WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

USA Basketball Honors Krzyzewski

Jan 24, 2008

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski was named co-recipient of the 2007 USA Basketball National Coach of the Year Award along with USA Women's Senior National Team head coach Anne Donovan, USA Basketball announced on Thursday.

Krzyzewski is the coach of the American team that will compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"USA Basketball is an outstanding leader in the international basketball community and I am honored to be recognized by the organization," Krzyzewski said. "Of course, it is on behalf of my assistant coaches, players and staff that I accept such an honor. Obviously, no coach can take full credit for a team's success, and I am blessed to have many of the world's best basketball players and an incredibly knowledgeable, dedicated and hard-working staff. Coaching this team has been a joy, I look forward to fielding a team that again in 2008 that will make all Americans very proud."

Krzyzewski led the 2007 USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team at the FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas, Nev., to a 10-0 record, the gold medal and to one of the FIBA Americas zone's two qualifying berths for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

USA Basketball's Coach of the Year award was established in 1996 to recognize a USA Basketball head coach who, during the year of the award, made significant impact on the success of individual athlete and team performance at the highest level of competition.

Krzyzewski was also the recipient of the award in 2006 and by earning the award again in 2007, becomes one of three individuals to garner the award twice. Other USA Basketball National Coach of the Year award winners include Gail Goestenkors (2005); Van Chancellor (2004, 2002); Larry Brown (2003, 1999); Jim Boeheim (2001); Nell Fortner; Clem Haskins (1998); Mo McHone (1997); and Tara VanDerveer (1996).