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Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life
In this informative and inspirational book, Coach K, Duke University's head basketball coach, tells readers how he coaxes peak performances from his team, relying on lessons he learned as a captain in the U.S. Army.
Duke University's head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has proved himself a leader both on and off the court. He's led the Duke Blue Devils to five straight Final Four appearances, culminating in back-to-back championships in 1991 and '92. He has received five National Coach of the Year Awards—and many of the players he coached in college have gone on to NBA stardom.
From sportsmanship to respect, Leading with the Heart is a genuine gift from a coach who knows how to lead with heart.
Duke University's head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has proved himself a leader both on and off the court. He's led the Duke Blue Devils to five straight Final Four appearances, culminating in back-to-back championships in 1991 and '92. He has received five National Coach of the Year Awards—and many of the players he coached in college have gone on to NBA stardom.
From sportsmanship to respect, Leading with the Heart is a genuine gift from a coach who knows how to lead with heart.
291 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
About the author
Mike Krzyzewski
37 books61 followersMike Krzyzewski has been the basketball coach of the Duke Blue Devils for twenty-seven years, winning three NCAA championships and twelve national Coach of the Year awards. He is revered and respected by sports fans and business leaders everywhere. Coach K. lives with his family in Durham, North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
August 24, 2023
Who else is here because there were too many references to Coach K in the Bear show and you just had to find out more about his approach? :D
April 13, 2018
I had higher hopes for this book because of what I know of Coach K's character. I was disappointed because there was not much to separate this book from any other leadership book written by a coach.
I did find chapter 12 (Celebrate Tradition) to be a neat insight into some of the unique aspects of Duke basketball culture. It is this chapter that reaffirmed my respect for Coach K and how he chooses to live his life and run his program. His description of the time he spent with Jim Valvano was also moving and again highlights who Coach K is and what matters most to him.
If you like Duke or Coach K and you are looking for leadership book to read, then I recommend this book. If you are looking for a leadership book to read, pick up a dart and throw it at the board to choose as I find most books in this genre to be very similar.
In my opinion, the one book in this genre that transcends the others is Wooden on Leadership. As great a coach and human being as Coach K may be, his book doesn't come close to Wooden's but neither does any other that I have read.
I did find chapter 12 (Celebrate Tradition) to be a neat insight into some of the unique aspects of Duke basketball culture. It is this chapter that reaffirmed my respect for Coach K and how he chooses to live his life and run his program. His description of the time he spent with Jim Valvano was also moving and again highlights who Coach K is and what matters most to him.
If you like Duke or Coach K and you are looking for leadership book to read, then I recommend this book. If you are looking for a leadership book to read, pick up a dart and throw it at the board to choose as I find most books in this genre to be very similar.
In my opinion, the one book in this genre that transcends the others is Wooden on Leadership. As great a coach and human being as Coach K may be, his book doesn't come close to Wooden's but neither does any other that I have read.
April 25, 2024
Coach K more like Coach ridiKulous. Honestly the book was good enough since I’m a slut for sports books. But… Coach K puts the K in narKissist. His leadership advice reads like he read a different leadership book and thought “Coach K is pretty good at leadership, let me write a book about how good of a leader I am.”
The first indicator of this is that at each chapter Coach K puts in three quotes of his own. The only other people to get quoted are Jimmy V (former NC state head coach that died of cancer and founded the V foundation) and Coach K’s wife.
In addition to this, Coach K makes up several conversations that never actually occurred to reinforce this. In one of these conversations his own daughter refers to him as Coach K. Not dad. Not daddy. Not father. Not pops. But Coach K. WTF!
In addition to that, his reaction to finding out his daughter survived an attempted carjacking at gun point was to ask what hat he was wearing. When he found out the man was wearing a hat that said Florida on it Coach K took it as his mission to beat Florida in their next game. Doesn’t seem to even care about his daughter beyond getting motivation for his next game.
He writes this book about himself and consistently shares stories that are things someone should eulogize about you. Not tell them about yourself. His worst offense was that he tells the story of when he spilled water all over the court. When the team manager came over to clean up the spill Coach K took his towel and cleaned it up himself. He then said to the manager “Justin, one day when you’re the CEO of your own company you’ll clean up your own messes.”
