Ara Parseghian Quotes

Powerful Ara Parseghian for Daily Growth

About Ara Parseghian

Ara Parseghian, born on January 31, 1923, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, was an influential American football coach of Armenian descent. Known not only for his coaching prowess but also for his profound quotes that echo wisdom beyond the gridiron, he made significant contributions to sports and education. Raised in a family deeply rooted in athletics, Parseghian played baseball and basketball at McKeesport High School before attending Notre Dame University on a football scholarship. After serving as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, he returned to Notre Dame to complete his degree and start his coaching career. Parseghian began his coaching tenure at Northwestern University, where he spent 10 years before taking over the legendary Notre Dame football program in 1956. His 11-year tenure at Notre Dame is considered one of the most successful in the school's history, with a 95-17-4 record and three national championships (1966, 1973, and 1974). In 1974, Parseghian left Notre Dame to coach the NFL's New York Giants. However, he returned to South Bend in 1980 as athletic director until his retirement in 1985. Throughout his career, Parseghian's philosophy was not just about winning games but also instilling values and discipline into young men. Parseghian's quotes reflect this approach, such as "Coaching is not a spectator sport," emphasizing the active role coaches play in shaping their teams' success. Another quote, "The best way to predict your future is to create it," reflects his belief in the power of determination and hard work. After retiring from coaching, Parseghian remained involved in sports and education, serving on various boards and advisory committees. He passed away on August 2, 2017, leaving behind a legacy that extends far beyond the football field.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will."

This quote suggests that success is not simply about having physical or mental abilities, or even knowledge, but rather it hinges on one's willpower - the determination, persistence, and resilience to pursue goals despite challenges. In other words, a successful person is one who chooses to exert their will over obstacles, refusing to give up when faced with difficulties.


"You can't build character and courage by taking away a man's pain."

This quote emphasizes that adversity or pain is an essential part of human growth and development, as it fosters character and cultivates courage in individuals. Trying to shield someone from hardship or struggle denies them the opportunity to learn resilience, grit, and inner strength. Instead, a supportive environment should allow people to face challenges, enabling them to grow and become stronger characters.


"Success comes from having dreams that are bigger than your fears."

This quote emphasizes that success is a product of having aspirations that outweigh one's apprehensions or fears. It encourages individuals to set ambitious goals, to dream big, as these dreams serve as powerful motivators in overcoming the obstacles and challenges that fear often presents. In essence, it suggests that by pushing beyond our self-imposed limits, we are more likely to achieve significant success.


"The secret is to make the team bigger than any one individual."

This quote by Ara Parseghian emphasizes the importance of teamwork over individual egos or talents in achieving success. By fostering a cohesive, united team where everyone feels valued, the sum of all parts becomes greater than the individual constituents. In such an environment, collective effort and collaboration lead to greater achievements and overall success.


"In coaching, you have to be able to say to a guy, 'Joe, I'm sorry, but I can't use you.' And then he has to be able to say, 'Coach, I understand and I'll keep working.'"

This quote by Ara Parseghian emphasizes the importance of honesty, understanding, and resilience in coaching relationships. The coach is expected to make tough decisions, including when a player may not be suitable for the team or role. At the same time, the player must be willing to accept this constructive criticism, understand its reasoning, and remain dedicated to improvement. This dynamic fosters trust, respect, and growth within a team.


One thing about Notre Dame, it's like a service academy in a lot of ways. There is a closeness.

- Ara Parseghian

Like, Notre Dame, One Thing, Closeness

When you set these high expectations and goals, and they are demolished so early in the season, that has an effect on the psyche. It wears you down.

- Ara Parseghian

Down, Set, Wears, Psyche

The harder you work, the less mistakes you make. The fewer mistakes you make, the better your chances of winning.

- Ara Parseghian

Work, Winning, Better, Chances

The 1973 team is real special. I had never coached against Bear Bryant. Alabama had never played Notre Dame. It was North against South; the Catholics against the Baptists; both teams were undefeated, and everything was on the line.

- Ara Parseghian

Against, Coached, South, Undefeated

If you can hang in games by staying close defensively, then good things can happen.

- Ara Parseghian

Happen, Hang, Staying, Defensively

You learn early in athletics that you'll have ups and downs.

