Mr. Tarkanian Quotes & Sayings

A lot of coaches want guys to be loose for games. I never wanted them to be loose. I wanted their hands sweating, their knees shaking, their eyes bulging. I wanted them to act like we were going to war. — Jerry Tarkanian

The secret is to have eight great players and four others who will cheer like crazy. — Jerry Tarkanian

The NCAA is so mad at Kentucky theyre going to give Cleveland State another year of probation. — Jerry Tarkanian

Yelling doesn't win ball games. It doesn't put any points on the scoreboard. And I don't think words win ball games all the time. Players do. Preparation does. — Jerry Tarkanian

I hate to say anything that may hurt UCLA, but I can't be quiet when I see what the NCAA is doing to Jerry Tarkanian only because he has a reputation for giving a second chance to many black athletes other coaches have branded as troublemakers. The NCAA is working night and day trying to get Jerry, but no one from the NCAA ever questioned me during my four years at UCLA! — Bill Walton

I told them not to worry about it, since we were going to play indoors. — Jerry Tarkanian

I'll watch the kids play, have a big steak with my friends, stay in a nice hotel, sign a lot of autographs, then go back to Vegas and tell my alumni how tough recruiting is. — Jerry Tarkanian

Coaching has been my entire life. — Jerry Tarkanian

During the scrimmage, Tarkanian paced the sideline with his hands in his pockets while biting his nails. — Jerry Tarkanian

The more your players have to think on the basketball court, the slower their feet get. — Jerry Tarkanian