Krzyzewski, A Gentleman and Scholar

Jimmy Valvano at N.C. State, Dean Smith at UNC, and Pat Summitt at Tennessee. Coaches who have become commanding role models of their sport; famous for how deeply beloved they are, by their universities.   

Thanks to college football and the work of people such as Lane Kiffin and Urban Meyer, there has developed a misconception that just because someone is a coach of a legendary college program, respect is automatically deserved. The wins, the money, and the fans stadium have become the only thing relevant to those in power, in a sport poisoned by conference re-alignment. Thankfully, leaders of institutions such as those aforementioned give hope to those not impressed by million-dollar extensions. There are things much more important, such as philanthropy, ambition, and class. 

There is a very small group of figures in college sports who are so strongly associated with one university,  and at the same time so beloved for their work off the court, that they survive the test of time and of a losing season. In my hometown of Durham, North Carolina, Blue Devils are unanimous in their allegiance, respect, and love for coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Coach K, the winningest mens coach of all time, has won 4 national championships, a FIBA world championship, and most importantly the almighty Olympic gold medal. UNC will always have the indisputable argument, “We had Michael Jordan,” but since 2008 Duke can say, “The United States of America chose our coach, and not yours.” Krzyzewski became the first and only college basketball coach to coach the Men’s team in the Olympics; an honor capped by the re-gaining of superiority and the gold medal, after eight years of yearning and mediocrity. As impressive as his accomplishments are on the hardwood, his accomplishments off are arguably more so, as portrayed by his motto “I don’t want you armed for the game, I want you armed for life.”

It was announced on January 10^th, 2012, that Mike Krzyzewski will receive the second annual Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award. The award, first given to Dick Vitale in 2011, marks the accomplishments of someone involved with college basketball, who strives to make a positive difference in society. As a fan of the Blue Devils and of a man who truly is a humanitarian, I could not be happier for the winningest of all time. Not everything is about money, and piling up the wins; I believe that, and Coach K exemplifies it. His philanthropy extends to the Emily Krzyzewski Center (a community center in Durham named after his mother), the Duke Children’s Hospital, the Children's Miracle Network, and the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research (for which he is a board member). 

There are countless people who earn millions of dollars, and meanwhile they’re getting arrested or getting caught up in a scandal when they don’t even care. These people (Gilbert Arenas) do not deserve any of the fame and fortune they receive, but people like Mike Krzyzewski deserve 10 times as much, while they’re already giving what they have back to society.

K’s work and devotion to the welfare of his community, his players, and his family is an inspiration to myself and millions more. Someone like John Calipari abuses his coaching abilities by producing problematic, immature players such as John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, and Tyreke Evans; all one-and-dones (See where I’m going with this???). On the other hand, a coach like Krzyzewski grooms his players for impressive careers, and teaches them the utmost meaning of discipline, respect, and showmanship: Shane Battier, Grant Hill, Elton Brand. Duke players rise, fall, succeed, fail. While none of them are perfect, the reputations of anyone associated with Mike Krzyzewski are preceded by the decorum instilled in them by their coach.

I am honored to be a Duke fan, supporting the greatest program in college basketball, led by a giant and humanitarian. Never has he breached ethics, never has he endangered his university of players- it has been 32 years of pure delight. Delight, basketball, and passion. LETS-GO-DUKE.