35 Inspirational Don Shula Quotes (SUCCESS)

Top 10 Most Famous Don Shula Quotes (BEST)

“You set a goal to be the best and then you work hard every hour of every day, striving to reach that goal. If you allow yourself to settle for anything less than number one, you are cheating yourself.”
Don Shula

The superior man blames himself. The inferior man blames others.

The one thing that I know is that you win with good people. — The one thing that I know is that you **win** with good people.

I don't know any other way to lead but by example. — I don’t know any other way to lead but by example.

Success is the peace of mind that comes when you know you have given everything you have to give to the opportunities that life has presented you. — **Success** is the peace of mind that comes when you know you have given everything you have to give to the **opportunities** that **life** has presented you.

“The problem with most leaders today is they don’t stand for anything. Leadership implies movement toward something, and convictions provide that direction. If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”
Don Shula

Success is not forever and failure isn't fatal. — **Success** is not forever and **failure** isn’t fatal.

Strive for perfection, but settle for excellence. — Strive for perfection, but settle for **excellence**.

There's nothing wrong with setting goals, but it doesn't mean a thing if you don't pay attention to the day-to-day details. — There’s nothing wrong with **setting goals**, but it doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t pay attention to the day-to-day details.

I have no magic formula. The only way I know to win is through hard work. — I have no magic formula. The only way I know to win is through **hard work**.

6 Inspirational Don Shula Quotes on Success

“The ultimate goal is victory. And if you refuse to work as hard as you possibly can toward that aim, or if you do anything that keeps you from achieving that goal, then you are just cheating yourself.”
Don Shula

You take on what's right in front of you. You want to do the best you can with the opportunities that you have. — You take on what’s right in front of you. You want to do the best you can with the opportunities that you have.

It's the start that stops most people. — It’s the start that stops most people.

The whole idea is to get an edge. Sometimes it takes just a little extra something to get that edge, but you have to have it.

To be successful, all you have to do is work half-days; you can work the first twelve hours or the second twelve hours.

One thing I never want to be accused of is not working.

7 Motivational Don Shula Quotes on Coaching and Leadership

“I think what coaching is all about, is taking players and analyzing their ability, put them in a position where they can excel within the framework of the team winning. And I hope that I’ve done that in my 33 years as a head coach.”
Don Shula

My responsibility is leadership, and the minute I get negative, that is going to have an influence on my team. — My **responsibility** is leadership, and the minute I get negative, that is going to have an influence on my team.

As a coach, your high standards of performance, attention to detail and - above all - how hard you work set the stage for how your players perform. — As a coach, your high standards of performance, attention to detail and – above all – how hard you work set the stage for how your players perform.

Lots of leaders want to be popular. I never cared about that. I want to be respected. — Lots of leaders want to be popular. I never cared about that. I want to be **respected**.

I can't remember missing a practice because of illness. — I can’t remember missing a practice because of illness.

You can't play enough golf or do any of those other things that fill that kind of excitement that coaching gave me in the big games. — You can’t play enough **golf** or do any of those other things that fill that kind of **excitement** that coaching gave me in the big games.

I'm not going to worry about the critics until some of my peers start saying I'm a softie. — I’m not going to **worry** about the critics until some of my peers start saying I’m a softie.

9 Don Shula Quotes About Football and Winning Games

“Some clubs want to win so much they’ll do anything to get it. Our approach has been just the opposite. We’ve tried to do things the right way. And the right way is [abiding by] the rules and regulations… I may not like all of them, but once they are [official], we play by them.”
Don Shula

Sure, luck means a lot in football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck. — Sure, **luck** means a lot in football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck.

You try to get the most out of the talent. Make 'em work and let 'em play. — You try to get the most out of the **talent**. Make ’em work and let ’em play.

“Because, they’re only thinking about one team when that game’s over. Before the game, they’re talking about two football teams. When the game’s over, there’s only one winner.”
Don Shula

My coaching philosophy? Determine your players talents and give them every weapon to get the most from those talents. — My coaching **philosophy**? Determine your players talents and give them every weapon to get the most from those talents.

I don't want a player that's content with not playing… But we wanted to play the guys that got us here. — I don’t want a player that’s content with not playing… But we wanted to play the guys that got us here.

“The thing we found out was, when you get to a Super Bowl, both teams are treated the same, talked about in glowing terms. But when the game is over, only the team that won matters.”
Don Shula

The 347 wins is the thing I'm most proud of. Nobody's even close to it. — The 347 wins is the thing I’m most proud of. Nobody’s even close to it.

“And then to end up with a total of 347 wins, averaging 10 regular season wins for 33 years and the best winning percentage, and I’m very proud of this, of any professional team from 1970 to 1996.”
Don Shula