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Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life
In this informative and inspirational book, Coach K, Duke University's head basketball coach, tells readers how he coaxes peak performances from his team, relying on lessons he learned as a captain in the U.S. Army.
Duke University's head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has proved himself a leader both on and off the court. He's led the Duke Blue Devils to five straight Final Four appearances, culminating in back-to-back championships in 1991 and '92. He has received five National Coach of the Year Awards—and many of the players he coached in college have gone on to NBA stardom.
From sportsmanship to respect, Leading with the Heart is a genuine gift from a coach who knows how to lead with heart.
Duke University's head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has proved himself a leader both on and off the court. He's led the Duke Blue Devils to five straight Final Four appearances, culminating in back-to-back championships in 1991 and '92. He has received five National Coach of the Year Awards—and many of the players he coached in college have gone on to NBA stardom.
From sportsmanship to respect, Leading with the Heart is a genuine gift from a coach who knows how to lead with heart.
291 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
499 people are currently reading
5987 people want to read
About the author
Mike Krzyzewski
43 books67 followersMike Krzyzewski has been the basketball coach of the Duke Blue Devils for twenty-seven years, winning three NCAA championships and twelve national Coach of the Year awards. He is revered and respected by sports fans and business leaders everywhere. Coach K. lives with his family in Durham, North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
August 24, 2023
Who else is here because there were too many references to Coach K in the Bear show and you just had to find out more about his approach? :D
October 21, 2024
The Bear made me read this
April 13, 2018
I had higher hopes for this book because of what I know of Coach K's character. I was disappointed because there was not much to separate this book from any other leadership book written by a coach.
I did find chapter 12 (Celebrate Tradition) to be a neat insight into some of the unique aspects of Duke basketball culture. It is this chapter that reaffirmed my respect for Coach K and how he chooses to live his life and run his program. His description of the time he spent with Jim Valvano was also moving and again highlights who Coach K is and what matters most to him.
If you like Duke or Coach K and you are looking for leadership book to read, then I recommend this book. If you are looking for a leadership book to read, pick up a dart and throw it at the board to choose as I find most books in this genre to be very similar.
In my opinion, the one book in this genre that transcends the others is Wooden on Leadership. As great a coach and human being as Coach K may be, his book doesn't come close to Wooden's but neither does any other that I have read.
I did find chapter 12 (Celebrate Tradition) to be a neat insight into some of the unique aspects of Duke basketball culture. It is this chapter that reaffirmed my respect for Coach K and how he chooses to live his life and run his program. His description of the time he spent with Jim Valvano was also moving and again highlights who Coach K is and what matters most to him.
If you like Duke or Coach K and you are looking for leadership book to read, then I recommend this book. If you are looking for a leadership book to read, pick up a dart and throw it at the board to choose as I find most books in this genre to be very similar.
In my opinion, the one book in this genre that transcends the others is Wooden on Leadership. As great a coach and human being as Coach K may be, his book doesn't come close to Wooden's but neither does any other that I have read.
April 25, 2024
Coach K more like Coach ridiKulous. Honestly the book was good enough since I’m a slut for sports books. But… Coach K puts the K in narKissist. His leadership advice reads like he read a different leadership book and thought “Coach K is pretty good at leadership, let me write a book about how good of a leader I am.”
The first indicator of this is that at each chapter Coach K puts in three quotes of his own. The only other people to get quoted are Jimmy V (former NC state head coach that died of cancer and founded the V foundation) and Coach K’s wife.
In addition to this, Coach K makes up several conversations that never actually occurred to reinforce this. In one of these conversations his own daughter refers to him as Coach K. Not dad. Not daddy. Not father. Not pops. But Coach K. WTF!
In addition to that, his reaction to finding out his daughter survived an attempted carjacking at gun point was to ask what hat he was wearing. When he found out the man was wearing a hat that said Florida on it Coach K took it as his mission to beat Florida in their next game. Doesn’t seem to even care about his daughter beyond getting motivation for his next game.