Beyond this, it is clear this man thinks he is the only reason for the success at Duke. His worst offense is that he claimed the sole reason why his team beat Clemson by going on a 28-0 run is because he got so angry he took his suit coat off. Not the fact that his team was littered with NBA players against a non-basketball school. Nope it’s just that Coach K showed off his f******* sweat stains and it got his players so fired up that they won.
Instead of admitting to the fact that he cheats and paid players (before it was legal) Coach K tried to claim that he almost wouldn’t recruit a player that rolls his eyes at his parents. Given that he had the disclaimer of almost is more than enough to burn his whole chapter on recruiting players that respect authority.
Lastly, let’s not forget that several times Coach K brings up the Vietnam war unprompted. He claims America would have won if they were trying to win. Then he tries to spin that into some weird analogy to how he actually wants to win. Ok… coach K.
If I had to sum up this book in one sentence here it is:
Boomer gives unsolicited leadership advice while revealing he is a narcissist.
The first indicator of this is that at each chapter Coach K puts in three quotes of his own. The only other people to get quoted are Jimmy V (former NC state head coach that died of cancer and founded the V foundation) and Coach K’s wife.
In addition to this, Coach K makes up several conversations that never actually occurred to reinforce this. In one of these conversations his own daughter refers to him as Coach K. Not dad. Not daddy. Not father. Not pops. But Coach K. WTF!
In addition to that, his reaction to finding out his daughter survived an attempted carjacking at gun point was to ask what hat he was wearing. When he found out the man was wearing a hat that said Florida on it Coach K took it as his mission to beat Florida in their next game. Doesn’t seem to even care about his daughter beyond getting motivation for his next game.
He writes this book about himself and consistently shares stories that are things someone should eulogize about you. Not tell them about yourself. His worst offense was that he tells the story of when he spilled water all over the court. When the team manager came over to clean up the spill Coach K took his towel and cleaned it up himself. He then said to the manager “Justin, one day when you’re the CEO of your own company you’ll clean up your own messes.”
Beyond this, it is clear this man thinks he is the only reason for the success at Duke. His worst offense is that he claimed the sole reason why his team beat Clemson by going on a 28-0 run is because he got so angry he took his suit coat off. Not the fact that his team was littered with NBA players against a non-basketball school. Nope it’s just that Coach K showed off his f******* sweat stains and it got his players so fired up that they won.
Instead of admitting to the fact that he cheats and paid players (before it was legal) Coach K tried to claim that he almost wouldn’t recruit a player that rolls his eyes at his parents. Given that he had the disclaimer of almost is more than enough to burn his whole chapter on recruiting players that respect authority.
Lastly, let’s not forget that several times Coach K brings up the Vietnam war unprompted. He claims America would have won if they were trying to win. Then he tries to spin that into some weird analogy to how he actually wants to win. Ok… coach K.
If I had to sum up this book in one sentence here it is:
Boomer gives unsolicited leadership advice while revealing he is a narcissist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2024
I have become a basketball fan because of my 8-year old boy who hasn't really become a fan - but I have. Then I have watched everything basketball-related on HBO and Netflix, including "The redeem team", featuring Coach K. And finally - yes - the mentions of this book in "The bear" have been far too many to ignore :)
A very fine book about a very fine man, it teaches about life, family and business principles, rather than just basketball. I am glad indeed that I've finally read it, and eagerly recommend it - especially for sports fans like myself.
A very fine book about a very fine man, it teaches about life, family and business principles, rather than just basketball. I am glad indeed that I've finally read it, and eagerly recommend it - especially for sports fans like myself.
March 6, 2018
Probably one of the only books from school that I actually have enjoyed so far. It was definitely interesting seeing Coach K's thoughts and experiences with leadership and its theories. I'm not a huge basketball fan, so I was really dreading this book going into it. I'm glad that I did read it though, as I've gained some great insight on someone who is a successful team leader and I can definitely apply this to my every day life.
January 28, 2024
This is a semi-autobiographical, semi-self-coaching book where the two parts interact and integrate with each other to form something larger. Coach K's life is full of very useful stories which have shaped his work, his determination, grit, and passion, while in a fast-paced, media centered, quite aggressive and result-focused environment that is College Basketball.
