DURHAM, N.C. (REUTERS) — Basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has won three national college championships in 21 years at Duke, has agreed to a new contract to keep him with the Blue Devils for the rest of his career.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but the school said on Wednesday that Krzyzewski, 54, agreed to a deal extending at least to 2011.
The Blue Devils enter the season ranked No. 1 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll and open the season on Monday against Seton Hall in the Maui Invitational.
“Duke is a very special place and Duke basketball is part of what makes it special,” Krzyzewski said.
“The idea that I can continue to play a role in the success of each is very gratifying, and I’m thrilled at the expression of confidence the university is placing in me by offering this lifetime contract.”
Krzyzewski, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year, enters the season 34th in the all-time list of coaching victories with 606, boasting a 533-164 record at Duke.
“Coach K” reached his 500th victory at Duke in 660 games. The only coaches to do it faster were Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp (583), UNLV’s Jerry Tarkanian (614), North Carolina’s Dean Smith (653) and Oklahoma State’s Henry Iba (654).
Duke has advanced to nine Final Fours under Krzyzewski and won national titles in 1991, 1992 and 2001.
Just three other coaches — John Wooden, Rupp and Bob Knight — have won three or more NCAA men’s basketball titles. Some of the nation’s best college players over the past 20 years have played under Krzyzewski, including Shane Battier, Grant Hill, Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley and Johnny Dawkins.