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Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The definitive biography of college basketball’s all-time winningest coach, Mike Krzyzewski. Mike Krzyzewski, known worldwide as “Coach K,” is a five-time national champion at Duke, the NCAA’s all-time leader in victories with nearly 1,200, and the first man to lead Team USA to three Olympic basketball gold medals. Through unprecedented access to Krzyzewski’s best friends, closest advisers, fiercest adversaries, and generations of his players and assistants, three-time New York Times bestselling author Ian O’Connor takes you behind the Blue Devil curtain with a penetrating examination of the great but flawed leader as he closes out his iconic career. Krzyzewski built a staggering basketball empire that has endured for more than four decades, placing him among the all-time titans of American sport, and yet there has never been a defining portrait of the coach and his program. Until now. O’Connor uses scores of interviews with those who know Krzyzewski best to deliver previously untold stories about the relationships that define the venerable Coach K, including the one with his volcanic mentor, Bob Knight, that died a premature death. Krzyzewski was always driven by an inner rage fueled by his tough Chicago upbringing, and by the blue-collar Polish-American parents who raised him to fight for a better life. With updated coverage of Coach K’s stunning final season, O’Connor shows you sides of the man and his methods that will surprise even the most dedicated Duke fan.
“Basketball fans might feel as though they already know Coach K—or Mike Krzyzewski, the decades-long coach of the Duke Blue Devils who’s set to retire after this season. In this insightful biography, sportswriter O’Connor captures the formative experiences and inner drive that catapulted the coach to icon status. Even the most die-hard fans will learn something.” — Washington Post
“Basketball fans might feel as though they already know Coach K—or Mike Krzyzewski, the decades-long coach of the Duke Blue Devils who’s set to retire after this season. In this insightful biography, sportswriter O’Connor captures the formative experiences and inner drive that catapulted the coach to icon status. Even the most die-hard fans will learn something.” — Washington Post
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
March 26, 2022
Ian O'Connor's book covers Coach K basically from birth through his announcement that this is his last season. I've stayed up late, exhausted, and pushed myself to finish it before the game tonight. The book isn't very good and if Duke loses tonight it would have been anticlimactic to keep going yet I probably wouldn't have DNF'd it, still hoping for some fascinating revelation which would never come.
The book capitalizes on the fact that his career will end tonight or April 2nd or 4th*. That's clear by the publication date. Sad to see perhaps the greatest college basketball coach of all time lose his last home game; I'm sure the paperback will have an extra chapter and will include a lot of the current season because it's not in here. It ends in June when he made the announcement.
O'Connor's writing here is often one-note. Mostly what he's done here is collate information. Almost all of it is from other sources, is public knowledge and/or common sense. There's too much about Coach K as a student at West Point playing for Army and too many details about life at West Point (more than at Duke). Do you want to know the math book most students dreaded? In here along with more minutiae. One thing surprised me, because I was a child when Krzyzewski played for West Point: during the Vietnam War some crowds chanted "baby killers!" at the team.
There's a ton about his assistants and players, too many locker room chats and no aha! revelations about the Olympics. It's not a revelation that he held onto USA Basketball for recruiting purposes. Only a diehard fan with blinders on or a very naive person would think he ran a squeaky clean program and anyone who has watched Duke play knows the team has benefited from the refs.
I hoped for new info on the Olympic players, especially LeBron and Kobe, but there's not much. So much is common knowledge even to someone like me who did not closely follow Duke or the ACC other than when Christian Laettner and Zion Williams** played there. The rest was TMI, and you can feel O'Connor strain in certain parts to paint Coach K in the best light.
If you're looking for everything about Mike Kryzyewski** --
(I'm relieved I won't have to type the name again, though Connor includes some actual mispronounciations and misspellings before he was a household name, and those amused me***)
-- on the record and a few here and there that perhaps weren't, this is for you. For me, reading it often was more like reading an encyclopedia than a biography. It was not worth my time, which is unfortunately very limited right now though that will change soon.
**
Corrections, 3/26/22:
Ouch. Two stars from me for my review because:
*I skipped the Sweet Sixteen -- March 24, for Duke -- and they won but still it was a dumb mistake. Traveling.
** The second time I typed it, the time when I mentioned O'Connors inclusion of misspellings of Coach K's name, I spelled it wrong. Flagrant.
*** Ditto for Zion WilliamSON. I had Roy Williams on my mind because I edited out something about him and Coach K. Foul away from the ball.
The book capitalizes on the fact that his career will end tonight or April 2nd or 4th*. That's clear by the publication date. Sad to see perhaps the greatest college basketball coach of all time lose his last home game; I'm sure the paperback will have an extra chapter and will include a lot of the current season because it's not in here. It ends in June when he made the announcement.
O'Connor's writing here is often one-note. Mostly what he's done here is collate information. Almost all of it is from other sources, is public knowledge and/or common sense. There's too much about Coach K as a student at West Point playing for Army and too many details about life at West Point (more than at Duke). Do you want to know the math book most students dreaded? In here along with more minutiae. One thing surprised me, because I was a child when Krzyzewski played for West Point: during the Vietnam War some crowds chanted "baby killers!" at the team.
There's a ton about his assistants and players, too many locker room chats and no aha! revelations about the Olympics. It's not a revelation that he held onto USA Basketball for recruiting purposes. Only a diehard fan with blinders on or a very naive person would think he ran a squeaky clean program and anyone who has watched Duke play knows the team has benefited from the refs.
I hoped for new info on the Olympic players, especially LeBron and Kobe, but there's not much. So much is common knowledge even to someone like me who did not closely follow Duke or the ACC other than when Christian Laettner and Zion Williams** played there. The rest was TMI, and you can feel O'Connor strain in certain parts to paint Coach K in the best light.
If you're looking for everything about Mike Kryzyewski** --
(I'm relieved I won't have to type the name again, though Connor includes some actual mispronounciations and misspellings before he was a household name, and those amused me***)
-- on the record and a few here and there that perhaps weren't, this is for you. For me, reading it often was more like reading an encyclopedia than a biography. It was not worth my time, which is unfortunately very limited right now though that will change soon.