The lessons that I'm taking for me from this book have to do with the fist: Communication, Trust, Collective Responsibility, Caring, and Pride in making things happen - and that any finger open in the fist make it more prone to be broken (that's the intensity of semi-pro/professional sports).
Another useful insight is his view on determining what constitutes to be successful - that it should be something personal and never something dictated entirely by external factors. He'd rather see his players giving it all and eventually losing a game than winning a game but not really playing to their full potential - as the latter doesn't represent an evolution of the team - and the people in the team - and, therefore, even if it's a win, it's not success.
The final lesson, or insight, that I found really useful, appears towards the final chapters of his book, where he realizes that Basketball, either playing the game or coaching it, is not the ultimate final goal - it's just the tool, the way, he used to connect to other people and to, in a general sense, humanity. Even though there was always intense focus on the smallest details (the next game, the next quarter, the next play, the next 2 seconds...), through this perspective it is possible to go from the tiniest thing done right to the largest effect - which is to have a legacy to pass on.
It's worth reading/listening to it to, maybe, refocus and fall in love again with our careers, our work - I guess sometime earlier there was such a thing, wasn't there? - and to reposition oneself as an evolving person, where eventual failures aren't a destination, but maybe the path to successes.
The lessons that I'm taking for me from this book have to do with the fist: Communication, Trust, Collective Responsibility, Caring, and Pride in making things happen - and that any finger open in the fist make it more prone to be broken (that's the intensity of semi-pro/professional sports).
Another useful insight is his view on determining what constitutes to be successful - that it should be something personal and never something dictated entirely by external factors. He'd rather see his players giving it all and eventually losing a game than winning a game but not really playing to their full potential - as the latter doesn't represent an evolution of the team - and the people in the team - and, therefore, even if it's a win, it's not success.
The final lesson, or insight, that I found really useful, appears towards the final chapters of his book, where he realizes that Basketball, either playing the game or coaching it, is not the ultimate final goal - it's just the tool, the way, he used to connect to other people and to, in a general sense, humanity. Even though there was always intense focus on the smallest details (the next game, the next quarter, the next play, the next 2 seconds...), through this perspective it is possible to go from the tiniest thing done right to the largest effect - which is to have a legacy to pass on.
It's worth reading/listening to it to, maybe, refocus and fall in love again with our careers, our work - I guess sometime earlier there was such a thing, wasn't there? - and to reposition oneself as an evolving person, where eventual failures aren't a destination, but maybe the path to successes.
August 31, 2023
As an avid Duke fan and alumni I had always wanted to read this. Now I love coach K even more as he shares his philosophy on life and coaching and teaching….definitely strategies that not only apply to a basketball team but can be applied to self, family, work and more. I loved his examples of players and actual games which showed his teachings on communication,commitment,trust and collective responsibility.
As a fan it was nice to relive the games and players - grant hill, Christian laetner, Bobby Hurley, so many great players and people were taught by coach K
As a fan it was nice to relive the games and players - grant hill, Christian laetner, Bobby Hurley, so many great players and people were taught by coach K
May 4, 2024
although my boss asked me to read this, i enjoyed it. the coach is from a polish family in chicago, which is close to home for me. but i liked his approach to leadership & creating a team & family. he has a way to treating people with respect & like humans & after reading it it makes me relieved that my boss has this pov for our team. dedication, hard work, honesty, treating people like humans, etc. a good book, even if you’re not a basketball fan. sometimes he did get in the weeds describing games, which is fine. but still pretty good.
February 10, 2021
This book was good! It’s 20 years old, but Coach K has some really good insight on leadership and how to build a successful team. I read a book on John Wooden a month or two ago and Coach K is another coach who has built his life and program on good, unshaken values. I was also pleasantly surprised at how much my #1 man crush Quin Snyder was mentioned. It’s nice to realize how big of an impact Quin had on Duke and Mike Krzyzewski. Also props to my boy Drew for giving this to me.
December 17, 2023
I originally wanted to read this book because Sydney from The Bear reads it in season 2. I loved it so much, it makes me want to coach even more than I wanted to before. He’s inspiring and the stories were fun to read. I can see myself reading this again or at least referring back to its principles in the future.
