I vividly remember watching the NCAA men’s final four for the first time back in 1994. I had just started playing competitive basketball myself, but had been following hoops for a few years after my older brother got a copy of Michael Jordan’s ‘Come Fly With Me’ for Christmas. What an introduction to Basketball.
That 1994 Tourney was a classic, and like many other years, Duke made it the championship match (eventually losing to Arkansas). Coach Mike Krzyzewski was pacing the sidelines that evening. Just as he was the other night at Madison Square Garden, where he oversaw the 903rd victory of his college coaching career. A fitting arena, and a victory that makes him the winningest coach in Division 1 history. Duke are the team everyone loves to hate, but even their most ardent opponent would have to appreciate Coach K’s prolonged success.
The administration of college sports is far from perfect, but overall the best sports programs are based on consistency and patience. It’s something the administrators of pro sports teams could take heed of, given the general ad hoc approach to hiring and firing coaches. It’s also why it wasn’t surprising that Coach K turned down the Lakers head coaching position a few years back, an appointment that easily would have made him the highest paid coach in the country.
Good to have an incredible milestone passed in the same week that another legendary college coaching career acrimoniously came to a sudden halt.