He writes this book about himself and consistently shares stories that are things someone should eulogize about you. Not tell them about yourself. His worst offense was that he tells the story of when he spilled water all over the court. When the team manager came over to clean up the spill Coach K took his towel and cleaned it up himself. He then said to the manager “Justin, one day when you’re the CEO of your own company you’ll clean up your own messes.”
Beyond this, it is clear this man thinks he is the only reason for the success at Duke. His worst offense is that he claimed the sole reason why his team beat Clemson by going on a 28-0 run is because he got so angry he took his suit coat off. Not the fact that his team was littered with NBA players against a non-basketball school. Nope it’s just that Coach K showed off his f******* sweat stains and it got his players so fired up that they won.
Instead of admitting to the fact that he cheats and paid players (before it was legal) Coach K tried to claim that he almost wouldn’t recruit a player that rolls his eyes at his parents. Given that he had the disclaimer of almost is more than enough to burn his whole chapter on recruiting players that respect authority.
Lastly, let’s not forget that several times Coach K brings up the Vietnam war unprompted. He claims America would have won if they were trying to win. Then he tries to spin that into some weird analogy to how he actually wants to win. Ok… coach K.
If I had to sum up this book in one sentence here it is:
Boomer gives unsolicited leadership advice while revealing he is a narcissist.
The first indicator of this is that at each chapter Coach K puts in three quotes of his own. The only other people to get quoted are Jimmy V (former NC state head coach that died of cancer and founded the V foundation) and Coach K’s wife.
In addition to this, Coach K makes up several conversations that never actually occurred to reinforce this. In one of these conversations his own daughter refers to him as Coach K. Not dad. Not daddy. Not father. Not pops. But Coach K. WTF!
In addition to that, his reaction to finding out his daughter survived an attempted carjacking at gun point was to ask what hat he was wearing. When he found out the man was wearing a hat that said Florida on it Coach K took it as his mission to beat Florida in their next game. Doesn’t seem to even care about his daughter beyond getting motivation for his next game.
He writes this book about himself and consistently shares stories that are things someone should eulogize about you. Not tell them about yourself. His worst offense was that he tells the story of when he spilled water all over the court. When the team manager came over to clean up the spill Coach K took his towel and cleaned it up himself. He then said to the manager “Justin, one day when you’re the CEO of your own company you’ll clean up your own messes.”
Beyond this, it is clear this man thinks he is the only reason for the success at Duke. His worst offense is that he claimed the sole reason why his team beat Clemson by going on a 28-0 run is because he got so angry he took his suit coat off. Not the fact that his team was littered with NBA players against a non-basketball school. Nope it’s just that Coach K showed off his f******* sweat stains and it got his players so fired up that they won.
Instead of admitting to the fact that he cheats and paid players (before it was legal) Coach K tried to claim that he almost wouldn’t recruit a player that rolls his eyes at his parents. Given that he had the disclaimer of almost is more than enough to burn his whole chapter on recruiting players that respect authority.
Lastly, let’s not forget that several times Coach K brings up the Vietnam war unprompted. He claims America would have won if they were trying to win. Then he tries to spin that into some weird analogy to how he actually wants to win. Ok… coach K.
If I had to sum up this book in one sentence here it is:
Boomer gives unsolicited leadership advice while revealing he is a narcissist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2024
I have become a basketball fan because of my 8-year old boy who hasn't really become a fan - but I have. Then I have watched everything basketball-related on HBO and Netflix, including "The redeem team", featuring Coach K. And finally - yes - the mentions of this book in "The bear" have been far too many to ignore :)
A very fine book about a very fine man, it teaches about life, family and business principles, rather than just basketball. I am glad indeed that I've finally read it, and eagerly recommend it - especially for sports fans like myself.
A very fine book about a very fine man, it teaches about life, family and business principles, rather than just basketball. I am glad indeed that I've finally read it, and eagerly recommend it - especially for sports fans like myself.
