Quotes From Coach Meyer

If you do not know who Coach Don Meyer is, here is a quick bio:

• Just retired from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

• In 38 years of coaching college basketball, is the all-time leader with 938 wins.

• More than the 938 wins, he has helped so many of his players become better human beings.

• In 2008, after a car crash, doctors discovered cancer in his liver and intestines, during emergency surgery in which he lost one of his legs.

• Coach Meyer is the ultimate ambassador to the game of basketball. He has helped so many coaches become better coaches and people.

I still remember making a call to Coach Meyer. I never thought I would get to talk to him. I thought I would take a chance. His basketball secretary answered the phone and patched me right through to Coach Meyer. We talked for about 15 minutes and I felt like I had won a national championship.

I was sad to hear of the news that Coach Meyer was retiring, but I do understand why he made the decision. Coach will continue to be the great ambassador for the game and he will continue to mentor young coaches and people.

Buster Olney, from ESPN is writing a book titled, HOW LUCKY YOU CAN BE, the story of Don Meyer. It will be out in September of 2010. This will be a must-read!!!!

Here are some great quotes from Coach Meyer:

• Successful programs consist of people working hard, working together, while never worrying about who gets the credit.

• Shout praise and whisper criticism.

• To be a team, you must be a family.

• Discipline and demand without being demanding.

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

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

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

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

• Players who are late say that their time is more important than the team.

• Its not what you teach, but what you emphasize.

• Good shooters take the shots; best shooters take most of the shots.

• You build your program from the ideas from good coaches.

• Play off your great player...great teams have a go-to player and they play off of him.

• Prepare for every practice like you loss your last game.

• Your program must have an overriding purpose which is clearly visible and which teaches lessons beyond winning.

• When you watch the game, be a student of the game.

• The team is an extension of the coach.

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

• When the legs go, the heart and head will follow quickly behind.

• If it comes down to you or the program, that decision was made a long time ago.

• Every day you teach attitude.