Mike Krzyzewski

Michael William "Mike" Krzyzewski ( /ʃəˈʃɛvski/ shə-shev-ski; Polish: Krzyżewski [kʂɨˈʐɛ(f)ski]; nicknamed "Coach K"; born February 13, 1947) is an American basketball coach and former player. Since 1980, he has served as the head men's basketball coach at Duke University. At Duke, Krzyzewski has led the Blue Devils to four NCAA Championships, 11 Final Fours, 12 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular season titles, and 13 ACC Tournament championships. Krzyzewski is also the coach of the United States men's national basketball team, whom he led to a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2010 FIBA World Championship. He was an assistant coach on the 1992 "Dream Team".

From 1975 to 1980, Krzyzewski was the head basketball coach at the United States Military Academy, where he played from 1966 to 1969 under Bob Knight. Krzyzewski has amassed a record 79 NCAA tournament victories, while averaging 25 wins per season.^[1] He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame following the 2001 season. On November 15, 2011, Krzyzewski led Duke to a 74–69 victory over Michigan State at Madison Square Garden to become the coach with the most wins in NCAA Division I men's basketball history. Krzyzewski's 903rd victory surpassed the previous record of 902 held by his former coach, Knight.

Early years and playing career

Krzyzewski was born in Chicago, llinois, the son of Polish American parents Emily M. (née Pituch) and William Krzyzewski.^[2][3] He has roots in the Pittsburgh area, as his maternal grandparents emigrated from Poland to Keisterville, Pennsylvania. Up until he was 10 or 12, he visited there every summer; Krzyzewski had stated that he suspects the purpose of such trips was to "teach you to know where you came from and to be proud of it."^[4]

Raised as a Catholic, Krzyzewski attended Archbishop Weber High School in Chicago, a Catholic prep school for boys.^[5] He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1969, and played basketball under Bob Knight while training to become an officer in the Army. In 2005 he was presented West Point's Distinguished Graduate Award.^[6] He was captain of the Army basketball team in his senior season, 1968–69, leading his team to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) at Madison Square Garden in New York City. From 1969 to 1974, Krzyzewski served in the Army and directed service teams for three years, and then followed that up with two years as head coach of the U.S. Military Academy Prep School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Coaching career

Duke

On March 18, 1980, Krzyzewski was named the head coach at Duke University after five seasons at Army.^[7] After a few rebuilding seasons, he and the Blue Devils became a fixture on the national basketball scene with 27 NCAA Tournament berths in the past 28 years and 16 consecutive from 1996 to 2011, which is the second-longest current streak of tournament appearances behind Kansas, which has appeared in the tournament in 22 consecutive seasons. Overall, he has taken his program to postseason play in 28 of his 31 years at Duke and is the most winning active coach in men's NCAA Tournament play with a 79–23 record for a .775 winning percentage. His Duke teams have won 13 ACC Championships, been to 11 Final Fours, and won four NCAA tournament National Championships.

On February 13, 2010, Krzyzewski coached in his 1000th game as the Duke head coach. On March 20, 2011, Krzyzewski won his 900th game, becoming only the second head coach with at least 900 wins, the other being his head coach at Army, Bob Knight.^[8] On November 15, 2011, Krzyzewski got his 903rd win passing Knight's record for most Division I wins. In an interview of both men on ESPN the previous night, Krzyzewski discussed the leadership skills he learned from Knight and the United States Military Academy. Knight credited Krzyzewski's understanding of himself and his players as keys to his success over the years.^[9]

International

Krzyzewski has been the head coach of several USA men's national teams, winning a silver medal at the 1987 World University Games, a bronze medal at the 1990 FIBA World Championship, a silver medal at the 1990 Goodwill Games, a bronze medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, and gold medals at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, the 2010 FIBA World Championship, and 2008 Summer Olympics. He was also an assistant coach to the USA teams which won gold medals at the 1984 and 1992 Olympics as well as the 1979 Pan American Games Team and 1992 Tournament of the Americas.

In 2005, he was appointed coach of the national team through the Beijing Olympics. In the 2006 FIBA World Championship, the USA won the bronze medal after losing in the semifinals to Greece and then beating defending Olympic gold medalist Argentina for third place. On August 24, 2008, Krzyzewski's U.S. team won the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. "The Redeem Team" finished the tournament with a perfect 8–0 record. He coached the U.S. team for the 2010 FIBA World Championship and led Team USA to a perfect 8-0 record, defeating host Turkey in the gold medal game, 81–64. Krzyzewski has amassed a total record of 35–1 (.972) as head coach of the USA National Team through the 2010 FIBA World Championship. The team has captured three golds (FIBA Americas Championship 2007, 2008 Summer Olympics, and the 2010 FIBA World Championship) and one bronze (2006 FIBA World Championship). His teams have yet to lose in pool play.