- Ara Parseghian

Ups And Downs, Learn, Downs, Ups

It's not true that I never left South Bend to recruit a player. It is true that I didn't leave very often.

- Ara Parseghian

Often, Very, South, Recruit

I've missed the association with players and coaches but haven't missed the recruiting and the travel.

- Ara Parseghian

Missed, Coaches, Players, Recruiting

External pressure I never worried about.

- Ara Parseghian

Pressure, Never, About, External

I was a 52-year-old coach. But people don't realize I had 25 years as a head coach. Most coaches my age only had a few years as head coach. I had six years at Miami of Ohio, eight years at Northwestern, 11 at Notre Dame.

- Ara Parseghian

Years, Ohio, Had, Northwestern

I coached at Northwestern for eight years, where the admission requirements were high.

- Ara Parseghian

High, Requirements, Coached, Northwestern

I remember virtually everything about every loss. And the wins are hardly memorable.

- Ara Parseghian

Remember, Loss, Wins, Hardly

I'd go to clinics and hear coaches say, 'You block with your helmet. You tackle with your helmet.' I'd say, 'No way! You block with your shoulder. It's a lot stronger blow, and you don't risk nearly as much. Why be stupid?'

- Ara Parseghian

Stupid, Clinics, Nearly, Blow

I came to Notre Dame to renew the winning tradition.

- Ara Parseghian

Winning, Notre Dame, Came, Renew

I've been blessed in many ways, but none of the heights from football can ever compare to the depths you go through when you lose a child.

- Ara Parseghian

Through, Been, Compare, Depths

Whether you like it or not, you're a national figure after five games at Notre Dame.

- Ara Parseghian

Like, Notre Dame, Figure, Dame

I had grown up during a time when Notre Dame football was held in the highest esteem. I listened to all of the games on the radio.

- Ara Parseghian

Esteem, Notre Dame, Held, Dame

The most difficult problem about coaching at Notre Dame is losing early.

- Ara Parseghian

Problem, Notre Dame, Most, Dame

The best way I could describe it at Notre Dame was that I was accepted as a member of the family.

- Ara Parseghian

Could, Notre Dame, Best Way, Dame

After Notre Dame, what is there?

- Ara Parseghian

Notre Dame, After, Dame

My kids grew up here. My son and daughter both went to Notre Dame.

- Ara Parseghian

Son, Here, Notre Dame, Dame

That's one thing: When I left Notre Dame, when I left every school, what I'm the proudest of is we never compromised the rules, never were on probation, never had any major problems of any kind.

- Ara Parseghian

Kind, Notre Dame, One Thing, Dame

I remember when I drove into Notre Dame, getting ready for the first day of work. I had an electrical charge go up my back because I realized all of a sudden that I was responsible for the traditions that the Knute Rocknes and the Frank Leahys had set, and what Notre Dame stood for.

- Ara Parseghian

I Remember, Back, Frank, Dame

I can't think of anything that's hit me harder in my life than when I learned that three of our youngest grandchildren were diagnosed with Niemann-Pick C.

- Ara Parseghian

My Life, Think, Learned, Diagnosed

Success in football is relative. If you take a job at a school that finished with a 1-9 record the year before, you're considered a good coach if you finish 5-5 in your first season. But what happens if you start with 8-2 or 9-1?

- Ara Parseghian

Year, Before, Considered, Season

The burdens of being a head coach are different from being an assistant. If I had been an assistant coach for awhile, then become a head coach, I probably would have lasted longer.

- Ara Parseghian

Been, Assistant, Head Coach, Burdens

To me, going for a tie means kicking the extra point for a tie instead of going for a two-point conversion to win.

- Ara Parseghian

Tie, Kicking, Means, Extra

It's a terrific honor. To be associated with the number of people who represent the Cradle of Coaches, it's sort of unreal in a sense.

- Ara Parseghian

Honor, Sense, Cradle, Represent

When I make a fist, it's strong, and you can't tear it apart. As long as there's unity, there's strength.

- Ara Parseghian

Strength, Strong, Fist, Apart

You're going to have disappointments. But how you handle those disappointments is the important thing for you and everybody that's around you. That's what I found from being not only a player but also a coach.

- Ara Parseghian

Handle, Going, Everybody, Disappointments

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