Mike Krzyzewski has been an extremely successful college hoops coach for years now. He’s one of the most decorated basketball coaches of all time. However, despite all his success, there is one thing he never thought he would get the chance to do. He never thought he would be the coach of Team USA.
Of course, right now he is the coach of the U.S. men’s basketball team, and has been since the team’s disastrous bronze medal performance in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He’s led the team to two gold medals already, and the Americans could be in line for a third this year. Clearly he was a good choice for the job, but that doesn’t mean he was expecting the call.
“In my mind and I think in every college coach’s’ mind, it should be an NBA coach,” Coach K told USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt. “Chuck Daly and P.J. Carlesimo gave me an opportunity to be assistant. I thought that was the crown jewel I would have.” When they did ask him, though, he jumped at the chance:
“It was not a hard decision to make because that’s the ultimate honor. Did I expect to be asked? No, I did not. And I’m OK if I wasn’t asked. As long as we’re winning, whatever USA Basketball thinks is right, you go along with it. When I was asked, I wanted to do it and I wanted to do it the very best.”
USA basketball is, indeed, winning. Coach K showed that a college coach could be called upon to coach NBA superstars. The next guy in line is Gregg Popovich, so it could be a while before another college coach steps into the role. At least Coach K got the chance, though. Finally something went right for him in his career.
(Via USA Today)
