Coach K Has inspired me to become a better person in Basketball and outside of basketball not to make bad decisions in life. Coach K should try to reach out to those ones that didn’t make it to the team because he did to me and it was amazing what happened just seeing how much he cared about the little things and not all the big things. Coach K is a Dream achiever.

A dear friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago. He has been a Duke fan since he was little but never had the opportunity to visit as he is not from here. About a month ago, he came for his first visit ever to NC. I wanted to surprise him with tickets to a Duke game, but knew how difficult that would be; maybe even impossible to obtain tickets. However, on the morning of the Duke vs Maryland game, I received a phone call that he would be able to attend! Coach K did not have to give my friend a ticket to the game, but he did out of the kindness in his heart. My friend had a once in a lifetime opportunity and was able to check item one off his “bucket list”. Thank you Coach K and staff for making my dear friend’s dream come true!

I was a delivery driver in the DUKE- Durham area, and back in 2000 I was making a delivery to the athletic center that they were doing construction on. I was in the back of the truck gathering the equipment to hand it down to the crew, and I asked the guy on the ground if he ever sees any of the basketball coaches or team, and he told me that every day (tues & thurs) at about that same time (5-5:30) Coach K would arrive there to play racquetball with one of his assistant coaches, and this was about that time of the day. So I thought to myself, “yeah right”.

Needless to say the guy then says to me, “look! there, he is right now.” I glanced across the area, (we were around back of the building) and there was a white buick coming through all the mud puddles rather quickly, it stops about 20 feet from me and sure enough out gets Coach K! He had on white shorts, a white nike shirt and white nike shoes. He starts stretching exercises against the back of his car, I couldn’t believe my eyes, I live in Goldsboro and have never seen anyone famous! (I have been a 20 yr Duke fan) I said to him”Coach K” and he looked at me, then I said “how are ya?” AND HE ACTUALLY TOOK THE TIME TO SAY, “fine and how are you?” I was lost for words, I do not even remember what if anything I said in response!!!!!!!! But I just could not believe he actually spoke directly to me, i will never forget it.

It was probably no big deal to most people, but it sure was to me! I just think he is a role model, and a really down to earth honest man. You can also tell by his sportsmanship after games when he usually pats the opposing coaches and players (win or lose) on the chest with his left hand while he shakes their hand with his right. What a guy!