**
Corrections, 3/26/22:
Ouch. Two stars from me for my review because:
*I skipped the Sweet Sixteen -- March 24, for Duke -- and they won but still it was a dumb mistake. Traveling.
** The second time I typed it, the time when I mentioned O'Connors inclusion of misspellings of Coach K's name, I spelled it wrong. Flagrant.
*** Ditto for Zion WilliamSON. I had Roy Williams on my mind because I edited out something about him and Coach K. Foul away from the ball.
July 22, 2022
A sprawling look at one of the greatest college basketball coaches in history, Mike Krzyzewski's life from childhood through his final season as coach of Duke. I felt like O'Connor went into too much detail into Coach K's time as a player. It's interesting to a point. I didn't need game by game details though of his time as a high school player and his play at West Point. I did found this odd as as we get later and later in his time at Duke, O'Connor will skip 5 or 6 years at a time, only touching base in title years and some of the Final Four years. I did like the time spent with his rivals, Dean Smith and Jim Valvano. I do with O'Connor got into more details with Duke's big national rivals like Kentucky and Michigan State.
I didn't find much new in this that I didn't already know, but it is an extensive look at Mike Krzyzewski's professional career.
I didn't find much new in this that I didn't already know, but it is an extensive look at Mike Krzyzewski's professional career.
December 2, 2021
Reviewed for Kirkus: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
May 2, 2023
Listen, Coach K is a legend and a fascinating guy (I met him when I was a fellow at Duke, where he is basically God, and I was impressed and intrigued), but a biography that mainly hypes him up does not do justice to this complex character. O'Connor has collected tons of info on the man, but it builds up to a basketball hagiography. What makes Coach K truly larger than life though are his weaknesses and how he fought them - plus, questioning your subject critically always renders a text more interesting.
Krzyzewski is a soldier and started as a coach for West Point, and even at Duke, his army attitudes where crucial to his approach to life and coaching - which opens tons of room to discuss the timeliness of his methods. Then, there is some stuff in there regarding the difficult relationship between Duke and the people of Durham, which, frankly, I understand (cue: wealthy white students, Black service personnel) - and I say that as someone whose American alma mater is in the Midwest and still seemed less white. What does that mean for the Blue Devils? O'Connor also portrays the "bad cop" methods of Coach K, the "nurturing" role of his wife, etc. - there is so much that could have been pondered, not to diminish Krzyzewski's great success, but to show his human, messy, more questionable side, especially regarding his rage, which is mentioned, but not judged.
While O'Connor did a fantastic job collecting material, he missed the mark when it comes to contextualizing and critically tackling it. In the end, he lets Coach K appear to be far less captivating a character than he actually is.
Krzyzewski is a soldier and started as a coach for West Point, and even at Duke, his army attitudes where crucial to his approach to life and coaching - which opens tons of room to discuss the timeliness of his methods. Then, there is some stuff in there regarding the difficult relationship between Duke and the people of Durham, which, frankly, I understand (cue: wealthy white students, Black service personnel) - and I say that as someone whose American alma mater is in the Midwest and still seemed less white. What does that mean for the Blue Devils? O'Connor also portrays the "bad cop" methods of Coach K, the "nurturing" role of his wife, etc. - there is so much that could have been pondered, not to diminish Krzyzewski's great success, but to show his human, messy, more questionable side, especially regarding his rage, which is mentioned, but not judged.
While O'Connor did a fantastic job collecting material, he missed the mark when it comes to contextualizing and critically tackling it. In the end, he lets Coach K appear to be far less captivating a character than he actually is.
March 28, 2022
Definitely a book for Duke fans - college basketball fans of all levels would like this as well as it is a complete look at Mike Krzyzewski’s life and coaching career. What I especially liked was the section on his time at West Point, both as a player and coach. It does drag at some times due to the minute detail of a controversy or issue at Duke but overall a good read.
February 26, 2025
Ian O’Connor’s Coach K is an incredibly detailed and well-structured biography that offers a comprehensive look at the life and career of Mike Krzyzewski, from his humble beginnings as the son of Polish immigrants in Chicago to his rise as one of the most influential figures in basketball history. The book does an excellent job of showing how his early years, shaped by his time at West Point and the friendships he built along the way, formed the foundation of the coach and leader he would become.
What stood out to me the most was the intensity and sheer motivational ability that defined Coach K. It was eye-opening to learn that, despite his legendary status, he wasn’t necessarily regarded as an elite X’s and O’s tactician—though he did famously draw up that play for Christian Laettner against Kentucky. Instead, his true genius was in his ability to inspire, manage relationships, and get the absolute most out of his players. This strength wasn’t just limited to Duke; his leadership translated seamlessly to the NBA stage, where he led Team USA back to dominance.
The book provides a well-balanced view of Krzyzewski’s career, covering both the triumphs and the challenges. O’Connor doesn’t shy away from the moments where Coach K’s fiery competitiveness got the best of him—particularly his struggles with losing graciously. It’s a fair portrayal that adds depth to his story rather than just serving as a glowing tribute.
One of the more fascinating aspects O’Connor explores is how Coach K evolved into a brand—a figure that needed protection, careful management, and at times, became somewhat detached from broader societal issues. The book also dives into the criticism Duke and Coach K have received over the years, including his relationship with the NCAA and the way he was sometimes given a softer touch compared to other coaches. And, of course, there’s his complex and layered relationship with Bob Knight, which adds another compelling dimension to the story.
Ultimately, Coach K delivers what all great sports biographies should: a deeper understanding of the person behind the legend. No one is perfect, and O’Connor presents Krzyzewski as a driven, flawed, but undeniably great leader. His legacy—built on relentless hard work and a mastery of motivation—will echo throughout basketball history for generations to come. Whether you love Duke or love to root against them, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the mind of one of the game’s all-time greats.
What stood out to me the most was the intensity and sheer motivational ability that defined Coach K. It was eye-opening to learn that, despite his legendary status, he wasn’t necessarily regarded as an elite X’s and O’s tactician—though he did famously draw up that play for Christian Laettner against Kentucky. Instead, his true genius was in his ability to inspire, manage relationships, and get the absolute most out of his players. This strength wasn’t just limited to Duke; his leadership translated seamlessly to the NBA stage, where he led Team USA back to dominance.
