On February 13, 1947 Michael William Krzyzewski was born to William and Emily Krzyzewski in Chicago, Illinois. On many summer trips to his grandparents house in Keisterville, Pennsylvania, Mike learned that these visits “teach you to know where you came from and to be proud of it.” Mike then went on to the United States Military Academy where he went on to graduate in 1969; following graduation, he served four years in the military and directed service teams for three years after that. While at West Point, Mike had the opportunity to play basketball. He was named captain in his fourth and final season of his playing career. Krzyzewski also had the opportunity to learn from one of the best coaches in college basketball history, Bobby Knight, and thus the glorious coaching career of Mike Krzyzewski began.
After Mike completed his service requirements from the Army, he joined the Indiana Hoosiers as an assistant to men’s basketball head coach, Bob Knight. That year Indiana went 31-1, but lost in the Regional Final in the NCAA Tournament to the eventual runner-up Kentucky Wildcats. Following the season, Krzyzewski returned to West Point to be the head coach. During this five-year period as head coach, Krzyzewski lead the Black Knights to a 73-59 record and one NIT berth. On March 18, 1980, Krzyzewski was hired by the Blue Devils; as a result of this coaching change, the basketball program of Duke University would change forever. After a bit of a rebuilding effort, “Coach K” turned Duke into a college basketball national powerhouse.
On November 15, 2011 Coach K faced a milestone very few coaches have been able to reach. Coach K and the Duke Blue Devils faced Michigan St. at Madison Square Garden. Before the opening tip Coach K was sitting at 902 all-time wins, tied with his former coach Bobby Knight. Knight was in attendance for the game, broadcasting the game for ESPN. The Blue Devils won the game 74-69, giving Krzyzewski his 903rd win, passing Knight and becoming the winningest NCAA Men’s College Basketball coach of all-time. After the game, Coach K did not want the attention on him, but rather upon his team and its big victory.
Once again in Madison Square Garden, the most famous arena in the world, Krzyzewski faced another milestone is in illustrious career: his 1,000 victory. At halftime Duke was trailing by four and St, John’s was rolling; as soon as the second half started, St. John’s picked up right where it left off and Duke came out flat. With around six minutes to go, St. John’s was up ten and it looked like Krzyzewski would have to wait for another day to get number 1,000; however, at this time, junior center Marshall Plumlee was substituted in and Duke started rolling. Plumlee gave the Blue Devils a huge boost of energy and they rallied together and pulled out the 77-68 victory. This victory was the typical “Krzyzewski Victory” because Coach K noticed a mismatch on the court and he knew he had a player on his bench that would tilt that matchup in Duke’s favor as it did. Krzyzewski is one of the best “in-game adjustment” coaches ever, and it continues to present itself time and time again.
Krzyzewski is considered by many the best coach to ever live, and as of now he does not show any intentions of retiring, although he is 68 years old. He has a host of accolades, including four NCAA National Championships, thirteen Conference Championships (ACC), he is a three-time College Coach of the Year recipient and has two Olympic Gold Medals for Team USA (as a coach). He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001, and inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. He has over 1,000 career wins as a head coach. Krzyzewski has had an incredible career that has routinely changed and defined the game. In a recent interview, Coach K said that he is looking forward to what lies ahead for him in basketball and beyond.