In mid-November, thousands of people packed Madison Square Garden to witness history. Two powerhouse college basketball programs were meeting at one of the grandest stages in all of sports. Although a game between Michigan State and Duke usually carries significance, this one meant more than that. It was Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s shot at the record books–his 903 win, the most of all-time. Unfortunately for the Spartans, this was Coach K’s night. He surpassed the all time lead set by his former mentor Bob Knight, who happened to be on scene to watch his prot?g? break his record setting mark.
Knight and Krzyzewski have much in common. As coach of Indiana, Knight amassed three national championships, eleven Big Ten championships, and was named coach of the year four times. Krzyzewski has won four national titles, twelve ACC championships, and coach of the year three times. On paper, they are very similar, but make no mistake: Coach K is the better coach.
As a college coach, you represent your university. Krzyzewski not only characterizes the Cameron Crazies and anything basketball related, but also Duke in general. Here is where he distances himself from Bob Knight. Coach K never tossed a fold-up chair across the hardwood when he disagreed with a ref’s call. He never belittled his players in an attempt to inspire them. And he never was arrested for assault. Say all you want about Bob Knight’s knowledge of the game of basketball, but he failed as a representative of the Indiana basketball program and the university.
Krzyzewski will be remembered for winning championships, teaching the game of basketball, and leading the country in player graduation rates. Guess what? Bob Knight did all that too. Yet, the first thing people will recall about Bob Knight will be something like, “Isn’t that the crazy guy who hurled a chair onto the court?” Krzyzewski, meanwhile, understands the multiple dimensions that define a great coach. He is an intelligent basketball mind, but also a leader and a role model, and because of this, will go down as one of the greatest college basketball coaches ever.