August 17, 2025
Helpful and surprisingly well written
August 31, 2025
Nothing too revolutionary about leadership but I resonated a lot with this guy. He is empathetic but steady. I was on the verge of tears when he talked about the death of his friend and taking care of his body when he took a year off. It was all very good.
Some quotes:
“A leader can’t be afraid to let someone else educate members of his team”
“People are not going to follow you as a leader unless you show them that you’re real. They are not going to believe you unless they trust you.”
“Can the person who cleans the floor in your organization give you a suggestion? And more importantly, will you listen to that person?”
“Hunger not for success, but for excellence. And don’t let anyone else define excellence for you.”
“We played because we enjoyed it. We played because we were friends. We played for innocence.”
“When life goes wrong for us, as it sometimes does, we just have to figure out what we can do better the next time around.”
“Don’t forget: if you always look in your players’s eyes- whether it’s victory or defeat you’re going to get the most out of your profession.”
Some quotes:
“A leader can’t be afraid to let someone else educate members of his team”
“People are not going to follow you as a leader unless you show them that you’re real. They are not going to believe you unless they trust you.”
“Can the person who cleans the floor in your organization give you a suggestion? And more importantly, will you listen to that person?”
“Hunger not for success, but for excellence. And don’t let anyone else define excellence for you.”
“We played because we enjoyed it. We played because we were friends. We played for innocence.”
“When life goes wrong for us, as it sometimes does, we just have to figure out what we can do better the next time around.”
“Don’t forget: if you always look in your players’s eyes- whether it’s victory or defeat you’re going to get the most out of your profession.”
July 16, 2025
I got a lot from this book, very happy i seeked it out because it's given me a lot of insight on how he leads teams to greatness, i will soon too be a great coach thanks to this book
March 6, 2018
Probably one of the only books from school that I actually have enjoyed so far. It was definitely interesting seeing Coach K's thoughts and experiences with leadership and its theories. I'm not a huge basketball fan, so I was really dreading this book going into it. I'm glad that I did read it though, as I've gained some great insight on someone who is a successful team leader and I can definitely apply this to my every day life.
December 30, 2025
I read this book back in 2001, when the original edition was published, and then again recently for a second time. The book is organized into four sections:
• Preseason
• Regular Season
• Postseason
• All-Season
Each section has four chapters, with each chapter beginning with three quotes from Coach K and ending with “Coach K’s Tips”. A new chapter of the book “Overtime: Fall 2004” was added to this edition, which dealt with changes in college basketball (players leaving for the NBA before playing their four years). Many more changes (NIL and Transfer Portal) have impacted college sports since that chapter was written.
This is an excellent book for leaders to read. Here are 20 of the most helpful leadership quotes from the book:
• Too many rules get in the way of leadership. They just put you in a box and, sooner or later, a rule-happy leader will wind up in a situation where he wants to use some discretion but is forced to go along with some decree that he himself has concocted.
• The only way you can possibly lead people is to understand people. And the best way to understand them is to get to know them better.
• In addition to a caring attitude, leaders instill respect for authority by being direct, by communicating regularly, and by being honest.
• Discipline is doing what you are supposed to do in the best possible manner at the time you are supposed to do it.
• Success is not a matter of just wanting to win. It’s a matter of preparing to win—which is much more important.
• Goals are important in leadership. They should be realistic, they should be attainable, and they should be shared among all members of the team.
• Communication skills are just as important as technical skills.
• In leadership, no word is more important than trust.
• Leaders should be reliable without being predictable. They should be consistent without being anticipated.
• A leader has to have the courage to make a key decision in a split second. And then he has to have the courage to live with it afterward—whether it succeeds or fails. Because if he doesn’t, he’ll be afraid to make the next key decision.
• When a leader makes a mistake and doesn’t admit it, he is seen as arrogant or untrustworthy. And “untrustworthy” is the last thing a leader wants to be.
• When you screw up, admit you are wrong. Apologize in front of the whole team. To admit a mistake is not a weakness, it’s a strength.
• A leader must be committed to helping people grow.