March 13, 2024
This book is shockingly bad. That’s not because the content is not good, it’s fine, but the writing is about as simple, bland, and unappealing as I’ve ever read. Coach K doesn’t come across as human in any of his anecdotes, which is surprising given his vibrant personality and language often seen in huddles as the TV broadcast breaks to commercial. Instead the reader is treated to pallid dialogue related in the most contrived circumstances and events. There’s a very compelling story hidden in this book about how a self-described average kid from Chicago grew into the most respected collegiate coach ever. Sadly, Donald Phillips’s ghost hand killed that story in favor of some run-of-the-mill 90s corporate self-help bs. This book is like the Wolfgang Puck restaurants found in seemingly every major intl airport: a famous name co-opted to sell average substance. What hurts about both experiences, the restaurant and this book, is that if you have any knowledge of the field then you know what you’re being served is so much better literally anywhere else.
October 9, 2023
Everyone needs to read this book! One of the best leadership books for business and all industries.
October 28, 2023
2.5 stars. Interesting to see behind the scenes of his coaching career but nothing crazy
January 3, 2024
Excellent life advice for teachers, parents, coaches, managers, or anyone honestly!
February 1, 2024
There were so many times where I thought “OHMYGOD, I should absolutely be writing this down”, but I’m me and so I obviously did not. Additionally 5 stars to The Bear.
February 3, 2024
excellent. coach k is so baby girl.
February 14, 2024
this book took me 5ever to finish obviously.. but it was pretty good! it had some good pieces of wisdom that surprising relate to things other than basketball 🏀 I do think it was a bit too long, a bit too repetitive and a bit unorganized (it was hard to organize into useful information in my brain 🧠), regardless it was neat to see into Coach K’s life for a min bc i didn’t know anything about him before, he is a very respectable human for sure 👍🏼
February 23, 2024
I loved this book. It should be a must read fir any aspiring leader.
October 14, 2011
I read the non-fiction book Leading with the Heart by Mike Krzyzewski who is the head basketball coach at Duke University. I think that the purpose he had in writing this book was to inform the reader on how to develop good coaching skills as well as applying them to your everyday life, and allowing you to become a better individual along with becoming an even better teammate. In the book, Coach K talks about using your time wisely, and not wasting it doing things that are going to hurt you, and also the team. He also discusses the importance of trust and leadership in order for the team to succeed. Another thing that Coach K talked about in his books was academics. This stood out to me because he makes sure that his players are getting their work done, and also using their time wisely and not waiting till the last minute to get their work done. I think that this book is an exposition, and that this writing style fits the book well because throughout the book he is explaining and giving examples. I really liked this book because it deals with basketball and also Coach K is a role model to me, and hearing the things he has to say, and the way he approaches things really had me interested throughout the book. I don't read books very often, but this book had me interested the whole time, and kept me thinking about his way of coaching, and how effective it really is. Coach K's book Leading with the Heart is an excellent book, and I really recommend reading it!
January 21, 2024
Zu Beginn wirklich überragend.
Wertvolle Tipps und Lektionen an konkreten Beispielen erläutert.
Zum Ende hin leider einige Dopplungen.
Dazu ist es leider auch schon etwas älter und man kennt nicht mehr viele dieser College-Spieler die er erwähnt.
Wertvolle Tipps und Lektionen an konkreten Beispielen erläutert.
Zum Ende hin leider einige Dopplungen.
Dazu ist es leider auch schon etwas älter und man kennt nicht mehr viele dieser College-Spieler die er erwähnt.
February 28, 2014
Leading with the heart is a inspiring book made by the legendary Duke university basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski. In this book, Coach K talks about the types of players he wants to coach, and what type of leader he want to be. This book taught me a lot it. It taught me to never give up, to respect everyone, and that everything comes for the heart. One day I wanna go to Duke university and play for Coach K, hopefully that happens.
This book is good for people who like basketball and want to be inspired. This book makes me want to work harder to get to my goal. To keep on going no matter what happens, if I fall, I get back up. If I fail, I will try again. This book also taught me that school always comes first, education is key, you won't get anywhere in life without education. This is a once in a lifetime book that will never come again.
This book is good for people who like basketball and want to be inspired. This book makes me want to work harder to get to my goal. To keep on going no matter what happens, if I fall, I get back up. If I fail, I will try again. This book also taught me that school always comes first, education is key, you won't get anywhere in life without education. This is a once in a lifetime book that will never come again.
