--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You don't win games as a coach during…" description: "\"You don't win games as a coach during games. You win games as a coach before games. Players win during games, not coaches\" — 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" --- # You don't win games as a coach during games. You win games… ![“You don't win games as a coach during games. You win games as a coach before games. Players win during games, not coaches” quote by Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a98/red-auerbach-14429_basketball_you-don-t-win-games-as-a-coach-during-ga_877975.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a98/red-auerbach-14429_basketball_you-don-t-win-games-as-a-coach-during-ga_877975.jpg) [Open 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 coaches” [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success is built in preparation, not just execution; coaches must shape teams before competition. **In simple terms:** Winning is prepared, not just played. Key Takeaway Focus on preparation and culture. Themes leadership preparation team dynamics Mood determined strategic Type motivational instructional When to use this quote - pre‑season training - team meetings - player development - scouting Key Concepts strategic planning culture building Questions to Reflect On - How do you embed winning habits before a game? - What preparation habits most influence performance? A Different Perspective Preparation alone cannot guarantee victory without adaptability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [NBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba/) [Playoff games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playoff-games/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [The more games you coach, the more comfortable you feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-brooks/the-more-games-you-coach-the-more-comfortable-you-feel/) [Scott Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-brooks/) > [Players win games, and coaches win players,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/players-win-games-and-coaches-win-players/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [Coaching doesn’t start with X’s and O’s. 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We don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/americans-have-become-conditioned-to-believe-the-world-is-a-gray/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [I've been involved in over 300 playoff games in my playing, assistant coaching and head-coaching career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-carlisle/i-ve-been-involved-in-over-300-playoff-games-in-my-playing-assistant/) [Rick Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-carlisle/) > [The more playoff games and Super Bowls and things of that nature that you're in obviously is going to build your portfolio and raise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-fitzgerald/the-more-playoff-games-and-super-bowls-and-things-of-that-nature-that/) [Larry Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-fitzgerald/) > [What I meant by that is, any time you have adversity, now you've got a chance to see all of these guys play every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-shanahan/what-i-meant-by-that-is-any-time-you-have-adversity-now-you-ve-got-a/) [Mike Shanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-shanahan/) ## 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. 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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/) > [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. 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You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. 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And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [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/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. 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