Mike Krzyzewski’s Record: Bob Knight’s Statement On Coach K’s 903rd Win

Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski’s picked up his record 903rd NCAA victory Tuesday, breaking the record held by Bob Knight, his former coach and mentor. Through ESPN publicist Mike Humes, Knight issued a statement on Coach K’s record victory:

After reading about Roger Bannister and the Four Minute Mile, I thought it would be neat to be the first coach to win 900 games. Once I reached that, I was hoping Mike would be the first person to surpass it. I also think it is neat for a coach and his former player to have the opportunity to win this many games while each one was coaching at nearly the same time. He made great contributions to our Army team, as a player and has been a great example as a coach of how to do things the right way. There is no one I respect more for the way he went about coaching and following the rules than Mike. The history of college basketball has had no better coach than Mike Krzyzewski.

Krzyzewski was equally affectionate after the game when he described what was said during his post-game embrace with Knight. From the Associated Press:

“I just told Coach I love him,” Krzyzewski said. “I wouldn’t be in this position without him. It’s a moment shared. I know he’s very proud, and I’m very proud to have been somebody who’s worked under him and studied him and tried to be like him.

“I’m not sure how many people tell him they love him but I love him for what he’s done for me and I thanked him. He said `Boy, you’ve done pretty good for a kid who couldn’t shoot.’ I think that means he loves me too. At least that’s how I’m taking that.”