Coach K 101: From 1,202 to 3, a look at Mike Krzyzewski's career at Duke
We begin this numerical retrospective with a reminder: There was, in fact, basketball played at Duke before Mike Krzyzewski came along.
OK, we kid. But one would be hard pressed to find a program in college basketball more inextricably linked with its coach.
The expansion of the NCAA Tournament that made March Madness a household phrase coincided almost perfectly with Coach K’s arrival in Durham, North Carolina, in 1980, and his lengthy run of success that made the Blue Devils an annual fixture made Duke one of the most recognizable brands in the sport’s modern era.
Here’s a look at some of Coach K’s notable career numbers as his 42nd and final campaign concludes:
1,202 – The 1,170 career victories he had amassed heading into the season was already a Division I record. Most of those came at Duke, of course, but the first 73 came during a five-year stint at his alma mater, Army.
368 – Sure, there were a few losses, too. But that career coaching record, even after a subpar campaign in 2020-21, was still good for a .764 winning percentage. The most ‘L’s a Coach K team ever took in a single season was 17, once in his final season helming Army and twice in his first three years at Duke.
101 – NCAA Tournament wins in 35 appearances. His first taste of the Big Dance came in his fourth season at Duke, in 1984.
75 – His age upon retirement. Coach K hit the ¾ century mark on Feb. 13. The Cameron Crazies got to offer him birthday wishes two nights later when the Blue Devils hosted Wake Forest, though he was feeling ill and had to miss the second half of that contest. The Blue Devils won, 76-74.
23 – Number of consensus All-America honorees mentored by Coach K. The first was two-time selection Johnny Dawkins, who starred on Krzyzewski’s first Final Four squad. The last was second-team choice Vernon Carey in 2020.
13 – Final Four appearances, the first in 1986. The Blue Devils haven’t been back to the last weekend since their title run in 2015. The cancelled 2020 tournament cost Coach K at least a chance for another, however, as that Duke squad was voted No. 8 in the final coaches poll after the season was shut down.
6.2 – Krzyzewski’s playing career at West Point was unremarkable, but he did average 6.2 points a game during his three seasons at West Point from 1966-69. You’ve probably heard of his coach, though – fellow by the name of Bob Knight.
5 – In addition to his national championships, that is also Coach K’s number of selections as ACC coach of the year. His last such honor came in 2000.
3 – Number of Naismith national coach of the year awards, the most recent in 1999.
Follow colleges reporter Eddie Timanus on Twitter @EddieTimanus
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coach K ends career with 1,202 wins, 5 titles and countless memories
