What I learned at Duke from Coach K
As a college freshman at Duke University, one of the first things I learned was how to spell Mike Krzyzewski’s name by heart.
It’s not an easy last name to learn, so I broke it into 3’s and created a sort of poetry out of it. I was in Naval ROTC at Duke at the time, and his name was part of what they called the Freshman “Rates Book” for our NROTC Orientation Week. It was a book chock full of all sorts of details we were required to memorize.
Most of the details were, of course, specific to the Navy, and there was also a smattering of trivia. This is where Coach K’s name factored in. I studied that Rates Book cover to cover, even hiding in the dorm closet at night with my roommates during orientation week, when we were supposed to be sleeping, quizzing each other on the Rates details. We stuffed a towel under the doorframe to block the light from giving away our study sessions.
Low on sleep, we still scored high on our drilled Q&A’s. I had mastered Coach K’s name as if it were my own: “KRZ-YZE-W-SKI” I could rattle off in a couple of seconds. I still hadn’t met him, but he was already legend enough, and learning to spell his name was the beginning.
Over the course of my college experience, I grew to know and admire many sides of Coach Krzyzewski, whom we all affectionately called Coach K.
Here are 5 things I remember firsthand about Coach K, which all point to parts of why I look up to him for his leadership and wisdom:
1: He coaches with passion. Seeing Coach K on the floor during a game, he’s with the team 100%, fully into every moment. It’s athletic, watching how much facial expression he has, how much depth of emotion. You can feel the game just by watching Coach K’s face.
2: He inspired Tent City to be named “Krzyzewski-ville.” Yes, I camped out all 4 winters of my time at Duke. Meaning, I spent part of my college years living in a tent, simply so that I would have access to basketball games in Cameron Indoor Stadium. I was a mega-fan, on par with nearly every student on campus at the time. Camping out for basketball games is its own art, and I could go into more details… Suffice it to say, we were inspired to become “Cameron Crazies” because of the fearless leadership of Coach K. We knew that each moment in Cameron would be amazing, and it never disappointed. And the times spent in Krzyzewski-ville, including freezing overnights, were part of the joyful memories.
3: Mike Krzyzewski bought us pizza. We were living in a tent city named after him, after all! Yes, Coach K showed up one night, before a big game against UNC, and instead of heading into Cameron, he came outside to the tents, stood there, and gave us all a rally speech. It was tremendous. When he was finished speaking, a bunch of trucks pulled up with what seemed like hundreds of pizzas, enough to feed our 100+ tents.
4: He has a sense of humor, and is filled with love. Mike Krzyzewski seemed to have a perpetual twinkle in his eye, and I’d often see him around the stadium with his wife Mickie or their daughters. His work and personal life seemed to be blended in a natural way. He’s a fierce coach, and yet also personable, relatable, and someone who feels like family. It always felt like a lift seeing Coach K around campus, and now that he’s retiring, I’m a bit nostalgic for those times in Cameron, yet also happy for him, thinking of him enjoying the time with his family.
5: His voice. Coach K’s voice has always been signature in its resonance. A bit nasal, with a familiar raspiness and a deliberate intentionality. He speaks with conviction, and people listen. He talks about teamwork — 5 separate players being like 5 digits, all part of the same hand, all functioning together toward one goal and purpose — and his words motivate. He creates movements. And this is how I remember Coach K, from the beginning of knowing him. I remember his voice of inspiration, bringing us together.
I mention these details about Coach K because I’ve seen firsthand how great leaders inspire us to be better than we might otherwise have been, in simple and profound ways. They teach us to strive for more, and to hope beyond ourselves and our perceived limits.
Whether Duke wins or loses in this NCAA Championship 2022, it will be hard for me to watch Coach K take his final exit, knowing that I won’t get to jump and cheer on the bench in the student section at Cameron one more time as he holds court; knowing that a certain time has passed, and a legacy is stepping down.
He’s earned that right, and yet part of me yearns for one more night of camping out in Krzyzewski-ville, listening for the blaring horn of a tent check, relishing the excitement building up to the game. I choose to dwell in gratitude for the amazing experiences that have been part of shaping my life journey.
Yes, grace and gratitude are here in this moment. Thank you to Coach K, and to those who were also along for all or part of this path. You make a difference. Thanks to those who use their influence to impact lives for the better.
And, Go Blue Devils. Always.
