An exclusive interview with coach K – english version

Mike Krzyzewski is not only one of the most important and loved coaches in the world, able to be the winningest coach in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history conducting Duke to 4 NCAA titles, 11 final fours and two gold medals at Olympics games with USA Basketball. Coach K is a special person, gifted with a natural charisma, a man rich of principles, an exemplary family man and a charitable person with his efforts for the Emily K Center, dedicated to his mother, that helps kids to get a scholastic education but also the Duke Children’s hospital, the Children Miracle Network and the V Foundation (dedicated to Jim Valvano) for the cancer research. A man able of profound words that go beyond offensive sets and it’s a terrific honor for Dailybasket having the chance to interview him.

Coach Krzyzewski, you had another amazing summer with Team Usa winning your second straight gold medal at the Olympics Games. How did you revitalize the program after the disasters at Indianapolis and Athens 2004? Your relationship with those NBA stars is unbelievable, what’s your secret? Any differences between Beijing and London? Will you continue to be the coach of Team USA?

“My coaching tenure with USA Basketball is over. However, I look forward to being a part of the organization moving forward and will offer anything they need from me in order for USA Basketball to remain the premier international program in the world. Truthfully, I found the NBA players to be incredibly coachable. We developed great relationships as a result of open and honest communication that worked both ways. I’ve learned more from them than they did from me, I am sure of that.”

How this Olympic experience impacts on Duke’s program? During the recruiting phase did it change the perception of the best young talented players about the program? Collaborating with coaches like D’Antoni, Boeheim and McMillan changed somehow some of your tactical beliefs?

“Being part of USA Basketball has made me a better coach. We had an incredible staff and I was able to take things from each of our coaches that we might incorporate into what we do here at Duke. As far as impacting our Duke program, it helps, mainly because I am a better basketball coach as a result of the international experience and seeing how other countries and coaches approach the game.”

You had few Europeans players at Duke, Pocius and Czyz had not a lot of playing time with the Blue Devils but they’re having a very good impact in their Europeans teams like Real Madrid and Rome. What do you think about Euro Players and what do they need to be important players in College Basketball?

“European players are having a great impact on the sport, most visibly in the NBA. At the college level, we’ll see more and more foreign players each year. The level of basketball is rising around the world. The college game in the United States is a bit different, and European players sometimes take a while to adjust to those differences. It is the same when a U.S. player starts playing against international teams for the first time.”

 

In the past you decided to renounce to one and dones players and won the last NCAA title with a group that developed during a four years program with Singler, Scheyer, Smith, Zoubek and Thomas but recently you signed Irving and Rivers, what do you think about one and done players  phenomenon? Is it worth it?

“I have always said that if a player is good enough to play professional basketball out of high school, he should be allowed to go. However, once a player makes the decision to attend college, I wish there would be a rule in place for him to stay at least two seasons. In the one-and-done scenario, a player hardly has a chance to unpack his bags at college and really isn’t getting the most out of a college experience if he’s there less than a year. It is part of our game, and coaches need to adjust to it until the rule changes. I don’t begrudge a young man for following his dream to professional basketball. If he’s good enough, he should do it for a variety of reasons.”

This year team you will add two talented players like sg Sulaimon and f Jefferson plus you will  have two redshirted players such as Alex Murphy and Marshall Plumlee. A team that appears to be physical and experienced,  can you describe to the Italian fans the new team and the goals? Can North Carolina State be the biggest competitor in the ACC?

“We’ll have a different team this year in that we have viable scoring options inside in Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly, two senior post players who should have outstanding seasons. We also return another key senior in guard Seth Curry, who’s been injured throughout our preseason camp but appears ready to go as we start the year. Seth is an outstanding shooter and paired with Mason and Ryan, our seniors should be the heart of our team in 2012-13. We are looking forward to the challenges ahead, whether it is from N.C. State, North Carolina, reigning ACC champion Florida State or any of the ACC teams we’ll face this year.”

Syracuse, Pitt and Notre Dame are coming to the ACC, how will this affect on the winning binomial of Duke and North Carolina?

“Our league will be better from a basketball perspective with the addition of Pitt, Syracuse and most recently, Notre Dame. Duke and North Carolina are two of the most successful programs in the history of college basketball. I don’t anticipate that changing moving forward. I am certain Pitt, Syracuse and Notre Dame will feel the same way in that they have a lot of pride in their programs and they will expect the same level of success in the future as members of the ACC.”

You are a myth for many young Italian coaches, could you give them some advice about coaching and developing young players?

“The most important thing is to follow your heart. Usually, that takes you to the right places. If you can get an entire team doing the same thing, that is key to a special season. Players want to be coached and more importantly, they want to be led. Lead with your heart, and you’ll be off to a terrific start.”

Carlo Perotti