• My hunger is not for success; it is for excellence. Because when you attain excellence, success just naturally follows.
• The main job of a leader is to inspire.
• With accomplishment comes confidence and with confidence comes belief. It has to be in that order.
• The only way you lose is if you don’t try your best.
• Integrity is nothing more than doing the right thing no matter who’s watching you.
• You have a choice. You can either change with the environment or you will eventually fail. A leader has to find a way to win.
• Effective leadership does not rest in the development of a plan alone. It results in the adjustment of that plan to meet the needs of a changing environment.
• Preseason
• Regular Season
• Postseason
• All-Season
Each section has four chapters, with each chapter beginning with three quotes from Coach K and ending with “Coach K’s Tips”. A new chapter of the book “Overtime: Fall 2004” was added to this edition, which dealt with changes in college basketball (players leaving for the NBA before playing their four years). Many more changes (NIL and Transfer Portal) have impacted college sports since that chapter was written.
This is an excellent book for leaders to read. Here are 20 of the most helpful leadership quotes from the book:
• Too many rules get in the way of leadership. They just put you in a box and, sooner or later, a rule-happy leader will wind up in a situation where he wants to use some discretion but is forced to go along with some decree that he himself has concocted.
• The only way you can possibly lead people is to understand people. And the best way to understand them is to get to know them better.
• In addition to a caring attitude, leaders instill respect for authority by being direct, by communicating regularly, and by being honest.
• Discipline is doing what you are supposed to do in the best possible manner at the time you are supposed to do it.
• Success is not a matter of just wanting to win. It’s a matter of preparing to win—which is much more important.
• Goals are important in leadership. They should be realistic, they should be attainable, and they should be shared among all members of the team.
• Communication skills are just as important as technical skills.
• In leadership, no word is more important than trust.
• Leaders should be reliable without being predictable. They should be consistent without being anticipated.
• A leader has to have the courage to make a key decision in a split second. And then he has to have the courage to live with it afterward—whether it succeeds or fails. Because if he doesn’t, he’ll be afraid to make the next key decision.
• When a leader makes a mistake and doesn’t admit it, he is seen as arrogant or untrustworthy. And “untrustworthy” is the last thing a leader wants to be.
• When you screw up, admit you are wrong. Apologize in front of the whole team. To admit a mistake is not a weakness, it’s a strength.
• A leader must be committed to helping people grow.
• My hunger is not for success; it is for excellence. Because when you attain excellence, success just naturally follows.
• The main job of a leader is to inspire.
• With accomplishment comes confidence and with confidence comes belief. It has to be in that order.
• The only way you lose is if you don’t try your best.
• Integrity is nothing more than doing the right thing no matter who’s watching you.
• You have a choice. You can either change with the environment or you will eventually fail. A leader has to find a way to win.
• Effective leadership does not rest in the development of a plan alone. It results in the adjustment of that plan to meet the needs of a changing environment.
January 28, 2024
This is a semi-autobiographical, semi-self-coaching book where the two parts interact and integrate with each other to form something larger. Coach K's life is full of very useful stories which have shaped his work, his determination, grit, and passion, while in a fast-paced, media centered, quite aggressive and result-focused environment that is College Basketball.
The lessons that I'm taking for me from this book have to do with the fist: Communication, Trust, Collective Responsibility, Caring, and Pride in making things happen - and that any finger open in the fist make it more prone to be broken (that's the intensity of semi-pro/professional sports).
Another useful insight is his view on determining what constitutes to be successful - that it should be something personal and never something dictated entirely by external factors. He'd rather see his players giving it all and eventually losing a game than winning a game but not really playing to their full potential - as the latter doesn't represent an evolution of the team - and the people in the team - and, therefore, even if it's a win, it's not success.
The final lesson, or insight, that I found really useful, appears towards the final chapters of his book, where he realizes that Basketball, either playing the game or coaching it, is not the ultimate final goal - it's just the tool, the way, he used to connect to other people and to, in a general sense, humanity. Even though there was always intense focus on the smallest details (the next game, the next quarter, the next play, the next 2 seconds...), through this perspective it is possible to go from the tiniest thing done right to the largest effect - which is to have a legacy to pass on.
