Quote

I don't think we surprise people. We try to out-execute them.

Mike Krzyzewski

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Mike Krzyzewski
Age: 77
Born: 1947
Born: February 13
Basketball Coach
Basketball Player
Chicago
Illinois
Michael William Krzyzewski
Coach K
Michael Krzyzewski
Krzyzewski
Coach Krzyzewski
Trying
Think
Thinking
People
Execute
Coaching
Surprise
Basketball

More quotes by Mike Krzyzewski

Image
I've tried to handle winning well, so that maybe we'll win again, but I've also tried to handle failure well. If those serve as good examples for teachers and kids, then I hope that would be a contribution I have made to sport. Not just basketball, but to sport.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
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.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
A basketball team is like the five fingers on your hand. If you can get them all together, you have a fist. That's how I want you to play.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
The worst thing we can do is put the (other) team in a one-and-one.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
In developing teams, I don't believe in rules. I believe in standards. Rules don't promote teamwork, standards do
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
I'm still not a great reader, but my wife is and my daughters are, and I envy them. I think I got into a bad habit of trying to do something all the time, instead of trying to sit down and take my time a little bit.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
Great rivalries don't have to be built on hatred. They're built on respect, on a respect for excellence.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
Once you win a National Championship, how do you do that again? How do you get the passion to do that again? We won it again right away, the next year. A lot of it had to do with the fact that I didn't give myself an opportunity to enjoy the first one.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
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.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
In order to be a winner, you have to look for ways of getting things done and not for reasons why things can’t be done. People who live with excuses have things that can’t be done hovering around them all the time.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
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.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
A team is a fist-not five fingers.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
In putting together your standards, remember that it is essential to involve your entire team. Standards are not rules issued by the boss they are a collective identity. Remember, standards are the things that you do all the time and the things for which you hold one another accountable.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
When you cleanse yourself of a big victory, you may open yourself up to the opportunity for an even bigger victory
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
You can't defer if you're the person who's in the leadership position.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
That's what I do now: I lead and I teach. If we win basketball games from doing that, then that's great, but I lead and teach. Those are the two things I concentrate on.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
With me and basketball, it became part of me.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
Leaders show respect for people by giving them time.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
You start developing a championship attitude by, first of all, telling kids that they are really good and that they have the potential to become better.
Mike Krzyzewski
Image
It’s simply doing what you’re supposed to do as well as you can when you’re supposed to do it.
Mike Krzyzewski