Confidence is only born out of one thing ­ demonstrated ability. It is not born of anything else. You cannot dream up confidence. You cannot fabricate it. You cannot wish it. You have to accomplish it.

Individuals play the game, but teams win championships.

In the end, I've found, people like the direct approach. It's much more valuable to them to have a leader who's absolutely clear and open than to have one who soft-soaps or talks in circles.

I grew up under demanding people, that demanded things from you, expected you to toe the mark.

Potential means you haven't done anything yet.

Some guys are just very, very interested in their sport and their predecessors. I know I was a guy like that when I was a young coach. I wanted to know about George Halas, I wanted to know about Jim Lee Howell, guys you don't even know. I wanted to know what they were like. So I read whatever I could get my hands on.

Winning coaches look for opportunities to praise. Anything that reflects a commitment to the team is praiseworthy