Quotes from the Legendary Don Meyer

Who's Don Meyer? Meyer held the record from most NCAA basketball coaching wins until eclipsed by Mike Kryzyewski. Meyer quotes often share his keen understanding of humanity. 

First, here's some background. Meyer was the subject of a book, How Lucky You Can Be. He suffered a near-fatal car accident, falling asleep while driving on a recruiting trip. His injuries allowed discovery of an internal cancer. 

He is known for wit, wisdom, his basketball acumen, and a relentless willingness to share. He answered questions on his website. 

He kept three notebooks, one for basketball, one for general knowledge, and one to appreciate his wife, which he gave her at the end of each year. 

He had three rules: 

1. Everybody takes notes.

2. Everybody says "please" and "thank you".

3. Everybody picks up trash.

"Recognize and reward players who put the team first, not just the gifted ones."

"It is not what you teach, but what you emphasize."

"There's only one thing we can control, and that is how hard we play."

"The only thing success should do is make you more humble."

"It is foolish to expect a young man to follow your advice and to ignore your example."

"You can pick captains, but you can't pick leaders. Whoever controls the locker room controls the team."

"To be a team, you must be a family."

"Don’t be the kind of player that can’t help your team unless you touch the ball." 

"In the end, what your own troops do is more important than who they are marching against." (It matters most how you play not whom you play

"Simplify the game as much as possible. When you add, you must subtract."

"Coach like the coach you want to be ten years from now."

"Tell people you love them. You may not get a chance tomorrow." 

"If you can do something and not blow your own horn, it sure sounds a lot better."

"The three people that must be great daily for your team to succeed -- the head coach, best player and point guard." 

"To win it all, winners have to be obsessive about the fundamentals and doing the little things right."

"Most of us would rather be ruined by praise, than saved by criticism." 

"Great people talk about ideas.  Average people talk about things. Small people talk about other people."

"Reputation is what people think you are; character defines who you really are." 

"See what you are doing through urgent eyes." 

Meyer was also the subject of another book, Playing for Coach Meyer.