Nov 14, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski yells from the sidelines against the Presbyterian Blue Hose in their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was named a co-recipient of USA Basketball’s 2014 National Coach of the Year award.
The Duke coach helped lead the US National team to yet another gold medal in the 2014 FIBA World Cup. This past summer might have been his best coaching performance in international play because of the amount of players that did not participate. The key players who have been with Coach K did not play this summer.
Kevin Durant withdrew, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kevin Love, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Russell Westbrook all chose not to play for one reason or another.
Aug 15, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; USA guard Kyrie Irving (left) talks with head coach Mike Krzyzewski during national team practice at Quest MultiSport Complex. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
The team lost Paul George in training camp to a gruesome leg fracture that required surgery and has put his NBA career on hold. Following the injury Kevin Durant withdrew and the team was without its star player. Coach K didn’t stop these key losses stop the mission. He recruited Rudy Gay to play and the team just kept rolling.
Over the summer the men’s national team was perfect. They finished the summer world cup 9-0 and there was never any question who was going to win the championship. USA dominated every opponent by an astonishing 33 point margin. That point difference was the largest since the 1994 World Championship team.
Through all the bumps in the road and the lack of “star power” Coach K did what he does best. He just wins games. Although team USA was still the most stacked team in the tournament, the losses they suffered and the impact of Paul George’s injury could have been devastating. Coach K rallied the troops and united the team to play for each other, the nation, and for George.
If you want to question the masterful job Coach K did then look at the improvement in DeMarcus Cousins. There were constant questions about his work ethic, his maturity, and discipline. After the tournament those questions disappeared because Cousins changed his game and matured. He is balling at an extremely high level and has made himself into arguably the best true big man in the game today.
Coach K has been a key figure in returning the men’s US basketball team to the top of the throne. He has played a role with USA Basketball for over 20 years and has been the head coach since 2005. Ever since he has taken over the team has not looked back. Coach K holds an unbelievable record of 75-1. I know what you’re all thinking, that one loss makes the record look bad.
“The sixth time seems surreal, like how could you be doing it for that long? So when I think about that, I think about how lucky I am to be the national coach of our men’s team. So, it’s an honor, and I hope there is another one in the future.”
Coach Mike Krzyzewski
All jokes aside, Coach K is one of the main reasons that the US has regained its spot as the best team in the world. They simply cannot be beat. Before Coach K, USA Basketball was a disaster and didn’t look promising in any international appearance before he took charge with Jerry Colangelo. That is until he made players want to play for their country again. Not only do players want to play for their country they want to play for Coach K. All the players love him and continue the relationship they developed with him to this day.
Congratulations to Coach K for winning his fifth USA Basketball coach of the Year award. He previously won the award in 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2012. To go along with his five coaching awards he has recorded five gold medals and one bronze medal.
Geno Auriemma is the other half of the award as he took home the award for the third time.