Some of the most inspirational speeches have been given by sports coaches. Whether they are movies about football or movies about the Olympics, one thing they have in common is, at the moment of need, the head coach delivered an impactful speech that turned the game around for the players. The coaches in sports movies and even sports biopics play influential roles in their players' lives.

Most of the sports movies on this list are based on true life events, while some are fiction that made for great cinema. Regardless of the background, the one thing they all have in common is the coaches. While there are a number of great speeches given by coaches, here are some of our favorite speeches from coaches in sports movies, ranked.

7 Dan Devine — Rudy

Sean Astin in Rudy
TriStar Pictures

"No one, and I mean no one, comes into our house and pushes us around."

Rudy is based on the true story of Rudy Ruettiger, the five-foot-six defensive end who went through three rejections before being accepted to his dream school, Notre Dame. The film centers around his time at Notre Dame and his pursuit of a spot on the football team. Coach Dan Devine, played by Chelcie Ross, does not have many motivational speeches in the film. The one he does have comes from inside the locker room. It's short and sweet, but powerful.

Related: Best Coaches in Sports Movies, Ranked

6 Norman Dale — Hoosiers

Hoosiers
Orion Pictures

"And most important, don't get caught up thinking about winning or losing this game. If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game. In my book, we're gonna be winners!"

Also inspired by true events, Hoosiers takes place on the basketball court for a small-town Indiana basketball team. This speech took place at the Indiana Regionals final game during which the team had to face their toughest opponent yet. Coach Norman Dale, played by Gene Hackman, goes through his own journey in this film that shows him first as a tough "no attitude" coach to one who is backed fully by his team. It seems that both the players and the coach needed each other to win state.

5 Herb Brooks — Miracle

Kurt-Russells-best-movies-ranked
The Walt Disney Company

"Great moments are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here, tonight. One game. If we played them ten times, they might win nine. But not this game, not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them, and we shut them down because we can. Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world."

As one of the tougher coaches on this list, in Miracle, Coach Herb Brooks was not known to be an easy-to-like person. The strict coach of the 1980s US Men's Hockey Olympic Team may not have won a medal for the nicest coach around, but he sure as hell did as far as motivation goes. This based-on true events film covers the unconventional men's hockey team that Coach Brooks put together. The rag-tag bunch of college players ended up beating a seemingly unbeatable Soviet team to win gold in the 1980s Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.

4 Jack Lengyel — We Are Marshall

we-are-marshall
McG

"When you take that field today, you've gotta lay that heart on the line, men. From the souls of your feet, with every ounce of blood you've got in your body, lay it on the line until the final whistle blows. And if you do that, if you do that, we cannot lose. We may be behind on the scoreboard at the end of the game, but if you play like that, we cannot be defeated... How you play today, from this moment on, is how you will be remembered. This is your opportunity to rise from these ashes and grab glory."

Perhaps one of the saddest true stories in sports history comes from the story of the 1970 Marshall University team that saw 75 of its players, coaches, boosters, and trainers killed in a plane crash. In We Are Marshall, Jack Lengyel takes the position as head coach and petitions the NCAA to ask for their freshman players to take the field. The film goes through the healing that everyone in the school and the community goes through. The quirky coach inserts himself in the community and does his best to both honor the dead and show respect for the new players.

Related: The Best Sports Documentaries on Amazon Prime Video

3 Herman Boone — Remember the Titans

Titans (1)
Walt Disney Pictures

"If we don't come together, right now, on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed — just like they were. I don't care if you like each other or not, but you will respect each other. And maybe — I don't know — maybe we'll learn to play this game like men."

This speech takes place on the field where the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg took place. The Titans, who are the first football team to include both Black and white players, are headed by Coach Herman Boone, played by Denzel Washington, a Black man with zero tolerance for racism. During this speech in Remember the Titans, he reminds his players that respect is how they will come together, and with that, how they will succeed this season.

2 Gary Gaines — Friday Night Lights

billy-bob-thornton-friday-night-lights
Universal Pictures

"Can you live in that moment, as best you can, with clear eyes and love in your heart? With joy in your heart? If you can do that gentlemen, then you're perfect. I want you to take a moment. And I want you to look each other in the eyes. I want you to put each other in your hearts forever because forever's about to happen here in just a few minutes."

Friday Night Lights is based on the novel, Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H.G. Bissinger. Its plot centers around the 1988 Permian High School Panthers as they make a run for the state championship. Their star player is injured during the beginning of the season causing many to question the ability of Coach Gary Gaines, played by Billy Bob Thornton, to lead the team. They make it to the state championship despite their best player being hurt, which is where Coach Gaines gives his motivational speech. The team rallies, but it is not enough.

1 Tony D'Amato — Any Given Sunday

Foxx, Pacino, and Quaid in Any Given Sunday (1999)
Warner Bros.

"We’re in hell right now, gentlemen, believe me. And, we can stay here, get the shit kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb outta hell one inch at a time."

Backed by a star-studded cast that includes Al Pacino, Dennis Quaid, Cameron Diaz, James Woods, and Jamie Foxx, the 1999 film Any Given Sunday follows a fictional football team. After the quarterback suffers an injury, it's up to the third string quarterback to give the team a chance to make the playoffs. As more than just another football movie, this film also touches on a female owner in a male-dominated field and an aging coach who is forced to reevaluate all he knows about football.