Awards and recognition

During his long tenure at Duke, Krzyzewski has been given the opportunity to coach in the NBA five times. The first time came after the 1990 season when he led the Blue Devils to their third straight Final Four appearance. The Boston Celtics offered a coaching position to Krzyzewski, but he soon declined their offer. The next season, Krzyzewski proceeded to lead the Blue Devils to the first of two straight national championships. In 1994, he was pursued by the Portland Trail Blazers, but again he chose to stay with Duke. In 2004, Krzyzewski was also interviewed by the Los Angeles Lakers following the departure of high-profile coach Phil Jackson. He was given a formal offer from Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, reportedly for five years, $40 million and part ownership, but again turned down the NBA. In 2010, the New Jersey Nets were reportedly willing to pay Krzyzewski between $12 million and $15 million per season to coach the Nets. Krzyzewski again declined the offer and stayed at Duke.^[10]. In 2011, Krzyzewski was offered the vacant coaching position for the Minnesota Timberwolves

Duke has named the floor at its basketball venue, Cameron Indoor Stadium, "Coach "K" Court" in his honor. Similarly, the grassy area outside of Cameron has been named Krzyzewskiville or "K-Ville." On February 28, 2007, Duke named its new basketball practice facility the "Michael W. Krzyzewski Center" — Dedicated to Academic & Athletic Excellence. The 56,000-square-foot (5,200 m²) building was dedicated on February 8, 2008, and also houses the Academic Support Center for all of Duke's 600 student-athletes and an expanded Sports Hall of Fame and event center.

His alma mater inducted him into its sports hall of fame on September 11, 2009, the night before the Army vs. Duke football game.^[11] Additionally, West Point annually awards the "Coach K Teaching Character Through Sports" award each spring to cadets and coaches who display superior ethics and character through sport.^[12]

Krzyzewski has won the following awards:

• 1986, Basketball Times, CBS/Chevrolet, UPI National COY awards
• 1989, Naismith National COY
• 1991, United States Sports Academy awarded Kryzewski the Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award.^[13]
• 2001, Victor Award
• 1984, ACC COY
• 1986, ACC COY
• 1997, ACC COY
• 1999, ACC COY
• 2000, ACC COY
• 2010, Chris Phillips Award
• 2001, Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame.
• 2001, Time magazine and CNN named Krzyzewski "America's Best Coach"; the award was not limited to any particular sport.
• 2008, United States Sports Academy awarded Krzyzewski the Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award.^[13]
• 2011, Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year"

Coaching tree

Nine of Krzyzewski's players and assistant coaches have become head coaches at other schools:

• Tommy Amaker: Seton Hall (1997–2001), Michigan (2001–2007), Harvard (2007–present)
• Bob Bender: Washington (1993–2002)
• Mike Brey: Delaware (1995–2000), Notre Dame (2000–present)
• Jeff Capel: VCU (2002–2006), Oklahoma (2006–2011)
• Johnny Dawkins: Stanford (2008-present)
• Mike Dement: UNC Greensboro (1991–1995, 2005–2011), SMU (1995–2004)
• David Henderson: Delaware (2000–2006)
• Tim O'Toole: Fairfield (1998–2006)
• Quin Snyder: Missouri (1999–2006), NBDL Austin Toros (2007–2010)

Three former players—Steve Wojciechowski, Chris Collins, and Jeff Capel—currently work under him as assistants at Duke. Another former player and assistant, Nate James, works under him as a special assistant. No team coached by one of Krzyzewski's former players has beaten the Blue Devils. However, during the 2007 NCAA tournament (1st round) the Blue Devils fell to Virginia Commonwealth University, whose core players had been recruited by former VCU coach Jeff Capel before he left for the head coaching position at Oklahoma. Krzyzewski has also coached NBA general managers: Danny Ferry, formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Billy King, of the New Jersey Nets. Former player and captain Chip Engelland has served as assistant coach and shooting specialist to the San Antonio Spurs since 2005, Quin Snyder is an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, Bob Bender is an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks and Chris Carrawell, is an assistant coach for the Springfield Armor of the NDBL.^[14]

Family and charity

Krzyzewski married his wife, Carol "Mickie" Marsh, in the Catholic chapel at West Point on the day of his graduation in 1969. They have three daughters and seven grandchildren.^[15] His charitable activities have included the Emily Krzyzewski Center, a community center in Durham named after his mother, as well as the Duke Children’s Hospital, the Children's Miracle Network, and the V Foundation for Cancer Research.^[5]

Head coaching record

^[16]

See also

• List of college men's basketball coaches with 600 wins
• List of NCAA Men's Division I Final Four appearances by coach
• List of NCAA Men's Division I Elite Eight appearances by coach
• NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament consecutive appearances

Notes

References

External links

• Official website
• Duke profile
• Mike Krzyzewski at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame