Mike Krzyzewski–a winner on and off the court.
Mike Krzyzewski is no stranger to Top 10 lists. On the court, his team is currently the odds-on choice to win the 2019 NCAA basketball championship.
Coach K with Grant Hill in 1992 (photo, Sports Illustrated
Head coach of the Duke University Blue Devils since 1980, Krzyzewski’s teams have been in 12 Final Four’s, capturing national championships five times (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010 and 2015). And he is the winningest coach in Division 1 NCAA men’s history.
Krzyzewski’s 1,043 victories and 90 NCAA tournament victories stand as all-time records. His 117 NCAA Tournament games is also an NCAA all-time best. Coach K’s 77% win-percentage in NCAA Tournament games is the highest among active coaches.
He has experienced success as an Olympic coach, too, guiding Team USA to four Gold Medals. Most recently, Krzyzewski coached Team USA to its 6th Gold Medal at the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio.
The 2016 Games marked the end of Krzyzewski’s tenure as Olympic coach. He finished that tenure undefeated at 24-0.
Coach Krzyzewski is also a successful professional speaker. His style–dynamic, inspiring, and passionate–makes Coach K a master motivator for groups and organizations across America.
Here is my Top 10 List of inspiring quotes by one of America’s great coaches, Mike Krzyzewski.
Imagination has a great deal to do with winning.
If what you have done yesterday still looks big to you. You haven’t done much today.
You should do things because of what your expectations are of yourself.
There are always those times when you’re going to be down. It’s how you step through it that makes you the person you are.
During critical periods, a leader is not allowed to feel sorry for himself, to be down, to be angry, or to be weak. Leaders must beat back these emotions.
Courage gives a leader the ability to stand straight and not sway, no matter which way the wind blows.
It takes courage not only to make decisions but to live with those decisions afterward.
Effective teamwork begins and ends with communication.
I believe work is good. There is dignity in work. I also believe that a hard-work ethic forges strong leaders.
My hunger is not for success, it is for excellence. Because when you attain excellence, success just naturally follows.
When Coach K signs autographs for kids, he often signs the following: Always try your best. And he has always done just that.