The book provides a well-balanced view of Krzyzewski’s career, covering both the triumphs and the challenges. O’Connor doesn’t shy away from the moments where Coach K’s fiery competitiveness got the best of him—particularly his struggles with losing graciously. It’s a fair portrayal that adds depth to his story rather than just serving as a glowing tribute.
One of the more fascinating aspects O’Connor explores is how Coach K evolved into a brand—a figure that needed protection, careful management, and at times, became somewhat detached from broader societal issues. The book also dives into the criticism Duke and Coach K have received over the years, including his relationship with the NCAA and the way he was sometimes given a softer touch compared to other coaches. And, of course, there’s his complex and layered relationship with Bob Knight, which adds another compelling dimension to the story.
Ultimately, Coach K delivers what all great sports biographies should: a deeper understanding of the person behind the legend. No one is perfect, and O’Connor presents Krzyzewski as a driven, flawed, but undeniably great leader. His legacy—built on relentless hard work and a mastery of motivation—will echo throughout basketball history for generations to come. Whether you love Duke or love to root against them, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the mind of one of the game’s all-time greats.
January 18, 2023
I really like this book. I knew K was arguably the greatest college coach of all time, but man did Oconnor really bring out his genius.
K wasn’t the best because he knew basketball better than others, he was the best because he knew human nature better than others. If you admire leadership and are the least bit passionate, this book will bring it out of you in a hurry.
I hate Duke, but I love Krzyzewski. If you want to know what leadership looks like, this is it. I loved the inclusion of Mickies role for the team and her husband. I loved to see that this stone cold assassin of opponents would leave the court and be this horribly broken and “weak” man before his wife. I think their marriage is awesome.
O’Connor botched it the last two chapters. I think he could’ve done better/ taken it a different direction, but everything up to that point was *chefs kiss*
Screw Bob Knight.
K wasn’t the best because he knew basketball better than others, he was the best because he knew human nature better than others. If you admire leadership and are the least bit passionate, this book will bring it out of you in a hurry.
I hate Duke, but I love Krzyzewski. If you want to know what leadership looks like, this is it. I loved the inclusion of Mickies role for the team and her husband. I loved to see that this stone cold assassin of opponents would leave the court and be this horribly broken and “weak” man before his wife. I think their marriage is awesome.
O’Connor botched it the last two chapters. I think he could’ve done better/ taken it a different direction, but everything up to that point was *chefs kiss*
Screw Bob Knight.
October 13, 2023
A perhaps overly detailed read on Coach Ks life and career from a small Polish neighborhood in Chicago to West Point to Duke. Loved reading some of the legendary game play by plays and learning more about the way the builds and maintains relationships with everyone he’s coached. Basketball is the ultimate sport.
April 6, 2022
Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski by Ian O’Connor (Mariner Books 2022)(Biography) (3632).
This book is a well-deserved and timely tribute to Coach Mike Krzyzewski. For those sports fans who are counting, I finished reading this the night after Coach K’s 2022 Duke team lost in the Final Four to their uber-rivals, the University of North Carolina Tarheels.
Hero to some and arch-nemesis to others, all can agree that Krzyzewski was great. And according to this book, he has mastered everything he tried. Except swimming. (Read it and see.)
This is cool: I realized from the tales of Coach K’s West Point squads that I actually saw Coach K’s first Army team play. Army came to Knoxville, Tennessee for the old Volunteer Classic tournament. I remember that tournament well. The good news is that I got to see a legendary coach do his thing long before he became a legend. The bad news is that since this game was played forty-five years ago, I am therefore old.
Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski is an excellent read for hard-core college hoops fans. Like me.
This is a great book - even if you favor light blue.
My rating: 7.5/10, finished 4/3/22 (3632).
August 24, 2022
A fairly well written book about coach k, who did not contribute to this book. Content was taken from 200 or people and from other books, interviews and speeches coach k delivered. He’s a tough person to figure out. No denying he has countless times demonstrated great leadership and is an incredible motivator. Compassionate, caring, thoughtful and has helped so many people in need. But on the other side of the coin, someone who really used an excessive amount of profanity toward his players, treated some former players very poorly and when his team lost took it out on a number of people. Someone who had a hard time being a gracious loser and had a hard time apologizing to others when he made a mistake.
May 12, 2025
Leaning exclusively on second hand accounts and previous interviews, a book about coach K without actually getting an interview with him is crazy work.
Key moments in Coach K’s storied career are revisited, but without his personal reflections, they often fall flat or miss emotional depth. The Bob Knight vs. Coach K beef felt Kardashian esque and took focus off his influence on many generations of young men and women in the world of basketball.
As a sports fan looking to gain insight on the psyche of the worlds best, there was little fresh about coach K’s approach to leadership or philosophy in this book that hasn’t already been covered. Duke bball fans may like it, but it was meh.
Key moments in Coach K’s storied career are revisited, but without his personal reflections, they often fall flat or miss emotional depth. The Bob Knight vs. Coach K beef felt Kardashian esque and took focus off his influence on many generations of young men and women in the world of basketball.
As a sports fan looking to gain insight on the psyche of the worlds best, there was little fresh about coach K’s approach to leadership or philosophy in this book that hasn’t already been covered. Duke bball fans may like it, but it was meh.
March 27, 2022
4.5/5
November 7, 2022
A good read with plenty of background to learn about Coach K. The sourcing of this book is what made the story interesting, from the Columbos to Emily K and Mickie.
November 6, 2024
If I could give it 3.5 I would. Decent read!
November 5, 2025
Being a Carolina fan, this book did a great job of helping me to understand the Duke Basketball culture. I would recommend to any fan of college basketball.
October 2, 2022
Interesting to learn about Coach K. Lots of bball games play-by-play but informational read!
October 17, 2024
Very good. The book started off pretty slow for me, but made up for it in the second half. Exciting, insightful, honest and inspirational.
July 29, 2023
This is a good biography of Coach K by Ian O'Connor. If you want to know more about Coach K and how he got to be where he is, this is a good book with lots of anecdotes and the behind the scene stories which show how he really is.
I enjoyed reading it. Foundi it interesting and informative. I would recommend it!
