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Mike Krzyzewski

Mike Krzyzewski Quotes

Basketball Coach

Mike Krzyzewski, born on February 13, 1947, is a renowned basketball coach. He is highly respected in the basketball community for his exceptional tactical guidance and leadership. He has been the head coach of the United States men's national basketball team, leading the team to numerous honors.

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Famous Mike Krzyzewski Quotes

“I didn't miss any games, but Coach Knight came out and spent three days with my family in Chicago when my dad passed away. I came back and played and it was good therapy for me. Having a basketball family and a coach who understood and actually became like a father figure for that time was comforting to me, and I'm sure that will be comforting to Coleman.”

Three Father Games Missing Figures Dad Comfort Basketball Understood My Family My Dad Coaches Therapy Chicago Comforting Knights Passed Away Father Figure Dad Passed Away

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“I don't think you play for other people's expectations, you know. You don't go and become a lawyer because your mother or father want you to, you don't become a coach because somebody wants you to.”

People Thinking Knows Want Play Mother Father Expectations Lawyer Coaches

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“I think coaching is confused at times as being an arrow that only goes to a player. Those players send arrows back to you, and that’s where a relationship is developed. I don’t make a player, and a player doesn’t make me a coach. We make each other.”

Thinking Player Coaches Coaching Confused Arrows

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“For a college basketball player or coach, to reach the Final Four is la-la land. You’ve achieved, you’ve got your stamp of approval. My first team to do that was in 1986. Then we did it in ’88, ’89 and ’90.”

Firsts Four Player Team Land College Basketball Finals Coaches Approval Stamps Basketball Player College Basketball

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“Each group and each youngster is different. As a leader or coach, you get to know what they need.”

Knows Needs Different Leader Groups Basketball Coaches Nba Youngsters

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“In high school, in sport, I had a coach who told me I was much better than I thought I was, and would make me do more in a positive sense. He was the first person who taught me not to be afraid of failure.”

Firsts Persons School Sports Positive Taught Basketball High School Coaches First Person Afraid Of Failure

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“My ambition in high school was to be a high school coach and teacher, and that's still what I do: teach.”

Stills School Teach Teacher Teaching Ambition High School Coaches My Ambition

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“The truth is that many people set rules to keep from making decisions.”

People Decision Truth Is Basketball Coaches Coaching Decision Making Teamwork Making Decisions Great Coach Basketball Leadership Great Coaching Famous Coach

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“Therefore, as a player, as a coach, even though we might have lost in a season or not won a championship, it was like a self-fulfilling prophecy that I'm going to win some time. I've never felt myself a loser.”

Self Might Winning Lost Felt Loss Player Seasons Coaches Loser Championship Fulfilling Prophecy Self Fulfilling Prophecy

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“Every season is a journey. Every journey is a lifetime.”

Source: Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life

“I have a rule on my team: When we talk to one another, we look each other right in the eye, because I think it's tough to lie to somebody. You give respect to somebody.”

“I love practice. It is when a coach exercises the most control over the improvement of his or her team.”

Practice Team Exercise Basketball Coaches Improvement

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“I'm fortunate now that I coach at Duke University and we've won a lot. I have some kids who haven't failed that much. But when they get to college, they're going to fail some time. That's a thing that I can help them the most with.”

I Can Helping Kids Failing Havens College Basketball University Coaches Fortunate Dukes Duke University

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.”

Inspirational Looks Happens Leader Basketball Coaches Coaching Nba Volleyball Basketball Coaching Basketball Coach Great Coach Inspirational Coach Basketball Leadership Sports Leadership

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“People want to be on a team. They want to be part of something bigger than themselves. They want to be in a situation where they feel that they are doing something for the greater good.”

“A common mistake among those who work in sport is spending a disproportional amount of time on "x's and o's" as compared to time spent learning about people.”

People Sports Common Mistake Amount Basketball Spending Coaches Coaching Nba Volleyball Basketball Coaching Basketball Coach Time Spent Sports Coach Best Coaches Sports Coaching

Book:Beyond Basketball: Coach K's Keywords for Success

Source: Beyond Basketball: Coach K's Keywords for Success

“Communication does not always occur naturally, even among a tight-knit group of individuals. Communication must be taught and practiced in order to bring everyone together as one”

Doe Together Order Individual Groups Taught Communication Coaches Volleyball Together As One

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“Talent is important. But the single most important ingredient after you get the talent is internal leadership. It's not the coaches as much as one single person or people on the team who set higher standards than that team would normally set for itself. I really believe that that's been ultimately important for us.”

People Believe Persons Important Leadership Team Talent Higher Standards Coaches Internals Ingredients Single Person Higher Standards

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“As teachers and coaches, we must remember that when mere winning is our only goal, we are doomed to disappointment and failure. But when our goal is to try to win, when our focus is on preparation and sacrifice and effort instead of on numbers on a scoreboard then we will never lose.”

Trying Remember Winning Goal Loses Numbers Effort Focus Teacher Sacrifice Mere Disappointment Coaches Preparation Wrestling Doomed Scoreboard

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“Goals should be realistic, attainable, and shared among all members of the team”

Should Goal Team Members Basketball Coaches Nba Realistic Basketball Coach Best Coaches Realistic Goals

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“In all forms of leadership, whether you are a coach, a CEO, or a parent, there are four words that, when said, can bring out the best in your team, your employees, and your family. I BELIEVE IN YOU. Those four words can mean the difference between a fear of failure and the courage to try.”

Trying Believe Mean Said Form I Believe Parent Differences Four Team I Believe In Coaches Our Family Employee Ceo Believe In You Fear Of Failure I Believe In You

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

“It is the ultimate honor for a coach to be his country's coach.”

Country Honor Ultimate Coaches

Author:Mike Krzyzewski

About the Author

Born: February 13, 1947
Known for: Basketball Coach
Quotes: 168

Related Topics

Basketball Team Ifs Coaches Leader Sports Coaching Basketball Coaching Nba People Volleyball Winning Basketball Coach Games Thinking Persons Play Best Coaches Trying Want

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People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and LifeRelated source material

Beyond Basketball: Coach K's Keywords for SuccessRelated source material

Five-Point Play: Duke's Journey to the 2001 National ChampionshipRelated source material

The Gold Standard: Building a World-Class TeamRelated source material

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