100 Of The Best Coaching Quotes Of All Time

By Maxime Lagacé

Maxime is the founder of WisdomQuotes. He has been collecting quotes since 2004. His goal? To help you develop a calm and peaceful mind. Learn more about him on his about page.

Top 10 QuotesShortInspirationalMotivationalFor CoachesFor AthletesVisualsTakeawaysFurther Readings

coaching quotes wisdom
Here are 100 of the best coaching quotes.

As a coach myself, I couldn’t help but find inspiration from the greatest who ever lived:

  • John Wooden
  • Vince Lombardi
  • Alex Ferguson
  • Pat Summitt
  • Bill Belichick
  • Scotty Bowman
  • Phil Jackson
  • And many more

So if you’re a coach or leader, I guarantee you’ll find valuable insights:

  • How to help athletes reach their full potential
  • The importance of preparation and high standards
  • The value of teamwork, support, and humility

Are you ready to learn, grow, and be a better coach?

Let’s begin!

Top 10 Coaching Quotes

coaching quotes unlocking persons potential john whitmore wisdom

Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their growth. John Whitmore

See the light in others, and treat them as if that is all you see. Wayne Dyer

There are no big things, only a logical accumulation of little things done at a very high standard of performance. John Wooden

A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life. John Wooden

All coaching is, is taking a player where he can’t take himself. Bill McCartney

coaching quotes simplicity getting players better tom landry wisdom

Coaching is simplicity. It’s getting players to play better than they think they can. Tom Landry

Creating more leaders is the only true leadership. Maxime Lagacé

The job of an educator is to teach students to see vitality in themselves. Joseph Campbell

The purpose of coaching is to close the gap between potential and performance. Keith Webb

Coaching’s not a job, it’s a privilege. Lee Corso

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Short Coaching Quotes

coaching quotes how big are play john wooden wisdom

It’s not how big you are, it’s how big you play. John Wooden

Whatever it takes to win. Pat Riley

Today is the only day. Yesterday is gone. John Wooden

The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital. Joe Paterno

Giving yourself permission to lose guarantees a loss. Pat Riley

Winners are not born, they are self-made. Pat Summitt

Blame no one. Bill Parcells

One of my principles is ‘Don’t overcoach.’ Bill Bowerman

Every boo on the road is a cheer. Scotty Bowman

coaching quotes preparedness ultimate confidence vince lombardi wisdom

Preparedness is the ultimate confidence builder. Vince Lombardi

Look after your people. Red Auerbach

I’ve never played for a draw in my life. Alex Ferguson

Strive for perfection, but settle for excellence. Don Shula

Right after the game, say as little as possible. Tom Landry

Talent sets the floor, character sets the ceiling. Bill Belichick

Confidence comes from being prepared. John Wooden

Champions are brilliant at the basics. John Wooden

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Inspirational Coaching Quotes

coaching quotes what can control performance bill belichick wisdom

What we can control is our performance and our execution, and that’s what we’re going to focus on. Bill Belichick

Coaching is making men do what they don’t want, so they can become what they want to be. Tom Landry

A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are. Ara Parseghian

It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit. John Wooden

We had a virus that infected everyone at United. It was called winning. Alex Ferguson

What you’re going to leave this earth is the influence on others. Joe Gibbs

Coaching is the bridge that connects untapped potential to extraordinary achievements. Maxime Lagacé

The more you prepare beforehand, the more relaxed and creative and effective you’ll be when it counts. Bill Parcells

Winning is fun… Sure. But winning is not the point. Wanting to win is the point. Not giving up is the point. Never letting up is the point. Never being satisfied with what you’ve done is the point. Pat Summitt

It is what it is. But, it will be what you make it. Pat Summitt

coaching quotes coach someone sees beyon michael jordan wisdom

A coach is someone that sees beyond your limits and guides you to greatness. Michael Jordan

Every single player matters. Every single player can change the course of the game. Bill Belichick

I hate to speak about individuals. Players don’t win you trophies, teams win trophies, squads win trophies. Jose Mourinho

The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team. Phil Jackson

Competitive sports are played mainly on a five-and-a-half inch court, the space between your ears. Bobby Jones

We have got to use every opportunity to improve individually so we can improve collectively. Nick Saban

The importance of repetition until automaticity cannot be overstated. Repetition is the key to learning. John Wooden

If you train badly, you play badly. If you work like a beast in training, you play the same way. Pep Guardiola

If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm. Vince Lombardi

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Motivational Coaching Quotes

coaching quotes long term success leadership pat riley wisdom

To have long term success as a coach or in any position of leadership, you have to be obsessed in some way. Pat Riley

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. John Wooden

The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual. Vince Lombardi

Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better. Pat Riley

Coaching is taking a player where they can’t take themselves. José Mourinho

Losing doesn’t make me want to quit. It makes me want to fight that much harder. Bear Bryant

The key is not the will to win… everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important. Bobby Knight

Here’s how I’m going to beat you. I’m going to outwork you. That’s it. That’s all there is to it. Pat Summitt

Today, you’ve got a decision to make. You’re gonna get better or you’re gonna get worse, but you’re not gonna stay the same. Which will it be? Joe Paterno

coaching quotes dont ever let good enough bill parcells wisdom

Don’t ever let good enough be good enough. Bill Parcells

The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there. Vince Lombardi

Losing is a powerful management tool so long as it does not become a habit. Alex Ferguson

Champions behave like champions before they’re champions; they have a winning standard of performance before they are winners. Bill Walsh

If you allow yourself to settle for anything less than number one, you are cheating yourself. Don Shula

A champion is simply someone who did not give up when he wanted to. Tom Landry

If you want to change your life you have to raise your standards. Tony Robbins

Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing. If you can shrug off a loss, you can never be a winner! Vince Lombardi

Apply yourself everyday to just becoming a little bit better. John Wooden

Coaching Quotes For Coaches And Leaders

coaching quotes someone give correction john wooden wisdom

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating. John Wooden

The eight laws of learning are explanation, demonstration, imitation, repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition. John Wooden

You haven’t taught until they’ve learned. John Wooden

Great leaders are always out front with a banner, instead of behind with a whip. John Wooden

I am not dealing with footballers, I am dealing with people. They have fears and worry about failing and making fools of themselves in front of 80,000 people. I have to make them see that without each other they are nothing. Pep Guardiola

Although I don’t want to intimidate kids, I am very demanding. Pat Summitt

Once you have a plan, you must sell it to the players. Joe Gibbs

You have to be able to psychologically help your players, support-wise, be in touch with them. Phil Jackson

coaching quotes service clients priority michael marx wisdom

Coaching is a service. We serve our clients and have their well-being as the higher priority. Michael J. Marx

Praise in public; criticize in private. Vince Lombardi

Employees can thrive in an environment where they know exactly what is expected of them – even when those expectations are very high. Bill Walsh

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

Stand up for your players. Show them you care on and off the court. Red Auerbach

Probably my best quality as a coach is that I ask a lot of challenging questions and let the person come up with the answer. Phil Dixon

As a coach, your high standards of performance, attention to detail and – above all – how hard you work set the stage for how your players perform. Don Shula

Coaching is the art of influencing people’s behavior to bring out the best in them. James Flaherty

He who is not a good servant will not be a good master. Plato

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Coaching Quotes For Athletes, Players, And Students

coaching quotes believe deep down joe paterno wisdom

Believe deep down in your heart that you’re destined to do great things. Joe Paterno

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. Neale Donald Walsch

Don’t just stand back and play the way you’re coached. A great player must rise to the occasion and turn the game around on his own. Joe Paterno

Confidence is what happens when you’ve done the hard work that entitles you to succeed. Pat Summitt

Show class, have pride, and display character. If you do, winning takes care of itself. Bear Bryant

If they don’t have a winning attitude, I don’t want them. Bear Bryant

The key to teamwork is to learn a role, accept a role, and strive to become excellent playing it. Pat Riley

Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today. John Wooden

The kids with the less talent become the better athletes because they’re more dedicated to achieving their full potential. Red Auerbach

The superior man blames himself. The inferior man blames others. Don Shula

coaching quotes champions never complain john wooden wisdom

Champions never complain, they are too busy getting better. John Wooden

Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there. John Wooden

The athlete makes himself, the coach doesn’t make the athlete. Bill Bowerman

Never lie; never cheat; never steal. Don’t whine; don’t complain; don’t make excuses. John Wooden

If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. Fred Devito

Don’t underestimate yourself. You are capable of more than you can ever imagine. Les Brown

I will forgive if the players cannot get it right, but not if they do not try hard. Pep Guardiola

Conclusion

I won 1,098 games, and eight national championships, and coached in four different decades. But what I see are not the numbers. I see their faces. Pat Summitt

Visual For Coaching Quotes

coaching quotes visual rachel smith reveals potential circle wisdom
coaching quotes visual rachel smith uncovers boat wisdom

I absolutely believe that people, unless coached, never reach their maximum capabilities. Bob Nardelli

Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them. Timothy Gallwey

A coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want to hear, who has you see what you don’t want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be. Tom Landry

Visuals by Rachel Smith (Website, LinkedIn)

Key Takeaways

  • Unleashing potential and fostering growth: Coaching is about guiding others to realize their full potential, pushing past their limitations. It nurtures a mindset of continuous self-improvement and personal growth.
  • Commitment to excellence and preparation: Consistent success stems from thorough preparation and mastery of the fundamentals. It’s also about upholding high standards in every action, both on and off the field.
  • Character building and team spirit: Effective coaching prioritizes character, humility, and teamwork. The more each individual selflessly contributes to the team, the greater the collective success.
  • Empowerment and individual support: Coaches go beyond the game to inspire and support players, acknowledging their unique qualities and helping them see their true potential.
  • Resilience and a champion’s mindset: True champions are forged through resilience, with a commitment to growth and improvement, no matter the obstacles.

Further Readings

I hope you enjoyed these inspiring coaching quotes.

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Author Bio

maxime lagace

Maxime Lagacé started collecting quotes in 2004 after he lost his girlfriend in a car accident.

In search of meaning, he dived in the self-improvement world, psychology and trail running.

Books, blogs, quotes and nature became his guide.

He started journaling, reflecting, writing his thoughts, feelings and quotes.

His goal was to understand his pain, his depression, his fears, his lack of motivation and inspiration.

He finished his software engineering degree in 2007 at the École de Technologie Supérieure de Montréal.

A few years later, he started his first website to share his love of quotes.

Maxime is a father of two, husband, and INFJ.

Other notable interests of Maxime are health (mental and physical), meditation, bananas, SEO, human potential, and education.

You can find him on X, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube.

Last update

October 29, 2024

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