It's worth reading/listening to it to, maybe, refocus and fall in love again with our careers, our work - I guess sometime earlier there was such a thing, wasn't there? - and to reposition oneself as an evolving person, where eventual failures aren't a destination, but maybe the path to successes.
The lessons that I'm taking for me from this book have to do with the fist: Communication, Trust, Collective Responsibility, Caring, and Pride in making things happen - and that any finger open in the fist make it more prone to be broken (that's the intensity of semi-pro/professional sports).
Another useful insight is his view on determining what constitutes to be successful - that it should be something personal and never something dictated entirely by external factors. He'd rather see his players giving it all and eventually losing a game than winning a game but not really playing to their full potential - as the latter doesn't represent an evolution of the team - and the people in the team - and, therefore, even if it's a win, it's not success.
The final lesson, or insight, that I found really useful, appears towards the final chapters of his book, where he realizes that Basketball, either playing the game or coaching it, is not the ultimate final goal - it's just the tool, the way, he used to connect to other people and to, in a general sense, humanity. Even though there was always intense focus on the smallest details (the next game, the next quarter, the next play, the next 2 seconds...), through this perspective it is possible to go from the tiniest thing done right to the largest effect - which is to have a legacy to pass on.
It's worth reading/listening to it to, maybe, refocus and fall in love again with our careers, our work - I guess sometime earlier there was such a thing, wasn't there? - and to reposition oneself as an evolving person, where eventual failures aren't a destination, but maybe the path to successes.
June 26, 2024
Before I even begun reading, this book already had a special place in my heart. My parents and other family member having gone to Duke and being huge Duke bball fans, I knew I had to read this book, and I’m so glad I did! I love how everything in this book felt strategically planned out. Although it took me a while to finish this book, the lessons of advice I learned from reading this book will definitely stick with me. Whether you’re an aspiring leader or already one, I think everyone should read this book. Coach K has many words of wisdom, and his book will continue to have a special place in my heart! Five stars ⭐️
August 31, 2023
As an avid Duke fan and alumni I had always wanted to read this. Now I love coach K even more as he shares his philosophy on life and coaching and teaching….definitely strategies that not only apply to a basketball team but can be applied to self, family, work and more. I loved his examples of players and actual games which showed his teachings on communication,commitment,trust and collective responsibility.
As a fan it was nice to relive the games and players - grant hill, Christian laetner, Bobby Hurley, so many great players and people were taught by coach K
As a fan it was nice to relive the games and players - grant hill, Christian laetner, Bobby Hurley, so many great players and people were taught by coach K
May 4, 2024
although my boss asked me to read this, i enjoyed it. the coach is from a polish family in chicago, which is close to home for me. but i liked his approach to leadership & creating a team & family. he has a way to treating people with respect & like humans & after reading it it makes me relieved that my boss has this pov for our team. dedication, hard work, honesty, treating people like humans, etc. a good book, even if you’re not a basketball fan. sometimes he did get in the weeds describing games, which is fine. but still pretty good.
May 21, 2025
I’ve always been a Duke basketball fan. But reading this book showed me the true depth of Coach K as an individual. He cares about building teams and winning but more than that about developing truly balanced young men at Duke. His ideals are admirable, and the principles he discusses our timeless and applicable to anyone in any realm of life. This book hits a sweet spot between being an excellent personal narrative, nice recap of Duke basketball history, and “self-help” book that really allows you to appreciate all facets of what Coach K built at Duke and what he stands for as a person.
October 19, 2025
I got Leading with the Heart when I travelled to Durham, NC and visited Duke University...I'd never heard of 'Coach K' before but he is something of an institution in US College Basketball and I was fortunate to meet one of his daughters and visit Cameron Indoor Stadium, home of Duke's Blue Devils.
