Author: Monojit Mandal
The NBA has announced that Mike Krzyzewski, the great basketball coach and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, has taken on a new role as special advisor for basketball operations. Krzyzewski, known for his historic achievements in college basketball, will now provide advice and expertise to the league office, NBA franchise executives and other important people in the basketball world.
Krzyzewski, who just resigned after a 47-year career as a college basketball head coach that included 42 seasons at Duke and five seasons at Army West Point, brings a plethora of knowledge and experience to his new position. With an overall record of 1,202-368 (.766) and an incredible record of 1,129-309 (.785) at Duke, he cemented his place as the winningest men’s coach in NCAA history, achieving unprecedented success at a single institution.
Krzyzewski won five national titles at Duke and made a record 13 trips to the Final Four as head coach. His success continued in the NCAA Tournament, where he has the most wins (101) and appearances (36) of any head coach. Duke averaged more than 27 wins each season under his direction, and spent 127 weeks as the top-ranked team in the Associated Press Top 25 College Basketball Poll, a feat unmatched by any other coach.
Krzyzewski’s influence on the game goes beyond university level. From 2005 to 2016, he was also the coach of the US senior men’s national basketball team. During this period, he enjoyed incredible success, compiling an 88-1 record, including a perfect 24-0 record at the Olympics. The United States won three consecutive Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012 and 2016), two FIBA Basketball World Cup championships (2010 and 2014) and a FIBA America’s Cup victory (2007) under his guidance. His services represented the first time a basketball coach had led a country to three consecutive Olympic victories and two consecutive World Cup victories.
Krzyzewski’s effect on player development demonstrates his impact on the sport. He coached 73 NBA Draft picks at Duke, including 46 first-round picks and four No. 1 overall picks.