{"id":1517696,"date":"2022-06-30T19:53:13","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T23:53:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1517696"},"modified":"2022-06-30T19:53:14","modified_gmt":"2022-06-30T23:53:14","slug":"mike-krzyzewski-reveals-how-his-health-nearly-cost-job-and-marriage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/mike-krzyzewski-reveals-how-his-health-nearly-cost-job-and-marriage\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Krzyzewski Reveals How His Health Nearly Cost Him His Job and Marriage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The start of the next college basketball this fall will be a strange one without Mike Krzyzewski<\/a> on the sideline coaching the Duke Blue Devils<\/a>. However, his departure could have come nearly three decades earlier, which leaves fans of the sport wondering how the landscape might have changed minus Coach K.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Krzyzewski stepped aside for health reasons early in the 1994-95 season but would return the following year and went on to lead the ACC powerhouse to three more NCAA Tournament<\/a> championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While sitting down with one of the many great players he coached, Krzyzewski shed light on a major turning point in his life and career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Krzyzewski reveals the toll his health took<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Mike
Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils cheers on his team as they take on the North Carolina Tar Heels in the semifinal game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four on April 2, 2022, in New Orleans. | Brett Wilhelm\/NCAA Photos via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By the time Mike Krzyzewski underwent surgery on a ruptured disc in October 1994, he had already led Duke to the NCAA Tournament 11 straight seasons, winning the championship twice and reaching the Final Four five other times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the record of success and a reputation for running a squeaky-clean program, he owned absolute job security. The smart move would have been to take a leave of absence while recovering physically. Instead, he insisted on remaining on the bench. That proved to be a mistake. The discomfort during the day was draining, and the pain at night interfered with sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hit a wall, not just a physical wall, but a mental health wall,\u201d he told former Blue Devils guard Jay Williams on The Limits podcast<\/a><\/em> on NPR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the Blue Devils lost their ACC opener, Krzyzewski understood he\u2019d made a mistake. Still, he intended to ride it out because of the combination of stubbornness and a sense of guilt about leaving the players he recruited. Finally, the coach\u2019s wife delivered the crucial ultimatum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMickie said, \u2018You can't. You got to get help. And if you don't get help today \u2026 when you come back from practice, I won't be here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coach relented, but the guilt remained. He visited athletic director Tom Butters at home one night and tried to resign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe said, \u2018You\u2019re not resigning, you\u2019re going to get well,\u2019\u201d Krzyzewski said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The leave of absence proved to be a teachable moment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n