--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I put myself around good people…" description: "\"I put myself around good people, including my assistant coaches. A lot of head coaches are intimidated by their assistant coaches, they'd rather get pe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/tony-dicicco-26810_assistant-coaches_i-put-myself-around-good-people-includin_1679574.png" --- # I put myself around good people, including my assistant… ![“I put myself around good people, including my assistant coaches. A lot of head coaches are intimidated by their assistant coaches, they'd rather get people that are far less talented than them because it's not threatening.” quote by Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/tony-dicicco-26810_assistant-coaches_i-put-myself-around-good-people-includin_1679574.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/tony-dicicco-26810_assistant-coaches_i-put-myself-around-good-people-includin_1679574.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/tony-dicicco-26810_assistant-coaches_i-put-myself-around-good-people-includin_1679574.png) > “I put myself around good people, including my assistant coaches. A lot of head coaches are intimidated by their assistant coaches, they'd rather get people that are far less talented than them because it's not threatening.” [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Surrounding yourself with talented peers, even if they could outshine you, fosters growth and prevents complacency. **In simple terms:** Choose strong teammates, not just easy ones. Key Takeaway Seek out and value high‑performing collaborators. Themes leadership team dynamics growth mindset Mood reflective strategic Type advice leadership When to use this quote - building a coaching staff - career advancement - team building - performance improvement Key Concepts psychology of competition mentor‑mentee relationships Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle feeling threatened by a more skilled colleague? - What criteria do you use to select teammates? A Different Perspective Choosing only less talented people can limit innovation and morale. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assistant coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assistant-coaches/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Head coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head-coach/) [Intimidated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimidated/) [Mentorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Think like a head coach, but act like an assistant coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-amaker/think-like-a-head-coach-but-act-like-an-assistant-coach/) Tommy Amaker > [I've been with some great head coaches, but also some great assistant coaches, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-stoops/i-ve-been-with-some-great-head-coaches-but-also-some-great-assistant/) [Bob Stoops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-stoops/) > [Assistant coaches become a little bit more buddies to the players than a head coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-oates/assistant-coaches-become-a-little-bit-more-buddies-to-the-players/) [Adam Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-oates/) > [You can't have assistant coaches who aren't loyal - but you can learn a lot from your assistant coaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/you-can-t-have-assistant-coaches-who-aren-t-loyal-but-you-can-learn-a/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [There's some things assistant coaches aren't ready to do. They're not the head coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-sampson/there-s-some-things-assistant-coaches-aren-t-ready-to-do-they-re-not/) [Kelvin Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-sampson/) > [It was very interesting, when I went on the road and started recruiting college and I spoke to coaches around the country, of how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-donovan/it-was-very-interesting-when-i-went-on-the-road-and-started/) [Billy Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-donovan/) > [I tell everyone that I have 25,000 assistant coaches. If I want to know something, I just go to the grocery store.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/i-tell-everyone-that-i-have-25-000-assistant-coaches-if-i-want-to/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [I know a lawyer who'd love to retire and be an assistant coach. I mean, it's fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/i-know-a-lawyer-who-d-love-to-retire-and-be-an-assistant-coach-i-mean/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [ You look at the assistant coaches under \[Pat Riley\] that played and they have become prosperous within this game. It triples all the way… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-starks/you-look-at-the-assistant-coaches-under-pat-riley-that-played-and/) [John Starks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-starks/) > [We have to move the meter in sports in Africa, especially basketball. With the growth of the NBA globally, we have to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/we-have-to-move-the-meter-in-sports-in-africa-especially-basketball/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [If you want to drop off the face of the earth, just be an assistant coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-griese/if-you-want-to-drop-off-the-face-of-the-earth-just-be-an-assistant/) Bob Griese > [The relationships that I've built and the connections and the network that I have created playing on these multiple teams, playing for these multiple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-gooden/the-relationships-that-i-ve-built-and-the-connections-and-the-network/) [Drew Gooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-gooden/) > [Picking an assistant coach, the first thing I was interested in was the man's character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/picking-an-assistant-coach-the-first-thing-i-was-interested-in-was/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [We talked about it. An assistant coach suggested fouling, but I rejected it because I was afraid we'd foul them shooting and get beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whisenant/we-talked-about-it-an-assistant-coach-suggested-fouling-but-i/) John Whisenant > [Anytime you get an award as a coach, you've got to be the ultimate fool to think it wasn't your assistant coaches and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/anytime-you-get-an-award-as-a-coach-you-ve-got-to-be-the-ultimate/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) ## More by Tony DiCicco > [It takes courage to dream big and then to allow nothing to prevent you from realizing that dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/it-takes-courage-to-dream-big-and-then-to-allow-nothing-to-prevent/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [When you set a goal, write it down and then it's like making a promise to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/when-you-set-a-goal-write-it-down-and-then-it-s-like-making-a-promise/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [If I win, I attract other good players and by doing that I win more games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/if-i-win-i-attract-other-good-players-and-by-doing-that-i-win-more/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [Talent is not enough. It's an important component in a successful performance, but it's really only a starting point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/talent-is-not-enough-it-s-an-important-component-in-a-successful/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [Overseas, kids grow up in a soccer culture. The German player sees the game eons above the American player the same age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/overseas-kids-grow-up-in-a-soccer-culture-the-german-player-sees-the/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [Placing blame on others is easy. Taking responsibility for yourself is empowering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/placing-blame-on-others-is-easy-taking-responsibility-for-yourself-is/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [The smartest thing is knowing that I don't know it all and that there's more to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/the-smartest-thing-is-knowing-that-i-don-t-know-it-all-and-that-there/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [I don't know how smart I am, but I was a student of the game and I still watch games and still pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/i-don-t-know-how-smart-i-am-but-i-was-a-student-of-the-game-and-i/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [To some, challenges are exhausting. To others, they are opportunities in waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/to-some-challenges-are-exhausting-to-others-they-are-opportunities-in/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [At a youth soccer game you'll probably hear parents and coaches on the sidelines yelling, 'Pass the ball! Pass the ball!' ... When we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/at-a-youth-soccer-game-you-ll-probably-hear-parents-and-coaches-on/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [Have a vision and then create your own reality. Otherwise, someone else may create it for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/have-a-vision-and-then-create-your-own-reality-otherwise-someone-else/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [Youth soccer is big business. If I don't win, it doesn't matter if I'm developing players, my business is going to hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/youth-soccer-is-big-business-if-i-don-t-win-it-doesn-t-matter-if-i-m/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [If you put good people around you, I guess you're smart. You learn from them and that makes you a better coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/if-you-put-good-people-around-you-i-guess-you-re-smart-you-learn-from/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [Chemistry is a contribution that teammates make to each other, but it's also something a coach can create or facilitate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/chemistry-is-a-contribution-that-teammates-make-to-each-other-but-it/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [Don't get angry; get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/don-t-get-angry-get-better/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) [Explore all 20 Tony DiCicco quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) ## More Assistant coaches quotes > [Think like a head coach, but act like an assistant coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-amaker/think-like-a-head-coach-but-act-like-an-assistant-coach/) Tommy Amaker > [ You look at the assistant coaches under \[Pat Riley\] that played and they have become prosperous within this game. It triples all the way… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-starks/you-look-at-the-assistant-coaches-under-pat-riley-that-played-and/) [John Starks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-starks/) > [I know a lawyer who'd love to retire and be an assistant coach. I mean, it's fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/i-know-a-lawyer-who-d-love-to-retire-and-be-an-assistant-coach-i-mean/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [There's some things assistant coaches aren't ready to do. They're not the head coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-sampson/there-s-some-things-assistant-coaches-aren-t-ready-to-do-they-re-not/) [Kelvin Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-sampson/) > [Assistant coaches become a little bit more buddies to the players than a head coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-oates/assistant-coaches-become-a-little-bit-more-buddies-to-the-players/) [Adam Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-oates/) > [One thing that the coaching staff and the assistant coaches did a really good job of working me on was shaping myself into an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/one-thing-that-the-coaching-staff-and-the-assistant-coaches-did-a/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [We have to move the meter in sports in Africa, especially basketball. With the growth of the NBA globally, we have to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/we-have-to-move-the-meter-in-sports-in-africa-especially-basketball/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I tell everyone that I have 25,000 assistant coaches. If I want to know something, I just go to the grocery store.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/i-tell-everyone-that-i-have-25-000-assistant-coaches-if-i-want-to/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [It was very interesting, when I went on the road and started recruiting college and I spoke to coaches around the country, of how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-donovan/it-was-very-interesting-when-i-went-on-the-road-and-started/) [Billy Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-donovan/) > [I was in the right place at the right time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-allen/i-was-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time/) [Mel Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-allen/) > [Let's face it, first-time assistant coaches normally don't walk into jobs with two perennial All-Stars on a team that just got bounced in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-bickerstaff/let-s-face-it-first-time-assistant-coaches-normally-don-t-walk-into/) [J. B. Bickerstaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-bickerstaff/) > [I've been with some great head coaches, but also some great assistant coaches, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-stoops/i-ve-been-with-some-great-head-coaches-but-also-some-great-assistant/) [Bob Stoops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-stoops/) > [Anytime you get an award as a coach, you've got to be the ultimate fool to think it wasn't your assistant coaches and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/anytime-you-get-an-award-as-a-coach-you-ve-got-to-be-the-ultimate/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [Spreading the wealth and giving other assistant coaches their due is critical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mullin/spreading-the-wealth-and-giving-other-assistant-coaches-their-due-is/) [Chris Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mullin/) > [I am working really hard with assistant coaches on both hands, left and right, finishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bojan-bogdanovic/i-am-working-really-hard-with-assistant-coaches-on-both-hands-left/) [Bojan Bogdanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bojan-bogdanovic/) [Browse all 24 Assistant coaches quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assistant-coaches/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I put myself around good people, including my assistant coaches. 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