CoachK.com » Coach K Stories – Official Website of Coach Mike Krzyzewski

Family

Jeff Klein — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:03:41 +0000

I am a retired Marine. For three fantastic years (I’ve been a Duke basketball fan since the eighties), I was the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor at Duke. Needless to say, my entire family have become Dukies. In 2006, my two boys were checking in for camp, and my wife Cindy was in the line for Coach K autographs. You made her year! When she told you that I was a Marine and had been in the battle of Fallujah, you gave her a hug, signed a ball for me that I treasure, and called your daughter with the husband then in Iraq over to introduce her.
You had me with the leadership evident in the carraige and comportment I saw in your players while on campus (I met pretty much all of the members of the 2001 team around campus at one point or another), and of course your service to your country. What you did with my wife was for her one of the most special moments of her life and cemented her as a Duke and Coach K fan forever. For that special moment, a wonderfully inscribed basketball, and for my sons still talking about who they let on their bus, I thank you.

1stSgt Brant Young
USMC (Ret.)

First Impressions

Jeff Klein — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:33:05 +0000

I grew up near Greensboro, NC and had the chance to attend my first Duke basketball game in 1988. I was 18 years old. Did I mention it was the championship game of the ACC Tournament v. Carolina??? I arrived early and walked down to court-side as the teams were on the floor warming up. I looked behind me and saw Jay Bilas. I asked him to sign, and he did. Then I called out to Coach K and asked if he would sign. He sent a security guard over who asked for my program and told me to meet him again after the game. Duke won the championship, of course, and the security guard returned my program to me… signed by every member of the team and all of the coaching staff, including coach K. during 1/2 time. What a memory!!!

Congrats on your all time wins record Coach K!

GO DUKE!

It is just not about basketball

Jeff Klein — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:35:16 +0000

I met Coach K at a fantasy basketball camp a number of years ago. A good friend of mine from High School has invited me to be his guest. I was recovering from a major surgery and he felt this would be a good way to pick up my spirits knowing how much I love basketball. Coach K and I spoke for nearly 20 minutes and the word basketball was never mentioned in our conversation. I realized that Coach K wasso much more than basketball. Granted he has accomplished a huge feet in surpassing Knight–but if you listen closely to Coach K it is not about his accomplishment. Very similiar to the converstaion I had with him–for Coach K he receives more satisfaction from molding young men into productive citizens, role models, and players that will do the right thing when faced with adversity. Coach K’s legacy will not be the number of wins he has achieved in coaching basketball games, it will be measured by the number of men that he has mentored.

Thanks for saving my sister

Jeff Klein — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:16:59 +0000

I would like to congratulate Coach K on his becoming the Division I most winningest coach. Way to go.

However, he is the most winningest coach in my families eyes for another reason. My sister was discovered to have a rather rare brain tumor in Oct. Her son-in-law, Jimmy Dykes, was at Duke and mentioned in front of Coach K that this was found and the prognosis was not good and we were told removal was not an option. I don’t know the whole story, but Coach K took it upon himself to contact “his buddy” Neurosurgeon Alan Friedman. He took a look at my sister’s case and was sure he could give us a better outcome. Things rolled pretty quickly after that. My sister, Robbie Prine, was contacted by neuro-oncologist Dr. Henry Friedman and it was set up for her to come to Duke. They were sure they could remove it. Long story short, these two brilliant men took excellent care of my sister and the tumor was resected “brilliantly” in the words of Dr. Henry Friedman, no chemo or radiation needed, and she is on the road to healing. She is traveling home today as I type this.

So, I’m thrilled he is so successful in his chosen career at Duke, but I am honored and humbled that a man of his stature would take the time to not just hear a story and forget about it, but to jump in and act – and in the opinion of everyone in my family – save her life by getting the ball rolling in the right direction.

This is not to belittle the work of the surgeons/staff/and everyone else involved in her care, but without Coach K making that initial important contact, none of this would have played out.

We will forever be indebted to him even though he doesn’t know who we are – we know him. He is dear to us all. Our Christmas list has grown significantly after this ordeal and Coach K is tops on the list with Drs. Alan and Henry Friedman right along side.

Again, Thank you, Thank you Coach K and may God bless you and all you hold dear.
You have given us the best Thanksgiving gift one can receive – our sister – healthy and tumor-free.