I enjoyed reading it. Foundi it interesting and informative. I would recommend it!
March 30, 2025
I am one who cannot stand Coach K. I couldn’t stand Duke in general. Overall, Mr. O’Connor wrote an amazing book and was worth the read. I learned some good coaching lessons.
March 18, 2022
Meh. I wanted to read this book because of the reported allegations surrounding the conversations Coach K had with Tommy Amaker regarding Jon Scheyer's succeeding Coach K as the head basketball coach at Duke. So, I spent the money, read the book, and regretted it.
This book read more like a repeat of everything I'd ever read about Duke Basketball, and as it turns out, I had indeed read most everything in this book in previously published material. The author relied heavily on previously published material in writing this book. When he wasn't using rehashed material, the author relied on anonymous sources, innuendo, and passive voice. There were factual errors, too. In writing about the 1996 team, O'Connor wrote, "Duke lost in the first round of the NCAAs for the first time since 1955, and yet this would go down as one of Krzyzewski’s most important teams ever." (The 1984 team says, "Hi, Ian!" On March 18, 1984, Duke lost to Washington by a score of 78 to 80 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Beasley Arena in Pullman, Washington. Duke finished that season 24–10. I remember these things, and these facts were easily verifiable with a simple Google search.)
The scarce original material in this book needed fact-checking and an editor. The unverified allegations were mean-spirited, and cloaked in the anonymity of "a source close to the program." This is my least favorite book about Duke Basketball in the history of ever.
This book read more like a repeat of everything I'd ever read about Duke Basketball, and as it turns out, I had indeed read most everything in this book in previously published material. The author relied heavily on previously published material in writing this book. When he wasn't using rehashed material, the author relied on anonymous sources, innuendo, and passive voice. There were factual errors, too. In writing about the 1996 team, O'Connor wrote, "Duke lost in the first round of the NCAAs for the first time since 1955, and yet this would go down as one of Krzyzewski’s most important teams ever." (The 1984 team says, "Hi, Ian!" On March 18, 1984, Duke lost to Washington by a score of 78 to 80 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Beasley Arena in Pullman, Washington. Duke finished that season 24–10. I remember these things, and these facts were easily verifiable with a simple Google search.)
The scarce original material in this book needed fact-checking and an editor. The unverified allegations were mean-spirited, and cloaked in the anonymity of "a source close to the program." This is my least favorite book about Duke Basketball in the history of ever.
March 3, 2022
He’s the winningest Division I men’s basketball coach in NCAA history. He’s won multiple national titles and been to even more Final Fours. He’s been in charge of USA Basketball and led the national team to gold medals more than once. He is an iconic figure, one of the titans of the game’s last half-century.
You know who he is … even if you might not know how to spell his name.
Ian O’Connor’s “Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski” purports to be the definitive biography of the man who is arguably the definitive figure in college basketball in the past 50 years. From his early days growing up in Chicago to his time as West Point – first as a player, then as a coach – to his ascension to the top job at Duke, where he turned a decent ACC team into one of the greatest college basketball programs ever.
O’Connor dives deep, digging through extant sources as well as conducting his own interviews with scores upon scores of people with close connections to Coach K. The result is a fascinating portrait of sporting greatness, a long look at a man who ascended to the heights of his profession. A man who, for all his flaws, would prove to be a beloved figure in the history of his sport.
We meet young Mickey Krzyzewski as he grows up in Chicago in a Polish-American household. He’s a good kid, keeping more or less out of trouble and avoiding the real bad news that other kids got swept up into. He was a gifted athlete, turning himself into one of the best point guards in the city while in high school in the early ‘60s, though his relatively small size – he stood just 5’10” – kept him off the radar for most collegiate programs.
And so it was that he wound up at West Point, playing the point for the man who would become his mentor, his friend and eventually his adversary – Bobby Knight. From 1966-1969, Krzyzewski – now going by Mike because when the woman who would eventually become his wife was also named Mickie – ran the floor under the aggressively profane and bombastic eye of Coach Knight.
After graduation, he served for five years in the U.S. Army before moving on to become a grad assistant to Knight, who had taken the job at Indiana that would define his career. It was on Knight’s recommendation that Krzyzewski would land his first head coaching gig at his alma mater, taking over the Cadets and helming them for five years.
And then, in 1980, Coach K managed to land the Duke job, leapfrogging a number of more qualified candidates. While his resume might not have been as impressive as others, he brought an energy and desire that seemed to fit what the school was looking for in a head coach.
Forty-plus years and over 1,100 wins later, it seems as though they made the right pick.
Now, that’s just basic biography. You can get that from a Wikipedia page. In “Coach K,” O’Connor has crafted something that is so much more. Oh, all that stuff is in there – the nuts and bolts of Coach K’s personal and professional journey – but it’s the rest of it that takes this book from a good read to a great one.
There is a staggering amount of reportage at work here, so many details from every aspect of the Coach K story. We hear from his old buddies from the neighborhood. We hear from guys he played with at West Point, as well as guys who played for him. We get the lowdown from Blue Devils across generations – players, coaches, administrators, you name it. All of it focused on this singular guy who, through sheer force of will and a masterful grasp of motivation, turned himself into the winningest DI coach to ever sit on the bench.
All of this refracted through the lens of O’Connor. He’s tackled iconic figures before – Bill Belichick, Derek Jeter – so he’s no stranger to dealing with the rarified air in which these stories tend to accumulate. His reporting bona fides permeate the book, with a clear, concise authorial voice that informs and entertains without the passing of judgment – an uncommon feat in a biography, particular a sports biography.
(It should be noted that Krzyzewski himself did not speak to O’Connor for the book, though by all accounts he was receptive to the idea of others – from all chapters in his life – sitting down with the author. Make no mistake, however – this book is PLENTY thorough.)
It's not all sunshine and roses, though. Krzyzewski went through his share of hardships off the court and on it. He’s dealt with loss, with complicated emotional connections to his family. The job of a college basketball coach was all-consuming back in the 1970s; it has only grown more so as the sport has grown. And while most of those who have crossed his path look back at their connection with admiration, there are some who still bear some resentments toward the man and his methodologies.
