Coach K discusses his 'purpose' in retirement, how he's lending his coaching talents now

By Debra Morgan, WRAL anchor/reporter

Durham, N.C. — Retirement for most 75-year-olds typically means relaxing, taking it easy and maybe watching more sports. But the man who spent 42 years on the Duke basketball bench has yet to attend a game at Cameron Indoor Stadium since his retirement.

Legendary Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski retired last year after 47 seasons coaching, including 42 at Duke.

“I'm being honest, I do not miss coaching,” Krzyzewski said. “That doesn't mean I don't love the game … because in order to coach, you have to prepare, and I was an ultimate preparer.”

Krzyzewski may have yet to attend a game at Cameron Indoor as a spectator, but he said he’s watched every game. He said he doesn't want to be a distraction.

Six of those he’s watched from his office, inviting fans to pay for the privilege of joining him, and raising money for the Emily Krzyzewski Center. The Durham-based nonprofit named after Krzyzewski’s mother implements four distinct programs designed to build on the academic, career, and leadership potential of students who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education. So far, Krzyzewski has raised about $400,000 for the nonprofit.

“When I watch the game, I watch the game,” Krzyzewski said. “I take notes.”

WRAL News asked Krzyzewski if he ever gets the urge to want to help his beloved Blue Devils, considering they’re out of the AP Top 25. As of Monday, Duke has a 15-6 record in the 2022-23 season.

“Like, we’ve been out of the top 25 when I coached them [in 2021],” Krzyzewski said. “A team right now in January is in the middle of the race.

“The really important part of the race is coming up, especially in February, and you want to be in a good position by the time you get there.”

Krzyzewski’s idea of retirement is not playing golf or sitting on the beach. He stays busy with speaking engagements, which keeps him studying leadership and teamwork.

“When I retired [and when I was] thinking of retirement and talking to people, one word came up a lot was to have purpose,” Krzyzewski said. “Purpose that when you get up in the morning, what's your purpose?”

Since August 2022, he’s given 20-25 speeches throughout the country.

“I'm not trying to figure out how to attack [Syracuse coach Jim] Boeheim’s zone or somebody's press or think of the most intricate out-of-bounds play anymore,” Krzyzewski said. “I don't think about any of those things, but I do think about teamwork, leadership, [and] how to have people come together.”

Looking around Krzyzewski’s office on the Duke University campus is like going to a museum.

He has photos, he says, “with Jimmy [Valvano], with Dean [Smith], Jim Valvano, who were … like brothers.”

Krzyzewski also has a photo with the late legendary Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, whom he coached as part of the 2008 Team USA “Redeem Team” that won the gold medal and the 2012 gold medal in London.

“I get chills thinking of … Kobe,” Krzyzewski said.

The walls of Krzyzewski’s office can barely fit all of the accolades, which includes pictures from his five national championships (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010 and 2015) and three Olympic gold medals (2008 Beijing, 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro) among others.

“When you do have a moment, where you're just thinking and all of a sudden, you might focus on one of the pictures or whatever, and I like that,” Krzyzewski said.

Coach K would change one thing about final season at Duke

Krzyzewski discussed the loss to North Carolina in the Final Four.

“I'm glad people [care] a lot about [the] North Carolina and Duke rivalry, but the biggest disappointment for me is not playing a national championship game,” Krzyzewski said. “Whoever we would've lost to would've been a disappointment.”

When asked if he would have changed anything about his coaching in the 81-77 loss to the Tar Heels, Krzyzewski didn’t miss a beat.

“Probably one of the officials I would’ve changed,” Krzyzewski said while laughing.

WRAL News also asked Krzyzewski about Duke’s loss in the regular season finale against North Carolina during his final game coaching at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Specifically, WRAL News asked Krzyzewski whether he thinks Duke still would have made the Final Four had the Blue Devils had won the March 5, 2022, game.

“It’s a good point because we had a crushing defeat and then we responded,” Krzyzewski said. “It took us a while, and it made us better for the tournament.

“I agree with that. I would've liked to have had the leadership challenge of winning and getting us tougher and still getting to the Final Four."

Duke finished the 2021-22 season with a 32-7 record.

“So, I'm not going to answer your question, I guess, is what I'm saying,” Krzyzewski said while laughing.

Also, Duke had five players drafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, including Paolo Banchero’s No. 1 selection by the Orlando Magic.

Relationships built on court, bench become like family

Since Krzyzewski took over the Duke program in 1980-81, he coached a total of 73 NBA Draft picks. And 11 former Krzyzewski Duke players or assistants are currently head coaches on the college or NBA level.

“When I started coaching, I did it because I loved the game, and I just loved coaching,” Krzyzewski said. “I never imagined how good it would be to have my former players as friends.”

Krzyzewski said many of his former players didn’t have what it takes to play basketball professionally.

“We just started saying, ‘Okay, any assistant I have will be one of my players,’” Krzyzewski said. “They've all been one of my captains.

“The only stipulation I asked from them is that they don't come wanting to be an assistant coach. I want them to have the dream of being a head coach.”

Krzyzewski said the years taught him the many facets of being a coach.

“I've loved what I've done my whole life,” Krzyzewski said. “In order to do what you love, you don't always do everything that you love.”

Krzyzewski’s 'starting five' is his support system

Coach K, his wife of 53 years Mickie, and his three daughters, whom he calls his starting five, have grown into an extended and still very close family.

“We love Duke,” Krzyzewski said. “We love Durham and North Carolina. This has been an amazing place to raise our family.”

Krzyzewski said his three daughters’ families are within a 10-minute drive. He also has 10 grandchildren; four of them play basketball.

“[The other day] I watched two of my grandsons in two different games,” Krzyzewski said.

Krzyzewski said he’s spending more quality time with some of his grandchildren than his own daughters. He said sometimes they ask him basketball questions.

“I’ll goof with them a little bit, or if they’re at our house, I’d say, ‘Quin, I was watching you on defense. I don’t know why you have your hands here. You should have your hands down here,’” Krzyzewski said.

Krzyzewski credited his wife Mickie for her support while he coached for five decades.

“My family has traveled when we won Olympic gold medals, and they’ve been … God bless them, man … They’ve been in so many situations where they’re in support and feel pressure and want us, want me to do well, and I’ve appreciated that.

“I really think it made us closer as a family, and Mickie has been the key component with that.”

Plus, Krzyzewski has an 11-month-old dog named Coach.

“We got him at 8 pounds [when he was] 8 weeks [old],” Krzyzewski said. “He’s 85 pounds now, and he’s a heck of an athlete, and he’s a good guy.”

Advice to parents and grandparents

Krzyzewski also offered his advice to parents and grandparents who want their children to be the next star at Duke.

“The youngster has to have fun in whatever he or she is doing, and they should be doing more than one thing,” Krzyzewski said. “Don’t just play one sport [when] you’re young. Do a bunch of different things.”

Krzyzewski said it’s important not to have tunnel vision.

“Don't always ask … how many points [they] scored, or did [you] win that ... [instead, ask] did [you] have fun? Did [you] play hard?”

Krzyzewski also said parents shouldn’t over-criticize their children.

“Don't attach your ego into what your kid is doing,” he said. “That’s a big mistake.”