Mike Krzyzewski knows there is nothing left to prove on the basketball court.
Over the course of more than three decades, he has built a legendary coaching career at the collegiate and international levels that has put him in a category that few coaches can break into.
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Coach K, who retired after the 2021-2022 season, often looks back on his time and reminisces about the memorable moments he created with the Duke Blue Devils. Including the thrill and drive of winning and the heartbreak of losing, as well as the occasional yelling at the officials, for which he has built a reputation over the years.
But one thing the coach does not miss about his career, surprisingly, is the very thing that allowed him to etch his name in the basketball history books – coaching.
Why does Coach K feel that way?
The West Point graduate began his 42-year stint with Duke in 1980 after coaching the Army Cadets for five seasons. From there, he led the Devils to 36 NCAA tournament appearances, 13 Final Four berths and five championships. He is the winningest college coach in NCAA history, and at one school, he has a 1129-309 record.
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Krzyzewski helped transform Duke into a winning and reputable program in the world of college basketball. It is a reputation that still stands today, as it continues to produce top NBA talents, most recently exemplified by Cooper Flagg, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick.
His legend extends beyond collegiate arenas, as he also coached Team USA from 2005 to 2016, leading them to three straight Olympic gold medals as head coach – including the famed Redeem Team run in 2008 – and two FIBA World Cup titles. For his decorated career, he became a three-time Naismith Hall of Fame inductee. He was also hailed the National Coach of the Year three times.
Although Krzyzewski could have tested the waters of the NBA, having received multiple coaching offers in the past, including one from the Boston Celtics, he was content with the legacy he had built with the Blue Devils and Team USA.
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Acknowledging the amount of blood, sweat, and tears coaching demanded from him, he knew he could not do another year of that. So, in June 2021, he finally decided to wrap it up – and Krzyzewski has not looked back since.
“I don’t miss coaching at all. I was 75,” he told CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. “Come on, man… I’m 78. That’s a good run.”Â
Related: “I was a big fan of his” – Jabari Parker was a big reason Jayson Tatum chose Duke
The one thing he does miss
Coach K still works for his alma mater as its ambassador. He is also the Special Adviser to Basketball Operations for the NBA. He serves as a speaker for the Washington Speakers Bureau.
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With every passing day away from the court, the 78-year-old Krzyzewski admitted that he feels his age more now post-retirement, especially being only 10 minutes away from his 10 grandkids.
While his aversion to coaching remains, Krzyzewski said he misses the youthfulness he felt from developing his players – both the Blue Devils and Team USA – and forming deep bonds with them on the court.
“It keeps you young. I was blessed my whole life to be a teacher and a coach,” he said. “That interaction with an individual player, not just the development of a basketball player, but who they’re becoming as men.”
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Now, Duke remains one of the top collegiate basketball programs in the country. Team USA is still a powerhouse on the international stage. Coach K was instrumental in establishing the dominance and winning culture of these teams.
With his records and accolades, Krzyzewski is as accomplished as he could be – there is no higher bar for him to surpass or to set in the world of basketball coaching. All that’s left for him to do is enjoy life after retiring.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 13, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
