Basketball Coaching Quotes

• If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier.

  John Wooden

  Basketball, Gratitude, Disappointment

  Andrew Hill, John Wooden (2002). “Be Quick - But Don't Hurry: Finding Success in the Teachings of a Lifetime”, p.117, Simon and Schuster

  54 Copy quote

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• If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach has a monopoly on the knowledge of basketball. There are no secrets in the game. The only secrets, if there are any, are good teaching of sound fundamentals, intelligent handling of men, a sound system of play, and the ability to instill in the boys a desire to win.

  Adolph Rupp

  Basketball, Teaching, Intelligent

  45 Copy quote

• Players must do what you want them to do in pressure situations.

  Don Meyer

  Basketball, Player, Coaching

  3 Copy quote

• Play against the Game, not your opponent.

  Bud Wilkinson

  Basketball, Games, Play

  9 Copy quote

• Empower the people around you, from the janitor to the athletic director. You do that by being sincere, caring about others, and then putting it into practice.

  Sue Gunter

  Basketball, Caring, Practice

  4 Copy quote

• Managing is like holding a dove in your hand. Squeeze too hard and you kill it; not hard enough and it flies away.

  Tommy Lasorda

  Basketball, Hands, Coaching

  37 Copy quote

• Defense can't guard two things in a row.

  Chuck Daly

  Basketball, Two, Coaching

  3 Copy quote

• He who controlleth the backboard, controlleth the game.

  Adolph Rupp

  Basketball, Games, Coaching

  7 Copy quote

• The first shot does not beat you.

  Chuck Daly

  Basketball, Coaching, Firsts

  8 Copy quote

• Rebounding wins championships, you need to emphasize it and work with kids on it.

  Pat Summitt

  Basketball, Kids, Winning

  22 Copy quote

• There is nothing more important than rebounding... don't just give it lip service.

  Don Meyer

  Basketball, Giving, Coaching

  9 Copy quote

• Shared suffering: one guy messes up and everyone runs. One guy does well and everyone benefits.

  Don Meyer

  Basketball, Running, Guy

  3 Copy quote

• Our offensive philosophy is to simply find a way to get the ball into the hands of our team's best player.

  Kelvin Sampson

  Basketball, Team, Philosophy

  3 Copy quote

• Help your players to control their emotions - do this through example.

  Norm Sloan

  Basketball, Player, Coaching

  42 Copy quote

• The big time is not a place; it's the state of your heart. It's not something you get; it's something you become.

  Frosty Westering

  Success, Basketball, Heart

  50 Copy quote

• Use different basketball offensive alignments to cause confusion for the other team.

  Hubie Brown

  Basketball, Team, Confusion

  9 Copy quote

• Courage gives a leader the ability to stand straight and not sway, no matter which way the wind blows.

  Mike Krzyzewski

  Basketball, Blow, Wind

  Mike Krzyzewski, Donald T. Phillips (2010). “Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life”, p.173, Hachette UK

  3 Copy quote

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• Don't try to imitate other coaches. Be your own person with your own style and do your own thing.

  Hubie Brown

  Basketball, Coaching, Style

  13 Copy quote

• Teamwork doesn't come naturally. It must be taught.

  Pat Summitt

  Basketball, Teamwork, Coaching

  Pat Summitt (1999). “Reach for the Summit”, p.193, Crown Business

  33 Copy quote

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• Sometimes you learn more from losing than winning. Losing forces you to reexamine.

  Pat Summitt

  Basketball, Winning, Coaching

  Pat Summitt (1999). “Reach for the Summit”, p.194, Crown Business

  204 Copy quote

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• You better have great practices.

  Al McGuire

  Basketball, Practice, Coaching

  3 Copy quote

• Building relationships is the key for being happy as a coach. Players must want to play for you. If they are comfortable with you, they will work hard for you.

  Mike McConathy

  Basketball, Hard Work, Player

  3 Copy quote

• You must have a passion to coach.

  Rick Majerus

  Basketball, Passion, Coaching

  3 Copy quote

• The basic premise of my system is to fatigue your opponents with constant pressure defensively and constant movement offensively.

  Rick Pitino

  Basketball, Coaching, Movement

  3 Copy quote

• To win the big games you must get to the Free Throw line, and then you must make them.

  Rick Majerus

  Basketball, Winning, Games

  24 Copy quote