Forever in your debt,

Rachel Babb

Fort Carson Colorado 1/19 Artillery Division

Jeff Klein — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:15:19 +0000

Coach K, you probably do not remember many of the enlisted men during your time in the Army, but, I was assigned to HQ Company, 1/19th Artillery Division at Fort Carson. I was the HQ Company legal clerk and also the quarterback of the battalion football team. My company commander was Captainthe Endicott who you may or may not remember. I remember you clearly as a great sports enthusiastic and also one of the few officers who was someone that reached out to the enlisted personnel. We all saw you as someone with a unique quality in dealing with people. Wow! To be able at the age of 62 to say I knew you way before your great success is incredible.

I always remind my wife of 30 years and my three grown kids that I knew Coach K almost 40 years ago. Congratulations coach on becoming the coach with the most wins in college basketball history!

Wow! I knew you, played basketball with you and you even knew me as the battalion quarterback!

What an incredible legacy you have built! Best of luck in the years ahead Coach!

What an amazing man

Jeff Klein — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:25:20 +0000

Coach K is a teacher of young men. Of course we all think he knows baskedball like the back of his hand but he wants to create winners, thinkers, and friends. My whole classroom and home is dedicated to this man. (not Aaaron Rodgers, but a little Brett Favre.) He does thrown chairs or scream or holler. He pats his head and signals I saw one technical last year. Did I ever cheer. My whole life came true when I got to see Coach K at the Kohl center in Wisconsin. People complimened me on my wonderful coach. This man teaches critical thinking, smart ball handling, and teamwork. I think the wold of you Coach K. I’ll be writing soon for a new autograph.
Rhonda Pariso
Marinette, School District
Marinette, WI 54143

What I’ve learned from Coach K

Jeff Klein — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:10:54 +0000

Coack Krzyzewski has been an inspiration to me,and my family for many years. We are ” all ” such Duke fans, and even bigger fans of ” The Coach. ” He has taught me that winning-isn’t all that there is in life, it’s truly about how one plays the game. I greatly admire,how he leads by example,and I like his humility. A few years ago, I sent Coach K.-an e-mail,never expecting to get a reply…My dad who was ailing at the time is the ” biggest Duke fan ” around. I asked Coach K. if he would be kind enough to send my dad a picture of the team. Not only, did he send my dad an autographed picture with every player’s name-but he also wrote dad a personal message,and sent dad an autographed copy of his book! You should have seen the look on my dad’s face… Dad has requested to be buried with these items. Also- I am an American of Polish descent,and a native Chicagoan-just like Coach K. Could I be any more proud?? I wish him God’s blessings, and ” Let’s Go Duke. “

Life lessons from Coach K

Jeff Klein — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 05:24:28 +0000

I met my husband Kelly at a classic Duke/Carolina game back in January of 1988 in Chapel Hill. Little did we know at the time that our love for the Blue Devils would blossom into eternal love for each other. We will always remember Danny Ferry’s free throws sealing the deal with less than a minute to go in the enemy confines of the Dean Dome. Watching the Blue Devils over the years has always been ‘our thing’. Kelly and I have always been inspired by the words of our beloved Coach K. Whenever we face obstacles, we are reminded of this famous quote from Coach K that we have framed in our front hall way:

“When you are passionate, you always have your destination in sight and you are not distracted by obstacles. Because you love what you are pursuing, things like rejection and setbacks will not hinder you in your pursuit. You believe that nothing can stop you!”

Our kids are learning the same lessons of teamwork and integrity that Coach K has instilled in his Blue Devils over the years. One day, they will teach our grandchildren the same lessons.

Thank you Coach K!

Yours Sincerely,

Gina Hefner

Basketball Camp

Jeff Klein — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 21:07:54 +0000

Several years ago, I went to Coach K Basketball Camp at Duke. While I was there, Coach K taught us about more than just basketball, he taught us about how we should live our life. He taught us about self disipline, which I believe is what made the camp so great.

A painful but valuable lesson

Jeff Klein — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:21:27 +0000

As a Kentucky fan, I can never forget “The Laettner Game.” But that 2.1 seconds would not have been possible without Coach K telling his team “We are GOING to win!” Though the memory of that epic battle still is, and always will be painful for me, it taught me how important focus, resilience, and unwavering belief really are. These are things that will help a person win not only in the game of basketball, but in the game of life. Thank you Coach.