One of the fundamental truths that O’Connor teases out is the fact that there is a high cost to high achievement. And to reach these heights – 12 Final Fours and five NCAA titles, three Olympic championships – the cost is that much higher. The toll it takes on one’s health – physical and emotional – is significant. And yet, Coach K soldiers on.
This year marks Coach K’s last on the Duke bench. He’s walking away after the season, heading into a retirement that his family undoubtedly thinks is long overdue. It’s interesting to think about what a guy with this kind of competitive fire will do without that outlet; who can say what he’ll do next?
“Coach K” is an outstanding work of sports biography, one that really delves into an iconic figure in the history of American athletics. Celebratory without being hagiographic and extremely well-crafted, it’s a great read for any fan of college basketball in particular or of sports in general.
You know who he is … even if you might not know how to spell his name.
Ian O’Connor’s “Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski” purports to be the definitive biography of the man who is arguably the definitive figure in college basketball in the past 50 years. From his early days growing up in Chicago to his time as West Point – first as a player, then as a coach – to his ascension to the top job at Duke, where he turned a decent ACC team into one of the greatest college basketball programs ever.
O’Connor dives deep, digging through extant sources as well as conducting his own interviews with scores upon scores of people with close connections to Coach K. The result is a fascinating portrait of sporting greatness, a long look at a man who ascended to the heights of his profession. A man who, for all his flaws, would prove to be a beloved figure in the history of his sport.
We meet young Mickey Krzyzewski as he grows up in Chicago in a Polish-American household. He’s a good kid, keeping more or less out of trouble and avoiding the real bad news that other kids got swept up into. He was a gifted athlete, turning himself into one of the best point guards in the city while in high school in the early ‘60s, though his relatively small size – he stood just 5’10” – kept him off the radar for most collegiate programs.
And so it was that he wound up at West Point, playing the point for the man who would become his mentor, his friend and eventually his adversary – Bobby Knight. From 1966-1969, Krzyzewski – now going by Mike because when the woman who would eventually become his wife was also named Mickie – ran the floor under the aggressively profane and bombastic eye of Coach Knight.
After graduation, he served for five years in the U.S. Army before moving on to become a grad assistant to Knight, who had taken the job at Indiana that would define his career. It was on Knight’s recommendation that Krzyzewski would land his first head coaching gig at his alma mater, taking over the Cadets and helming them for five years.
And then, in 1980, Coach K managed to land the Duke job, leapfrogging a number of more qualified candidates. While his resume might not have been as impressive as others, he brought an energy and desire that seemed to fit what the school was looking for in a head coach.
Forty-plus years and over 1,100 wins later, it seems as though they made the right pick.
Now, that’s just basic biography. You can get that from a Wikipedia page. In “Coach K,” O’Connor has crafted something that is so much more. Oh, all that stuff is in there – the nuts and bolts of Coach K’s personal and professional journey – but it’s the rest of it that takes this book from a good read to a great one.
There is a staggering amount of reportage at work here, so many details from every aspect of the Coach K story. We hear from his old buddies from the neighborhood. We hear from guys he played with at West Point, as well as guys who played for him. We get the lowdown from Blue Devils across generations – players, coaches, administrators, you name it. All of it focused on this singular guy who, through sheer force of will and a masterful grasp of motivation, turned himself into the winningest DI coach to ever sit on the bench.
All of this refracted through the lens of O’Connor. He’s tackled iconic figures before – Bill Belichick, Derek Jeter – so he’s no stranger to dealing with the rarified air in which these stories tend to accumulate. His reporting bona fides permeate the book, with a clear, concise authorial voice that informs and entertains without the passing of judgment – an uncommon feat in a biography, particular a sports biography.
(It should be noted that Krzyzewski himself did not speak to O’Connor for the book, though by all accounts he was receptive to the idea of others – from all chapters in his life – sitting down with the author. Make no mistake, however – this book is PLENTY thorough.)
It's not all sunshine and roses, though. Krzyzewski went through his share of hardships off the court and on it. He’s dealt with loss, with complicated emotional connections to his family. The job of a college basketball coach was all-consuming back in the 1970s; it has only grown more so as the sport has grown. And while most of those who have crossed his path look back at their connection with admiration, there are some who still bear some resentments toward the man and his methodologies.
One of the fundamental truths that O’Connor teases out is the fact that there is a high cost to high achievement. And to reach these heights – 12 Final Fours and five NCAA titles, three Olympic championships – the cost is that much higher. The toll it takes on one’s health – physical and emotional – is significant. And yet, Coach K soldiers on.
This year marks Coach K’s last on the Duke bench. He’s walking away after the season, heading into a retirement that his family undoubtedly thinks is long overdue. It’s interesting to think about what a guy with this kind of competitive fire will do without that outlet; who can say what he’ll do next?
“Coach K” is an outstanding work of sports biography, one that really delves into an iconic figure in the history of American athletics. Celebratory without being hagiographic and extremely well-crafted, it’s a great read for any fan of college basketball in particular or of sports in general.
February 28, 2022
"Coach K" is a workman-like account of Mike Krzyzewski's career, timed to cash in on his imminent retirement. O'Connor draws heavily from real-time reportage as well as interviews with Coach K's friends, players, assistant coaches, opposing coaches, and unnamed sources, the latter who tend to predominate the end of the book. (Coach K did not participate, though he did not discourage people from talking to O'Connor.) It appears that O'Connor had particularly good access to Krzyzewski's inner circle prior to his Duke days because he provides a fairly vivid and rounded account of Coach K's life up to 1980, the year he took over at Duke.
If you are a Duke or Coach K fan, O'Connor's account of Coach K's career at Duke is largely a rehash of things that have been previously reported. One major exception is the behind-the-scenes story of the fracturing of the relationship between Coach K and his mentor, Bobby Knight. There had been previous stories of Knight passing a note to Tommy Amaker to give to Coach K just prior to tip off before Duke played Indiana in the 1992 Final Four. Amaker supposedly read the note and kept it to himself, knowing that it would only upset K. It turns out the note was given to someone else and was ultimately passed along to Krzyzewski, and we learn its contents.