Read
February 10, 2017This was another book my grandma told me to read since I liked the Duke Blue Devils. I really enjoyed learning about Coach K's life. I really enjoyed how he talked about how he got his team ready for the four national championships he won. I enjoyed how he described what practice was like through his eyes. I liked the part where he said he dove on the floor after a ball to prove a point his players to hustle more. My favorite part of the whole book was when Jim Valvano a basketball coach at North Carolina State was dying of cancer and Coack K wrote in this book about how he spent everyday at the hospital with him and how they talked basketball and how they talked about life. I smiled and cried at this part because it just showed what a true and good friend would look like.
January 2, 2016
Coach Mike Krzyzewski lead Duke University to multiple championships. This is his advice about coaching and living a successful life.
Why I picked up this book: You probably already know about Coach K if you follow college basketball. Since I don't, I learned about his book from the Navy's recommended reading list.
Why I finished it: I struggled with this a little... it was easy for me to put this down and pick up another book. See above about me not being a college basketball fan. His leadership tips, were good reminders but nothing new. I did like reading about the 1992 Olympic Dream Team.
Why I picked up this book: You probably already know about Coach K if you follow college basketball. Since I don't, I learned about his book from the Navy's recommended reading list.
Why I finished it: I struggled with this a little... it was easy for me to put this down and pick up another book. See above about me not being a college basketball fan. His leadership tips, were good reminders but nothing new. I did like reading about the 1992 Olympic Dream Team.
July 3, 2007
even if you don't like Coach K or the Duke Blue Devils, after reading this book I think you can at least respect the man and have some admiration for his coaching style... i haven't read too many books written by coaches, so maybe this is like many others, but it basically provides some practical advice to being successful in life, & there are certain pieces of it that might even be post-it note worthy for inspiration around the office.
December 17, 2008
I received this book from my high school softball coach. It has outstanding life lessons that I have used ever since. I re-read it every year before softball season and will be able to apply it towards the future. I love how Krzyzewski uses examples from his team and the business world. He has quite a heart and it shows by his former players raves about his personality and character.
November 2, 2015
This book is not about basketball. Coach K shares leadership lessons that span all of life. Lots of gems in here.
March 3, 2023
A winner of a book!
This book is one of those very, very few books that can easily make you choke up with emotion in admiration of the author. It frequently hits enough emotional chords/heartstrings to give one goosebumps or shivers in the presence of something so good.
Quite some time ago, I had skimmed the book, co-written by best-selling author on leadership Donald T. Phillips, looking for details on how to win at basketball, but just recently had the time to read it in detail. What I found now was inspiring, bringing up awe and reverence for a pure professional who’s devoted his life to excelling at basketball…and life.
Here Coach K’s strategic concepts come alive with stories and examples. Among them are: thoughts about purity equaling innocence equaling enjoyment of the game in and of itself; inclusion of his teams into his family, teaching his players not only about basketball but strategies about how to win in life, sometimes with such simple tools as time management, setting priorities, and asking for help. For ease of reading and remembering, each chapter ends with its main lessons learned: “Coach K’s Tips.”
Some quotes: “I’m a teacher and a coach.” “I believe the main job of a coach is to motivate. The main job of a leader is to inspire.”
Lastly, I was particularly taken by Coach K’s chapter on character: “The Core of Character,” where he touched upon continual learning, hard work, honesty, and integrity. His primary and final tip in that chapter: “Make the truth the basis of all you do.”
Bottom-line: A pure joy to read, this poetic rendering of how to do things right, especially coaching and team leadership, is a must-have for one’s sports/life library!
Of possible interest, a book on strategy that surveys Coach K as well as 86 other master strategists and a book on the importance of character to see one’s strategy succeed:Strategic Advantage: How to Win in War, Business, and Life and George Washington's Liberty Key: Mount Vernon's Bastille Key - the Mystery and Magic of Its Body, Mind, and Soul, a best-seller at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
This book is one of those very, very few books that can easily make you choke up with emotion in admiration of the author. It frequently hits enough emotional chords/heartstrings to give one goosebumps or shivers in the presence of something so good.
