After 42 years, the era of coach Krzyzewski ends in a dramatic way
Sitting down, Mike Krzyzewski watched the final seconds of his career. “I’ll be fine,” assured the coach after 42 years at Duke
Those: AP / Brynn Anderson
Mike Krzyzewski was a sideline coach at Duke University for more than four decades. Now an extraordinary career of an extraordinary man has come to a dramatic end. But Krzyzewski once again showed greatness.
AWhen Mike William Krzyzewski accepted the offer to coach Duke University, Jimmy Carter was still in the White House as President of the United States. From 1980, Krzyzewski coached the basketball team at the prestigious East Coast University. The era of Coach K, as he is usually called due to the difficult pronunciation of his last name, ended last night after a dramatic game.
In his last game on the Duke Blue Devils touchline, Krzyzewski missed the college basketball finals by a narrow margin. The 75-year-old and his team lost a high-class semi-final 77:81 against the North Carolina Tar Heels, their great arch-rival.
“First of all, congratulations to North Carolina. It’s not about me, it’s about the lads here,” said Krzyzewski, who is loved by the players for his warm personality, as usual after the defeat. He followed the last few seconds of the game stoically from his chair in front of the substitutes’ bench before setting off to congratulate his fellow coach Hubert Davis. Coach K missed his tenth final in 42 years with the Blue Devils.
Fair loser: Mike Krzyzewski (left) congratulates his coaching colleague Hubert Davis after the game
Source: AP / Gerald Herbert
The two long-time rivals gave nothing in the 40 minutes of play. The arena was filled with extraordinary energy in the minutes leading up to kick-off. A crowd of 70,602 watched over the next two hours as the lead changed a total of 18 times.
One of the most successful coaches in history
“I think the mood was as great as one could have expected,” explained Krzyzewski after the game. “I mean, the spectators stood for most of the game. It was an amazing game.” North Carolina’s Caleb Love decided the game, converting two crucial free throws eight seconds from time.
North Carolina’s final opponent on Monday will be the Kansas Jayhawks. They defeated the Villanova Wildcats 81:65 and now want to fulfill their dream of the title after they were the best team in 2020 but there was no final tournament due to the corona pandemic.
More than 70,000 spectators created an electrifying atmosphere in the arena in New Orleans
Source: AFP / TOM PENNINGTON
Despite the defeat, Mike Krzyzewski can look back on an impressive career. The son of Polish immigrants, who played at the West Point Military Academy when he was young, is one of the most successful basketball coaches in the United States, although he never coached an NBA team.
With Duke, Krzyzewski won five national collegiate championships. From 2006 to 2016 he simultaneously coached the USA national team and won three Olympic gold medals.
Farewell after 42 years in the arena
“I’ll be fine,” assured Krzyzewski at his last press conference as a coach and then began to declare his love for his job.
Mike Krzyzewski at the press conference after losing the semifinals against North Carolina
Source: AFP / TOM PENNINGTON
“I was lucky to be in the arena. And when you’re in the arena, you either come out feeling great or in pain, but you’ll always feel great because you were in the arena. And I’m sure that’s exactly what I’ll miss when I look back,” Krzyzewski said, continuing: “I won’t be in the arena anymore. But damn, I’ve been in the arena for a long time. And these kids have made my last time in the arena a great time.”
After the press round, Krzyzewski walked a few steps behind a black curtain to his wife Mickie, who had been waiting for him, and the Coach K chapter was over.