Conscious that he did not want his book to steer into hagiography, O'Connor seem to go out of his way to share almost every occasion where Krzyzewski has been petty and ungracious. In an effort to provide nuance, however, O'Connor seems to raise questions without resolving them. For example, time and again, he hints darkly that corruption was rife in basketball recruiting and that, in effect, everyone was providing some form of improper benefits, and thus by implication, Duke likewise participated. Yet, he cannot provide a single example of a Duke basketball player receiving an improper benefit. His treatment of these issues was superficial and seemed calculated to reinforce the belief that Duke "gets all the calls."
"Coach K" glosses over the last 15 years or so of Krzyzewski's career at Duke. By that time, Coach K had largely walled himself from access to anyone outside his family and close circle of friends, leaving O'Connor to repeat what is generally available from public reportage. Of greater interest to O'Connor is Coach K's tenure as Olympic basketball coach from 2006 to 2016. While he credits K with masterful handling of NBA superstar personalities, he also gives voice to critics who claim that Krzyzewski used the Olympic position to help recruiting. O'Connor fails to note that there was a significant downturn in Duke recruiting for the first four years of K's Olympic tenure.
O'Connor's assessment of Coach K's coaching ability is somewhat blinkered. Time and again, he says that Coach K is not considered a strategic genius, the type of person who can draw up a play when the team needs a last second basket. Yet, he provides at least two examples, where Coach K-designed plays provided the winning shot that sent Duke into the Final Four. (As an aside, who are these coaching savants who can come up with last second sure-fire scoring? O'Connor never says.)
My guess is that Coach K haters will not enjoy this book because there is not enough dirt -- or at least new dirt -- to justify a hate read. Coach K fans will find a revealing account of pre-Duke K with a smattering of new revelations post-1980. If you are a casual basketball fan, you may find this mildly entertaining, but far from essential.
If you are a Duke or Coach K fan, O'Connor's account of Coach K's career at Duke is largely a rehash of things that have been previously reported. One major exception is the behind-the-scenes story of the fracturing of the relationship between Coach K and his mentor, Bobby Knight. There had been previous stories of Knight passing a note to Tommy Amaker to give to Coach K just prior to tip off before Duke played Indiana in the 1992 Final Four. Amaker supposedly read the note and kept it to himself, knowing that it would only upset K. It turns out the note was given to someone else and was ultimately passed along to Krzyzewski, and we learn its contents.
Conscious that he did not want his book to steer into hagiography, O'Connor seem to go out of his way to share almost every occasion where Krzyzewski has been petty and ungracious. In an effort to provide nuance, however, O'Connor seems to raise questions without resolving them. For example, time and again, he hints darkly that corruption was rife in basketball recruiting and that, in effect, everyone was providing some form of improper benefits, and thus by implication, Duke likewise participated. Yet, he cannot provide a single example of a Duke basketball player receiving an improper benefit. His treatment of these issues was superficial and seemed calculated to reinforce the belief that Duke "gets all the calls."
"Coach K" glosses over the last 15 years or so of Krzyzewski's career at Duke. By that time, Coach K had largely walled himself from access to anyone outside his family and close circle of friends, leaving O'Connor to repeat what is generally available from public reportage. Of greater interest to O'Connor is Coach K's tenure as Olympic basketball coach from 2006 to 2016. While he credits K with masterful handling of NBA superstar personalities, he also gives voice to critics who claim that Krzyzewski used the Olympic position to help recruiting. O'Connor fails to note that there was a significant downturn in Duke recruiting for the first four years of K's Olympic tenure.
O'Connor's assessment of Coach K's coaching ability is somewhat blinkered. Time and again, he says that Coach K is not considered a strategic genius, the type of person who can draw up a play when the team needs a last second basket. Yet, he provides at least two examples, where Coach K-designed plays provided the winning shot that sent Duke into the Final Four. (As an aside, who are these coaching savants who can come up with last second sure-fire scoring? O'Connor never says.)
My guess is that Coach K haters will not enjoy this book because there is not enough dirt -- or at least new dirt -- to justify a hate read. Coach K fans will find a revealing account of pre-Duke K with a smattering of new revelations post-1980. If you are a casual basketball fan, you may find this mildly entertaining, but far from essential.
May 28, 2022
This book by Ian O’Connor (I had previously read his book "The Captain: The Journey of Derek Jeter"), looks at the life and career of former Duke Men’s basketball coach Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski from his growing up in Chicago through the announcement of his retirement before his 42nd and final season (2021-22). Although Krzyzewski did not agree to be interviewed for the project, he also did not discourage those closest to him from speaking with the author for this well researched book. Overall, I felt that the book was a balanced look at Krzyzewski, who I have always appreciated being successful while running a clean program.
Krzyzewski was born on February 13, 1947 on the north side of Chicago. He enrolled at Archbishop Weber, an all-boys high school. Known as “Mickey”, he made the Weber varsity basketball team as a sophomore despite showing up for the first practice with a cast on a wrist that he broke playing touch football. He would twice be the leading scorer in Chicago’s Catholic League, before going to West Point to play for Bob Knight. The complicated relationship between Knight and Krzyzewski is a major theme in the book.
After West Point, he was eventually sent to South Korea as an artillery liaison officer in the Second Infantry Division and commander of the recreational compound.
Krzyzewski would marry Mickie in 1969. They would have three daughters. He would become a graduate assistant for Knight at Indiana before being named head basketball coach of his alma mater in 1975, and Duke’s nineteenth men’s head coach in 1980. In his early years at Duke, Krzyzewski thought he might be fired.
We read about how he embraced his former rival coach Jim Valvano as Valvano was dying at Duke University Medical Center, and later about his own health problems when he was hospitalized for his back and extreme fatigue.
The author writes of allegations of Duke getting an unfair advantage in recruiting the best high school players because of Krzyzewski’s coaching of Team USA, for whom he won eighty-eight of eighty-nine games.
The author writes about Krzyzewski’s temper and profanity, and that in defeat he was at times unpleasant to be around. He states that Krzyzewski at times had trouble saying he was sorry.
I enjoyed this book about Coach K, who won an NCAA record 1,202 games, including five national championships at Duke. He also coached Team USA to three gold medals. The book does contain a significant amount of adult language.