There are loads of excellent stories throughout and I've tagged - and already used - a number of quotes to weave into our Leadership Presence programmes. Definitely a good one to keep on the shelf to revisit in the future! 4 stars
There are loads of excellent stories throughout and I've tagged - and already used - a number of quotes to weave into our Leadership Presence programmes. Definitely a good one to keep on the shelf to revisit in the future! 4 stars
February 10, 2021
This book was good! It’s 20 years old, but Coach K has some really good insight on leadership and how to build a successful team. I read a book on John Wooden a month or two ago and Coach K is another coach who has built his life and program on good, unshaken values. I was also pleasantly surprised at how much my #1 man crush Quin Snyder was mentioned. It’s nice to realize how big of an impact Quin had on Duke and Mike Krzyzewski. Also props to my boy Drew for giving this to me.
December 17, 2023
I originally wanted to read this book because Sydney from The Bear reads it in season 2. I loved it so much, it makes me want to coach even more than I wanted to before. He’s inspiring and the stories were fun to read. I can see myself reading this again or at least referring back to its principles in the future.
March 13, 2024
This book is shockingly bad. That’s not because the content is not good, it’s fine, but the writing is about as simple, bland, and unappealing as I’ve ever read. Coach K doesn’t come across as human in any of his anecdotes, which is surprising given his vibrant personality and language often seen in huddles as the TV broadcast breaks to commercial. Instead the reader is treated to pallid dialogue related in the most contrived circumstances and events. There’s a very compelling story hidden in this book about how a self-described average kid from Chicago grew into the most respected collegiate coach ever. Sadly, Donald Phillips’s ghost hand killed that story in favor of some run-of-the-mill 90s corporate self-help bs. This book is like the Wolfgang Puck restaurants found in seemingly every major intl airport: a famous name co-opted to sell average substance. What hurts about both experiences, the restaurant and this book, is that if you have any knowledge of the field then you know what you’re being served is so much better literally anywhere else.
September 8, 2025
Leading with the Heart was a disappointment, especially given my love for basketball, my respect for Coach K, and my own background as a former college player. The stories felt recycled and lacked the energy or depth I expected from someone of his stature. Instead of inspiration, I found myself skimming, waiting for something fresh that never came. A flat and forgettable read—2 stars.
August 30, 2024
Nothing less than 5 stars for the GOAT. How fitting that it was this is the book that got me to my 2024 reading goal (4 months early!)
“Please, God, help me do my best, help me be myself, and help me lead with my heart.”
“Please, God, help me do my best, help me be myself, and help me lead with my heart.”
October 9, 2023
Everyone needs to read this book! One of the best leadership books for business and all industries.
October 28, 2023
2.5 stars. Interesting to see behind the scenes of his coaching career but nothing crazy
January 3, 2024
Excellent life advice for teachers, parents, coaches, managers, or anyone honestly!
February 1, 2024
There were so many times where I thought “OHMYGOD, I should absolutely be writing this down”, but I’m me and so I obviously did not. Additionally 5 stars to The Bear.
February 3, 2024
excellent. coach k is so baby girl.
February 14, 2024
this book took me 5ever to finish obviously.. but it was pretty good! it had some good pieces of wisdom that surprising relate to things other than basketball 🏀 I do think it was a bit too long, a bit too repetitive and a bit unorganized (it was hard to organize into useful information in my brain 🧠), regardless it was neat to see into Coach K’s life for a min bc i didn’t know anything about him before, he is a very respectable human for sure 👍🏼
September 23, 2024
One of the best books on leadership I’ve heard in a long time.
November 14, 2024
I wanted to read this book for two reasons. First the show The Bear kept talking about it and it got my attention. Second I recently started coaching youth basketball and thought it would be helpful to learn from the GOAT. Leading with the Heart has a lot of valuable lessons for leading teams and also handling personal relationships. I would have given 5 stars if it was slightly less repetitive. Overall a great read and would recommend.
June 23, 2025
There’s a little bit too much self praise but other than that I love how well he’s able to see the greatness in others. A great guide on living with integrity and accountability.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews