March Madness 2015 was a coach’s tournament. Players such as Jahlil Okafor and Frank Kaminski played prominent roles in this year’s production, but it was the men on the sidelines that ultimately determined the results. Mike Krzyzewski, Tom Izzo, Bo Ryan, and John Calipari all guided their teams to the Final Four in what, at its outset was a tumultuous tournament. While Villanova, Kansas, and Virginia all faltered early, Krzyzewski and his rival coaches helped their teams weather the unpredictable March storm.
Increasingly within college basketball, coaches are assuming leading roles for their squads. Prominent and personable coaches have become a hot commodity in the NCAA, and this year’s tournament has only pushed their already lofty stock higher. In particular the former West Point point-guard Mike Krzyzewski reaffirmed his place among the greatest to coach the game.
By winning his 5th championship in what was his 12th Final Four, Krzyzewski placed himself squarely in the discussion for the recognition – Greatest Coach in College Basketball History. The title game on Monday night will go down as one of the greatest in Krzyzewski’s career, and for good reason. The game was full of decisions for Krzyzewski and his staff, and as he has done throughout his career as a Head Coach, he answered each moment of adversity with sly brilliance.
Krzyzewski’s five championships are impressive and ranks him the highest out of all active D-I coaches. Krzyzewski also reserved his place in the history books earlier this season by notching his 1000th career victory. Krzyzewski’s total of five championships is only half of John Wooden’s impressive tally of 10. However, Wooden’s 10 championships, while impressive, came during an era of 24 and 48-team national tournaments. In every season Krzyzewski has taken the Blue Devils to the National Championship, his team has been one of 64, or 68 as of 2012. Despite the hypercompetitive college basketball world of 2015, Krzyzewski has consistently brought strong teams to March Madness. His overall record at the tournament is now an absurd 88-26.
Krzyzewski began coaching at Duke University in 1980. In 1980, cell phones didn’t exist, the Internet was in its infancy, and shorts were still very, very short. While Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were duking it out in the NBA, Krzyzewski set to work on creating a basketball empire at Duke. While he succeeded in winning games and championships, Krzyzewski’s continued success that it is so impressive. While John Calipari is hanging out with Drake and tweeting to his millions of followers, Krzyzewski chooses a more under-the-radar approach.
Krzyzewski maintains an old-school approach while still adapting to the rapidly changing college basketball landscape. For better or worse, his championship team of 2015 was made up of four highly influential freshman, three of whom will certainly declare for this year’s draft. Krzyzewski understands that young talent is at a premium in the college basketball world of today, and has recruited as such.
In Monday night’s championship game Krzyzewski showed once again his coaching prowess in a tough matchup against Wisconsin. Frank Kaminsky performed expectedly matched up against Duke’s Jahlil Okafor. However, Kaminsky’s physicality was controversial and he, along with stellar freshman Justise Winslow, racked up three fouls with nine minutes left in the game. Krzyzewski was forced to sit his best player, but inserted him at a crucial time for the Blue Devils. Okafor came back into the game on the heels of a mini-run by fellow freshman Grayson Allen and made his impact felt immediately. With a masterful defensive possession versus Frank “The Tank” Kaminsky, Okafor helped his team claw their way back into the heavyweight bout. Okafor avoided a fifth foul on the home stretch, and was used intelligently by Krzyzewski down the stretch.
Obviously, only so much of Duke’s success can be attributed to Krzyzewski’s leadership. Freshmen Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen balled out for their school on Monday night; there is no other way to put it.
Allen and Jones stepped up in a big way for their squad and combined for 39 of Duke’s final 68 points. However, when Allen was hounding past Wisconsin’s Traevon Jackson for a loose ball, I couldn’t help but think of Krzyzewski’s constant competitive nature. A lot of times, teams take on the personality of their coach, and this Duke team did just that, competing their toughest in the crucial moments against Wisconsin.
One thing that is abundantly clear about all of Krzyzewski’s teams is that his players love him. As the Duke team gathered around the Naismith trophy on Monday night the scene resembled a family photo. Coach K, a diminutive five-foot-ten, looked right at home nestled in the midst of his gangly players.
As the confetti fell on the Duke celebration at Lucas Oil Stadium Coach K beamed at his 10-month old grandson and seemed to be soaking in another moment at the top of college basketball. However, as the saying goes, greatness never sleeps.
Coach K understands that the celebration can only last so long. A new season will be here in five short months and the indomitable Coach K, who turns 69 in February, will be back on the sideline spearheading Duke basketball as spry as ever.