--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Picking an assistant coach, the first…" description: "\"Picking an assistant coach, the first thing I was interested in was the man's character.\" — Woody Hayes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/woody-hayes-10522_assistant-coaches_picking-an-assistant-coach-the-first-thi_2654746.png" --- # Picking an assistant coach, the first thing I was… ![“Picking an assistant coach, the first thing I was interested in was the man's character.” quote by Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/woody-hayes-10522_assistant-coaches_picking-an-assistant-coach-the-first-thi_2654746.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/woody-hayes-10522_assistant-coaches_picking-an-assistant-coach-the-first-thi_2654746.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/woody-hayes-10522_assistant-coaches_picking-an-assistant-coach-the-first-thi_2654746.png) > “Picking an assistant coach, the first thing I was interested in was the man's character.” [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Character is the primary factor when selecting a key team member. **In simple terms:** Character matters most in hiring. Key Takeaway Prioritize integrity over résumé. Themes leadership character team building Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type leadership advice When to use this quote - hiring process - team dynamics - coach selection Key Concepts ethical decision‑making trustworthiness Questions to Reflect On - What balance of skill and character is ideal? - How can character be objectively assessed? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on character may overlook technical competence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assistant coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assistant-coaches/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-coaching/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach/) [Coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching/) [Man'S Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-s-character/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [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 > [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/) > [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 > [Everyone has the obligation to ponder well his own specific traits of character. He must also regulate them adequately and not wonder whether someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/everyone-has-the-obligation-to-ponder-well-his-own-specific-traits-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [An honorable man or woman is one who is truthful; free from deceit; above cheating, lying, stealing, or any form of deception. An honorable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/an-honorable-man-or-woman-is-one-who-is-truthful-free-from-deceit/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. —ABRAHAM LINCOLN As”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nearly-all-men-can-stand-adversity-but-if-you-want-to-test-a-man-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A man's character is only formed after the impressions of childhood and early youth have become blended with the indefinable and hidden influences both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/a-man-s-character-is-only-formed-after-the-impressions-of-childhood/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [Judge a man's character by what he finds ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/judge-a-man-s-character-by-what-he-finds-ridiculous/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [To have a right estimate of a man's character, we must see him in misfortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/to-have-a-right-estimate-of-a-man-s-character-we-must-see-him-in/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“There is a very great difference — is there not? — between the temporal and the eternal judgments, a very great difference between a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-collier/there-is-a-very-great-difference-is-there-not-between-the-temporal/) Price Collier > [It is not true that drink changes a man's character. It may reveal it more clearly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/it-is-not-true-that-drink-changes-a-man-s-character-it-may-reveal-it/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [A man's character is not judged after he celebrates a victory, but by what he does when his back is against the wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/a-man-s-character-is-not-judged-after-he-celebrates-a-victory-but-by/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [The voice is not only indicative of man's character, but it is the expression of his spirit. Other sounds can be louder than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/the-voice-is-not-only-indicative-of-man-s-character-but-it-is-the/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [“In matters of the heart and endings, a man's character is defined not by the act of parting ways with a woman but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-apetsi/in-matters-of-the-heart-and-endings-a-man-s-character-is-defined-not/) [Emmanuel Apetsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-apetsi/) > [It is the property of things seen for the first time, or for the first time after long, like the flowers in spring, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/it-is-the-property-of-things-seen-for-the-first-time-or-for-the-first/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) ## More by Woody Hayes > [Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/any-time-you-give-a-man-something-he-doesn-t-earn-you-cheapen-him-our/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [The game of football is one of strategy and tactics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/the-game-of-football-is-one-of-strategy-and-tactics/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [Paralyze resistance with persistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/paralyze-resistance-with-persistence/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [The five big mistakes in football are the fumble, the interception, the penalty, the badly called play, the blocked punt—and most of these originate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/the-five-big-mistakes-in-football-are-the-fumble-the-interception-the/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [Even the best team, without a sound plan, can't score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/even-the-best-team-without-a-sound-plan-can-t-score/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [As the youngest, I don't think there was any doubt I was spoiled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/as-the-youngest-i-don-t-think-there-was-any-doubt-i-was-spoiled/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [Indomitable in victory, insufferable in defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/indomitable-in-victory-insufferable-in-defeat/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [Without winners, there would be no civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/without-winners-there-would-be-no-civilization/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [I recruited a Czech kicker, and during the eye exam, when asked to read the bottom line, the kicker replied, Read it? I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/i-recruited-a-czech-kicker-and-during-the-eye-exam-when-asked-to-read/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [When I look in the mirror in the morning, I want to take a swing at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/when-i-look-in-the-mirror-in-the-morning-i-want-to-take-a-swing-at-me/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [Because I couldn't go for three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/because-i-couldn-t-go-for-three/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [I'm no longer the head football coach at Ohio State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/i-m-no-longer-the-head-football-coach-at-ohio-state/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [I may not be able to outsmart too many people, but I can outwork 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/i-may-not-be-able-to-outsmart-too-many-people-but-i-can-outwork-em/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [A good general always makes you search for his weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/a-good-general-always-makes-you-search-for-his-weaknesses/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) > [You can never pay back, so you should always try to pay forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/you-can-never-pay-back-so-you-should-always-try-to-pay-forward/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) [Explore all 65 Woody Hayes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) ## 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 put myself around good people, including my assistant coaches. A lot of head coaches are intimidated by their assistant coaches, they'd rather get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/i-put-myself-around-good-people-including-my-assistant-coaches-a-lot/) [Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/) > [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/) [Browse all 24 Assistant coaches quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assistant-coaches/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Picking an assistant coach, the first thing I was interested in was the man's character.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Woody Hayes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/picking-an-assistant-coach-the-first-thing-i-was-interested-in-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assistant coaches" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/picking-an-assistant-coach-the-first-thing-i-was-interested-in-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/woody-hayes-10522_assistant-coaches_picking-an-assistant-coach-the-first-thi_2654746.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/woody-hayes-10522_assistant-coaches_picking-an-assistant-coach-the-first-thi_2654746.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/woody-hayes-10522_assistant-coaches_picking-an-assistant-coach-the-first-thi_2654746.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Picking an assistant coach, the first thing I was interested in was the man's character.” — Woody Hayes", "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": "Woody Hayes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Picking an assistant coach, the first...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/picking-an-assistant-coach-the-first-thing-i-was-interested-in-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/picking-an-assistant-coach-the-first-thing-i-was-interested-in-was/#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 } } ] } ```