Quite some time ago, I had skimmed the book, co-written by best-selling author on leadership Donald T. Phillips, looking for details on how to win at basketball, but just recently had the time to read it in detail. What I found now was inspiring, bringing up awe and reverence for a pure professional who’s devoted his life to excelling at basketball…and life.
Here Coach K’s strategic concepts come alive with stories and examples. Among them are: thoughts about purity equaling innocence equaling enjoyment of the game in and of itself; inclusion of his teams into his family, teaching his players not only about basketball but strategies about how to win in life, sometimes with such simple tools as time management, setting priorities, and asking for help. For ease of reading and remembering, each chapter ends with its main lessons learned: “Coach K’s Tips.”
Some quotes: “I’m a teacher and a coach.” “I believe the main job of a coach is to motivate. The main job of a leader is to inspire.”
Lastly, I was particularly taken by Coach K’s chapter on character: “The Core of Character,” where he touched upon continual learning, hard work, honesty, and integrity. His primary and final tip in that chapter: “Make the truth the basis of all you do.”
Bottom-line: A pure joy to read, this poetic rendering of how to do things right, especially coaching and team leadership, is a must-have for one’s sports/life library!
Of possible interest, a book on strategy that surveys Coach K as well as 86 other master strategists and a book on the importance of character to see one’s strategy succeed:Strategic Advantage: How to Win in War, Business, and Life and George Washington's Liberty Key: Mount Vernon's Bastille Key - the Mystery and Magic of Its Body, Mind, and Soul, a best-seller at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
March 21, 2024
As a young athlete who always thinks their coaches are always wrong I wanted to see what it's really like to be a good coach. And to see the things that they have to go through to get to their position. Because of this book, I know the ins and outs of how to have and function a good team.In Coach K's book which is his first and most likely last book. Coach k has been coaching basketball for over four decades. In Coach k’s book he talks about his experiences through his life and how that shaped him to become one of the best college basketball coaches ever. The book was published in 2001 and this is important because this is one of the years he won the NCAA championship.One of my favorite parts of the book was when he was playing basketball with all of his friends in the middle and the local basketball league didnt let them play because they were just a group of young kids and weren't actually a ‘team’. Coach K, growing up with the parents teaching him to be honest and have integrity. Coach K was then able to play some of the teams in the league by talking to the other teams and having them meet them at the park; they never lost a game but still could not get into the league. It showed how much coach K cared about basketball and how much he really wanted to play. It also made me think about how i should take playing basketball for granted cause i never know when I wont be able to anymore. Me and this book connected on a deeper meaning than just ‘basketball’. Even though I liked most of the book I couldn't understand why he didn't use any of his players to help him with his book. If he would have got their side of the story the book would have flowed and connected better. In the middle of the book he was talking about how him being a leader and his best and smartest players also being a leader, I think he could of gotten one of his leaders from his team to help him get there side of how he is considered a leader on the team and the things he does to be a better leader. Because of this I have to give it 3 starsI would consider this book to be very connected to basketball and the only way to understand it is if you were or are an athlete, which made me enjoy this book.. Therefore I would recommend this book to young athletes trying to become better at their craft.
Read
June 23, 2020The book that I read for November book club is by Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Men’s Head Basketball Coach. The book discusses the values that Coach K holds and how he uses these values to coach his teams. Some of these values include sticking to your plans and holding onto your commitments, learning how to adjust quickly and which things change, and taking responsibility for the performance of your team. The main messages that I derived from reading the book are that you must command excellence in order to win and you need to focus 100% of your attention in order to receive 100% of their effort. Some of the other ground it covers includes whether or not the culture of an organization can and will be changed and will the leader be willing to take the necessary steps, procedures and time to do so and will the leader be able to effectively communicate the overall new vision of the company to its members.
I believe this book relates to my AmeriCorps year by providing me with some very useful leadership lessons. Being able to adjust quickly and adapt to changes is a useful skill in any job. As an AmeriCorps member it is important to understand the commitment made and to stick with it. I think coaching a team can be a lot like working with people and teaching them technology skills. I will only get 100% effort from my clients if I give them 100% attention. I personally believe everyone possesses leadership skills and whether they use them or not determines if they become a leader. All the messages and lessons from this book are valuable not only for me but for my clients as well.