Krzyzewski was born on February 13, 1947 on the north side of Chicago. He enrolled at Archbishop Weber, an all-boys high school. Known as “Mickey”, he made the Weber varsity basketball team as a sophomore despite showing up for the first practice with a cast on a wrist that he broke playing touch football. He would twice be the leading scorer in Chicago’s Catholic League, before going to West Point to play for Bob Knight. The complicated relationship between Knight and Krzyzewski is a major theme in the book.
After West Point, he was eventually sent to South Korea as an artillery liaison officer in the Second Infantry Division and commander of the recreational compound.
Krzyzewski would marry Mickie in 1969. They would have three daughters. He would become a graduate assistant for Knight at Indiana before being named head basketball coach of his alma mater in 1975, and Duke’s nineteenth men’s head coach in 1980. In his early years at Duke, Krzyzewski thought he might be fired.
We read about how he embraced his former rival coach Jim Valvano as Valvano was dying at Duke University Medical Center, and later about his own health problems when he was hospitalized for his back and extreme fatigue.
The author writes of allegations of Duke getting an unfair advantage in recruiting the best high school players because of Krzyzewski’s coaching of Team USA, for whom he won eighty-eight of eighty-nine games.
The author writes about Krzyzewski’s temper and profanity, and that in defeat he was at times unpleasant to be around. He states that Krzyzewski at times had trouble saying he was sorry.
I enjoyed this book about Coach K, who won an NCAA record 1,202 games, including five national championships at Duke. He also coached Team USA to three gold medals. The book does contain a significant amount of adult language.
April 24, 2022
Any book with the sequence of words "the San Diego Chicken is behind Krzyzewski humping his leg" has to be an automatic must-read.
For me, the stuff on Bobby Knight was the most fascinating. One former Army player of Knight's is quoted as saying Airborne Ranger School doesn't compare to a Bobby Knight preseason practice. The book presents Knight in all his complicated glory: abusive, tyrannical, petty, compassionate, great teacher, integrity. All of these attributes come to play in Krzyzewski's up-and-down relationship with his mentor.
I'm not sure if the chapters covering the Laettner-Hurley years break any new ground, but they are well detailed and a trip down memory lane, in particular the excellent breakdown of the famous Duke-Kentucky Elite Eight game from '92.
The chapters dealing with Krzyzewski's recruiting practices read a lot like Indeed.com job reviews--lots of anonymous people complaining. O'Connor is right to include this stuff as it's part of the story, but if there's supposed to be some smoking gun here, I failed to see it. The facade of amateurism the NCAA tries to impose guarantees there are no virtuous actors in collegiate sports. From my reading of this book, Coach K is probably as ethical as one can be in such an environment, but the reader can certainly draw different conclusions.
About the only big picture thing that isn't detailed is Krzyzewski's involvement with the '92 Dream Team. There's plenty of documentation on that story elsewhere, which might explain why O'Connor just gives it a drive-by.
I'll definitely seek out the updated chapter on Duke's 2021-22 basketball season once it's published.
Strongly recommended.
For me, the stuff on Bobby Knight was the most fascinating. One former Army player of Knight's is quoted as saying Airborne Ranger School doesn't compare to a Bobby Knight preseason practice. The book presents Knight in all his complicated glory: abusive, tyrannical, petty, compassionate, great teacher, integrity. All of these attributes come to play in Krzyzewski's up-and-down relationship with his mentor.
I'm not sure if the chapters covering the Laettner-Hurley years break any new ground, but they are well detailed and a trip down memory lane, in particular the excellent breakdown of the famous Duke-Kentucky Elite Eight game from '92.
The chapters dealing with Krzyzewski's recruiting practices read a lot like Indeed.com job reviews--lots of anonymous people complaining. O'Connor is right to include this stuff as it's part of the story, but if there's supposed to be some smoking gun here, I failed to see it. The facade of amateurism the NCAA tries to impose guarantees there are no virtuous actors in collegiate sports. From my reading of this book, Coach K is probably as ethical as one can be in such an environment, but the reader can certainly draw different conclusions.
About the only big picture thing that isn't detailed is Krzyzewski's involvement with the '92 Dream Team. There's plenty of documentation on that story elsewhere, which might explain why O'Connor just gives it a drive-by.
I'll definitely seek out the updated chapter on Duke's 2021-22 basketball season once it's published.
Strongly recommended.
February 20, 2022
Ian O'Connor's Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski is a fabulous look into the leader of Duke basketball.
Having been a fan of Duke basketball and Coach K for most of his time at the elite program, I was thrilled and honored at the chance to review this book.
This book is an absolute must read for any fans of Duke and Coach K. The author does a wonderful job looking back through the coach's career; thoroughly revisiting many of the important moments of his career.
As a Duke fan, this book carries me back to the highs and lows of Coach K's time at Duke. I cried many times, as the author brought me fully back to some emotional wins and losses through the years.
This is a look at many pivotal moments. From the start of his own basketball career, to his time at Army, and his rough start at Duke, this is a fantastic read. Many important games are discussed, many former players and coachs are talked about, as well as the way Coach K had to adapt through the years.
I love this book. It takes me back to some moments I will never forget. It reminds me of the way the game has changed over the years, with Coach K right there adapting throughout.
This Coach K book is a great way to honor a legend as he's about to retire. Love him or hate him, he has had an insurmountable impact on the sport over the years. His name will forever be up there as one of the greats. I enjoyed every moment of this look back at his journey.
Having been a fan of Duke basketball and Coach K for most of his time at the elite program, I was thrilled and honored at the chance to review this book.
This book is an absolute must read for any fans of Duke and Coach K. The author does a wonderful job looking back through the coach's career; thoroughly revisiting many of the important moments of his career.
As a Duke fan, this book carries me back to the highs and lows of Coach K's time at Duke. I cried many times, as the author brought me fully back to some emotional wins and losses through the years.
This is a look at many pivotal moments. From the start of his own basketball career, to his time at Army, and his rough start at Duke, this is a fantastic read. Many important games are discussed, many former players and coachs are talked about, as well as the way Coach K had to adapt through the years.
I love this book. It takes me back to some moments I will never forget. It reminds me of the way the game has changed over the years, with Coach K right there adapting throughout.
