The inspiring leadership book from the legendary basketball coach, now featured in the acclaimed Hulu series The Bear, The Duke University's former head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has proved himself a leader both on and off the court. He led the Duke Blue Devils to five straight Final Four appearances, culminating in back-to-back championships in 1991 and '92. He received five National Coach of the Year Awards -- and many of the players he coached in college went on to NBA stardom! Now Coach K offers the insights he used to coax peak performances from his team, relying on lessons he learned as a captain in the U.S. Army, sportsmanship, respect, and a genuine gift for leading with the hear.

This is a collection of short but extraordinarily powerful essays as to how Coach K of Duke inspires, motivates, and teaches his basketball players about the game of life, both on and off the court.

The definitive biography of college basketball’s all-time winningest coach, Mike Krzyzewski Mike Krzyzewski, known worldwide as “Coach K,” is a five-time national champion at Duke, the NCAA's all-time leader in victories with nearly 1,200, and the first man to lead Team USA to three Olympic basketball gold medals. Through unprecedented access to Krzyzewski’s best friends, closest advisers, fiercest adversaries, and generations of his players and assistants, three-time New York Times bestselling author Ian O’Connor takes you behind the Blue Devil curtain with a penetrating examination of the great, but flawed leader as he closes out his iconic career. Krzyzewski built a staggering basketball empire that has endured for more than four decades, placing him among the all-time titans of American sport, and yet there has never been a defining portrait of the coach and his program. Until now. O’Connor uses scores of interviews with those who know Krzyzewski best to deliver previously untold stories about the relationships that define the venerable Coach K, including the one with his volcanic mentor, Bob Knight, that died a premature death. Krzyzewski was always driven by an inner rage fueled by his tough Chicago upbringing, and by the blue-collar Polish-American parents who raised him to fight for a better life. As the retiring Coach K makes his final stand, vying for one more ring during the 2021-2022 season before saying goodbye at age 75, O’Connor shows you sides of the man and his methods that will surprise even the most dedicated Duke fan.

Mike Krzyzewski is the preeminent college basketball coach of his generation. He has led Duke to three national titles and his Blue Devils are consistently ranked among the top teams in the nation. In Coach K's Little Blue Book, Krzyzewski is revealed as more than a basketball strategist. He is a motivator, mentor, leader, and deep thinker with an intuitive feel for the game. He offers fascinating insight into such former Duke stars as Grant Hill and Christian Laettner, opponents such as Michael Jordan and Vince Carter, as well as rival hall-of-fame coaches Bobby Knight and John Wooden. In sharing Coach K's views on winning, teamwork, family, leadership and, what Krzyzewski calls, the game of life, author Barry Jacobs unearths the passion, intelligence and humanity that have made Krzyzewski a national icon. Book jacket.

ESPN basketball analyst and former Duke player Jay Bilas looks at the true meaning of toughness in this New York Times bestselling book that features stories from basketball legends. If anyone knows tough, it’s Jay Bilas. A four-year starter at Duke, he learned a strong work ethic under Coach Mike Krzyzewski. After playing professionally overseas, he returned to Duke, where he served as Krzyzewski’s assistant coach for three seasons, helping to guide the Blue Devils to two national championships. He has since become one of basketball’s most recognizable faces through his insightful analysis on ESPN’s SportsCenter and College GameDay. Through his ups and downs on and off the court, Bilas learned the true meaning of toughness from coaches, teammates, and colleagues. Now, in Toughness, he examines this misunderstood—yet vital—attribute and how it contributes to winning in sports and in life. Featuring never-before-heard stories and personal philosophies on toughness from top players and coaches, including Coach K, Bob Knight, Grant Hill, Mia Hamm, Jon Gruden, Tom Izzo, Roy Williams, Bill Self, Curtis Strange, and many others—Bilas redefines what it takes to succeed.

When John Kaminsky graduated from high school in Republic, Pennsylvania, in 1954, he found himself at a crossroads. Limited by his choices-and not wanting to be a coal miner-Kaminsky decided to join the Army. He eventually got a job supervising the gymnasium at a base in Frankfurt, Germany, and became a basketball and softball coach in what was to become a long, storied career. When he headed home after three years of service, Kaminsky didn't have to think too hard about what he wanted to do: he'd go to college, play basketball, and become a coach. In The Real Coach K, Kaminsky tells how he achieved his dream of becoming a successful player and launched a coaching career that has spanned various sports, including basketball, baseball, and golf. From his days at Chillicothe High School in Pennsylvania to Millersport High School and The Ohio State University at Newark, Kaminsky celebrates his successes, reflects on his failures, and tells of all the lessons he learned that still apply today. The Real Coach K is an inspiration to anyone who aims to accomplish his or her dreams while besting the competition along the way.

A collection of essays by the head coach of the Duke University basketball team presents his philosophy on winning, losing, and sportsmanship, as well as motivational lessons that can be applied to the personal and professional arena.