I believe other AmeriCorps members should read this book because of the valuable lessons that they can gain from it. It is especially helpful if you have an interest in learning about coaching and sports. Coach K is a great leader and someone that I respect greatly. I have followed Duke Basketball for many years and this is one of the reasons I gained so much from the book.
I believe this book relates to my AmeriCorps year by providing me with some very useful leadership lessons. Being able to adjust quickly and adapt to changes is a useful skill in any job. As an AmeriCorps member it is important to understand the commitment made and to stick with it. I think coaching a team can be a lot like working with people and teaching them technology skills. I will only get 100% effort from my clients if I give them 100% attention. I personally believe everyone possesses leadership skills and whether they use them or not determines if they become a leader. All the messages and lessons from this book are valuable not only for me but for my clients as well.
I believe other AmeriCorps members should read this book because of the valuable lessons that they can gain from it. It is especially helpful if you have an interest in learning about coaching and sports. Coach K is a great leader and someone that I respect greatly. I have followed Duke Basketball for many years and this is one of the reasons I gained so much from the book.
January 29, 2024
“My hunger is not for success, it is for excellence” - Coach K
Plot:
Coach Krzyzewski writes about his origins as the son of Polish immigrants in Chicago and the values his mother and father instilled in him. He discusses his early role in sports organizing and leading games amongst his peers. His decision to attend Westpoint Military Academy and how he began playing and coaching while there. After college he worked alongside Indiana’s Bobby Knight as an assistant and eventually was recommended by Bobby for his head coaching position. The book moves into his time with Duke as the head coach and his relationship with Nc State’s Jimmy V.
Much of the head coaching years covered in this book are about instilling values (Integrity, hard work, honesty) in the students who come to play for him and Duke. He delves deep into how a team is forged versus individual player greatness. The ending moves towards discussions of off the court goodness and charity work.
Themes:
Teamwork, Honesty, Integrity, Charity, Basketball, Coaching, Leadership, Innocence, Family, Duke, Winning, Excellence
Characters:
Coach K, Grant Hill, Bobby Knight, Bobby Hurley, Christian Latner, Shane Battier, Jimmy Valvonno
Point of View:
First Person
Setting (Time & Place):
Chicago, Illinois 1950s and 60s
Durham, North Carolina 90s
Voice (Grammar & Diction):
Academic, Professional, Teacher, MidWestern Proper
Figurative Language & Symbols:
The fist as a team
Quotes:
“You hear, you forget. You see, you remember. You do, you understand.”
“the worse the crisis, the more people will tend to think as individual rather than as members of a team.”
“People want to be on a team. They want to be part of something bigger than themselves. They want to be in a situation where they feel that they are doing something for the greater good.”
Plot:
Coach Krzyzewski writes about his origins as the son of Polish immigrants in Chicago and the values his mother and father instilled in him. He discusses his early role in sports organizing and leading games amongst his peers. His decision to attend Westpoint Military Academy and how he began playing and coaching while there. After college he worked alongside Indiana’s Bobby Knight as an assistant and eventually was recommended by Bobby for his head coaching position. The book moves into his time with Duke as the head coach and his relationship with Nc State’s Jimmy V.
Much of the head coaching years covered in this book are about instilling values (Integrity, hard work, honesty) in the students who come to play for him and Duke. He delves deep into how a team is forged versus individual player greatness. The ending moves towards discussions of off the court goodness and charity work.
Themes:
Teamwork, Honesty, Integrity, Charity, Basketball, Coaching, Leadership, Innocence, Family, Duke, Winning, Excellence
Characters:
Coach K, Grant Hill, Bobby Knight, Bobby Hurley, Christian Latner, Shane Battier, Jimmy Valvonno
Point of View:
First Person
Setting (Time & Place):
Chicago, Illinois 1950s and 60s
Durham, North Carolina 90s
Voice (Grammar & Diction):
Academic, Professional, Teacher, MidWestern Proper
Figurative Language & Symbols:
The fist as a team
Quotes:
“You hear, you forget. You see, you remember. You do, you understand.”
“the worse the crisis, the more people will tend to think as individual rather than as members of a team.”
“People want to be on a team. They want to be part of something bigger than themselves. They want to be in a situation where they feel that they are doing something for the greater good.”
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