{"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 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\nMike Krzyzewski reveals the toll his health took<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The leave of absence proved to be a teachable moment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n