This Coach K book is a great way to honor a legend as he's about to retire. Love him or hate him, he has had an insurmountable impact on the sport over the years. His name will forever be up there as one of the greats. I enjoyed every moment of this look back at his journey.
February 22, 2022
I would rate this book at 4 1/2 stars out of 5.
I started watching college basketball in 1979 with Magic and Bird championship game. Remembering through the 1980's onward not liking the Duke Blue Devils and Coach K because they were so darn good. I did realize the struggle Coach K had in his beginning at Duke and how the fans and alumni almost ran him out of town looking back that sure would have been a mistake. This is a very detailed book starting with Mike Krzyzewski rise through high school and his time at West Point and his playing and eventually coaching with his mentor Bob Knight through all facets of their relationship.
I gained a lot of respect for Coach after reading another book and this one based on his relationship Jim Valvano and Dean Smith even though when they coached against each other during their time in the ACC and really was moving reading about how he was with Jimmy V right up to the end of his life.
It was also amazing to read his relationships with the many players he has had contact with most by his coaching. I did not realize how many times they were so close to winning his first NCAA championship and come up short before he finally got the first one. I would begrudgingly say that he would only be second to John Wooden when you list the greatest college coaches of all time. If you are Duke fan you will really love this book if you are college basketball fan you should like it is a great and detailed book.
I started watching college basketball in 1979 with Magic and Bird championship game. Remembering through the 1980's onward not liking the Duke Blue Devils and Coach K because they were so darn good. I did realize the struggle Coach K had in his beginning at Duke and how the fans and alumni almost ran him out of town looking back that sure would have been a mistake. This is a very detailed book starting with Mike Krzyzewski rise through high school and his time at West Point and his playing and eventually coaching with his mentor Bob Knight through all facets of their relationship.
I gained a lot of respect for Coach after reading another book and this one based on his relationship Jim Valvano and Dean Smith even though when they coached against each other during their time in the ACC and really was moving reading about how he was with Jimmy V right up to the end of his life.
It was also amazing to read his relationships with the many players he has had contact with most by his coaching. I did not realize how many times they were so close to winning his first NCAA championship and come up short before he finally got the first one. I would begrudgingly say that he would only be second to John Wooden when you list the greatest college coaches of all time. If you are Duke fan you will really love this book if you are college basketball fan you should like it is a great and detailed book.
July 12, 2022
This book was exceedingly well researched. It had a bunch of stories even I -- a lifelong Duke fan who hosts a podcast about Duke basketball -- had never heard. I found the stories about K's rise to greatness the most interesting part. We hear so little about those early years.
I thought the book did a good job balancing K's strengths and flaws. It neither felt like a hatchet job nor a PR piece. You get to see how loyal and thoughtful K could be, reaching out to people he barely knows in their time of greatest need. You also got to see how his competitive fire could make him petty and temperamental.
In other words, it did what a biography should do. It painted an accurate and exhaustive portrait of the man.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was that I felt like the last 100 pages -- from the Butler championship on -- were somewhat disorganized and rushed. Chapters didn't have a clear shape or theme. Big events were glossed over in a way they weren't in earlier chapters. I thought the book could have benefitted from another 100 pages. But maybe there were length concerns from the publisher.
At any rate, my real rating is probably 4.5. Add half stars, Goodreads!
I recommend this book for all Duke and college basketball fans. But especially Duke fans. We're about to enter a new era for Duke basketball, and we're lucky to have such a book come out just as this transition is happening.
I thought the book did a good job balancing K's strengths and flaws. It neither felt like a hatchet job nor a PR piece. You get to see how loyal and thoughtful K could be, reaching out to people he barely knows in their time of greatest need. You also got to see how his competitive fire could make him petty and temperamental.
In other words, it did what a biography should do. It painted an accurate and exhaustive portrait of the man.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was that I felt like the last 100 pages -- from the Butler championship on -- were somewhat disorganized and rushed. Chapters didn't have a clear shape or theme. Big events were glossed over in a way they weren't in earlier chapters. I thought the book could have benefitted from another 100 pages. But maybe there were length concerns from the publisher.
At any rate, my real rating is probably 4.5. Add half stars, Goodreads!
I recommend this book for all Duke and college basketball fans. But especially Duke fans. We're about to enter a new era for Duke basketball, and we're lucky to have such a book come out just as this transition is happening.
January 25, 2023
This is an interesting book that was definitely an enjoyable read if you are a Duke or Coach K admirer. It drags at points, particularly K's early life in Chicago and at West Point. It seems intently focused on the Knight-K relationship and skims the relationships that K had with his players. I don't know if the players just didn't want to interview or what the deal was, but any book about Coach K's career that only has a passing mention of guys like JJ Redick, Grayson Allen, and Jabari Parker isn't really as interested in the basketball/coaching side of K as it is in the leadership/personality side....which is fine, but it wasn't that interesting to me at certain points.
K is the greatest coach ever, too, and it's weird how O'Connor seems to want to almost dismiss that for the "juicier" parts. Like sure, he may not be the offensive genius that some coaches are...but he won a heck of a lot more games than those guys and won a national title in the 90s, 00s, and 10s... like let's not just act like he did that because his players were exceptionally talented. Coaching is way more than just Xs and Os. He got the most out of guys in the biggest moments, and the book glosses over a lot of those moments in favor of "Well you know he really was pissed that Knight wouldn't give him credit here..."
Also doing the book before his last season seems like an odd choice, especially considering that he went to yet another Final Four with yet another completely different team.
K is the greatest coach ever, too, and it's weird how O'Connor seems to want to almost dismiss that for the "juicier" parts. Like sure, he may not be the offensive genius that some coaches are...but he won a heck of a lot more games than those guys and won a national title in the 90s, 00s, and 10s... like let's not just act like he did that because his players were exceptionally talented. Coaching is way more than just Xs and Os. He got the most out of guys in the biggest moments, and the book glosses over a lot of those moments in favor of "Well you know he really was pissed that Knight wouldn't give him credit here..."
Also doing the book before his last season seems like an odd choice, especially considering that he went to yet another Final Four with yet another completely different team.
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