Coach K steps off the court for the last time
Brayden Allen, Staff Writer
The college basketball season has reached its end as the Kansas Jayhawks took the crown, defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels in the championship game. The season was filled with great games and great play but it ends unlike any other.
The closing of the 2022 season marked the official end for the career of a basketball legend. After coming up short in a final four matchup against rival North Carolina, famed Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski has officially retired.
Krzyzewski announced his retirement at the beginning of the 2022 season after coaching the Blue Devils for more than 40 years.
The Duke great began his career playing at the college level where he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point where he played guard from 1966 to 1969 under coach Bob Knight. In his senior season he was a captain of the West Point basketball team, leading the Black Knights to the National Invitational Tournament where they finished fourth.
Following his playing career, Krzyzewski served in the United States Army from 1969 to 1974. He followed Knight to Indiana after his discharge, where he served as an assistant during the Hoosiers ‘74-75 season.
He returned to his alma mater at age 28 as a head coach. In his five seasons with Army, he led them to a 73-59 record and a berth in the NIT in 1978.
Krzyzewski officially became head coach at Duke University on March 18, 1980. He began his tenure by rebuilding the program but went to create a dynasty.
In his career, Coach K led the Blue Devils to five national titles, 13 final fours, 15 Atlantic Coast Conference championships and 13 ACC regular season titles. His resume led him to be regarded as one the greatest college basketball coaches of all time.
Krzyzewski also coached numerous United States national teams, leading to gold medals at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics. He led the national team to gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 International Basketball Association World Cup and as an assistant in the 1992 Olympics with the famous dream team which included names such as Micheal Jordan, Larry Byrd, Charles Barkley and Karl Malone.
The impact of the legendary coach’s career stretches far beyond the courts of division I as his name is known to all those who play basketball. His career made an impact on players with the team at North Greenville University.
“It’s a big time retirement in the whole game of basketball,” said redshirt freshman Caleb Williams. “Coach K has influenced the game not only in college but in the professionals as well.”
“He’s by far the best and most successful collegiate coach of all time,” said redshirt freshman Zak Perdew. “He definitely set the standard in how he recruited and coached. When you think of Coach K you think of excellence and success and honesty just dominance in college basketball and that’s what all us athletes strive towards.”
Following Krzyzewski’s retirement, Duke named assistant and associate head coach Jon Scheyer as the replacement. Scheyer played for the Blue Devils from 2006 to 2010 during Krzyzewksi’s tenure.
*Featured Image: Teams meet during a timeout during the first rounds of the 2022 NCAA tournament in Greenville, SC. The Blue Devils competed in Greenville as they took on the California State Fullerton Titans and the Michigan State Spartans, Friday, Mar. 18, 2022. Photo by Kasie Thomas.
