me-physically-for-baseball/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [Sometimes I'll read a book before bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/sometimes-i-ll-read-a-book-before-bed/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [As NBA players, so much of the game is mental, as far as confidence and playing against the best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/as-nba-players-so-much-of-the-game-is-mental-as-far-as-confidence-and/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [For whatever the reasons may be, a lot of teams try to target me as a defender from a standpoint of assuming I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/for-whatever-the-reasons-may-be-a-lot-of-teams-try-to-target-me-as-a/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [The love of basketball, the time and effort I've put into it - I'd be doing a disservice to myself if I didn't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/the-love-of-basketball-the-time-and-effort-i-ve-put-into-it-i-d-be/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [I've done it before where I get guys banging their bat on the ground after their second or third at-bat because you just have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/i-ve-done-it-before-where-i-get-guys-banging-their-bat-on-the-ground/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [You don't want to be playing 36 holes on the day before a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/you-don-t-want-to-be-playing-36-holes-on-the-day-before-a-game/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) [Explore all 99 Pat Connaughton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) ## More Back quotes > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. 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So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/) [Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/) > [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/) > [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/) [Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. 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