RALEIGH — Former UNC basketball coach Roy Williams praised his longtime friend and rival Mike Krzyzewski on Wednesday after news broke of the Duke coach’s retirement after the 2021-22 season.
“Mike’s been fantastic for the game of basketball, he’s been fantastic for college basketball and he’s been fantastic for the ACC and the greatest rivalry in sports, Duke and North Carolina basketball,” Williams said after the REX Hospital Pro-Am in Raleigh. “He’s been a good friend and a guy I’ve respected a good deal. He made everybody bring their A game for years and years and years.
Photos: Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski through the years
Young Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski pleading his case to long-time ACC referee Lenny Wirtz in a 1984 game against Maryland.
Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski shouts at players during a championship game against Maryland on March 11, 1984.
Duke fans celebrated Mike Krzyzewski passing Dean Smith for the most wins in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history at the Blue Devils’ victory over UNCG in December 2010.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski waves to Blue Devils fans after a victory over North Carolina in the ACC Tournament championship at the Greensboro Coliseum in March 2011. Krzyzewski, the winningest coach in Division I men’s basketball history, will retire after the upcoming season.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski talks to referee Lenny Wirtz about a call in championship game against Maryland on March 11, 1984.
Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski acknowledges basketball fans after Duke defeated UNCG where he passed Dean Smith for second place on the NCAA's Division 1 all-time wins list. **All names CQ.** (News & Record/Nelson Kepley)
Duke head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski directs his players from the sideline during an NCAA college basketball game with Boston College in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski talks angrily with the referee after Grayson Allen was called for a foul during Wednesday's game against Elon, Dec. 21, 2016, in Greensboro, N.C.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski talks to the referee during the Duke versus Notre Dame men's basketball game at the ACC tournament in the Greensboro Coliseum, on Friday, March 13, 2015, in Greensboro, N.C. (JOSEPH RODRIGUEZ/News & Record)
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is upset with a call Wednesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham.
Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils and his players near the end of the game. Notre Dame vs.Duke in semifinal action in the 2015 ACC Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, Friday, March 13, 2015, in Greensboro, N.C.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski greets his former roommate and Colorado coach Tom Miller at a roast on April 26, 1988. In the center is Anne Allen of Greensboro.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski instructs his players from the bench at a game on March 23, 1986.
Wearing a Carolina blue tie, Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, left, outside Binkley Memorial Baptist Church where the funeral service for Dean Smith, former UNC basketball coach, was held, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski shouts directions to his team.
Williams continued with a grin: “He’s just been phenomenal in everything he’s done. The only thing wrong with Mike Krzyzewski is that he doesn’t play golf. That’s the only thing wrong with him.”
Here’s everything the former UNC coach, who retired on April 1, told reporters about Krzyzewski after playing 18 holes of golf at the Country Club at Wakefield Plantation.
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What was your initial reaction to the news?
“(An event official) told me on the last hole back there, so I’ve had 500 yards to think about it … I think everybody knew it was coming. Mike’s been fantastic for the game of basketball, he’s been fantastic for college basketball and he’s been fantastic for the ACC and the greatest rivalry in sports, Duke and North Carolina basketball. He’s been a good friend and a guy I’ve respected a good deal.
He made everybody bring their A game for years and years and years … he’s just been phenomenal in everything he’s done. The only thing wrong with Mike Krzyzewski is that he doesn’t play golf. That’s the only thing wrong with him (laughs).
What retirement tips do you have for him?
“I’m a real veteran: two months and one day. I’m not going to give anybody advice. I’ve seen six little league games, four flag football games, a dance competition, a dance recital, all those types of things I’ve missed over the years. But Michael doesn’t need Roy Williams giving him advice. He’s a great family man. He’s going to enjoy his family a great deal. He’ll still be important in college athletics. He’ll still be important for college basketball.”
Having recently retired, what do you think was going through his head?
“I made the decision for really my own reasons. I just didn’t feel like I was getting the kids where I wanted to get them these last couple years, and I felt like I’d made some mistakes. As I said in the press conference, I felt like I was no longer the right person for the job. I think Hubert Davis is the perfect person for the job. My train of thought down the stretch was probably different than what Mike’s been going through. I look forward to talking to him and making sure he’s healthy. That’s the only thing I care about.
What will ACC basketball be like without you two in the Triangle?
It’ll be different. But Vic Bubas and Dean Smith left, and Duke and North Carolina were still pretty good. Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski leaving, it’s still going to be pretty good in this area.
Are you surprised Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim is going to outlast you two?
Well, Jimmy’s coaching his sons. So I know he’s going to last longer than the rest of us (laughs).
Chapel Fowler is a recruiting reporter for The Fayetteville Observer and the USA TODAY Network. Reach him by email at cfowler@gannett.com or on Twitter at
@chapelfowler.
Photos: Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski through the years
Young Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski pleading his case to long-time ACC referee Lenny Wirtz in a 1984 game against Maryland.
Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski shouts at players during a championship game against Maryland on March 11, 1984.
Duke fans celebrated Mike Krzyzewski passing Dean Smith for the most wins in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history at the Blue Devils’ victory over UNCG in December 2010.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski waves to Blue Devils fans after a victory over North Carolina in the ACC Tournament championship at the Greensboro Coliseum in March 2011. Krzyzewski, the winningest coach in Division I men’s basketball history, will retire after the upcoming season.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski talks to referee Lenny Wirtz about a call in championship game against Maryland on March 11, 1984.
Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski acknowledges basketball fans after Duke defeated UNCG where he passed Dean Smith for second place on the NCAA's Division 1 all-time wins list. **All names CQ.** (News & Record/Nelson Kepley)
Duke head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski directs his players from the sideline during an NCAA college basketball game with Boston College in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski talks angrily with the referee after Grayson Allen was called for a foul during Wednesday's game against Elon, Dec. 21, 2016, in Greensboro, N.C.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski talks to the referee during the Duke versus Notre Dame men's basketball game at the ACC tournament in the Greensboro Coliseum, on Friday, March 13, 2015, in Greensboro, N.C. (JOSEPH RODRIGUEZ/News & Record)
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is upset with a call Wednesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham.
Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils and his players near the end of the game. Notre Dame vs.Duke in semifinal action in the 2015 ACC Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, Friday, March 13, 2015, in Greensboro, N.C.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski greets his former roommate and Colorado coach Tom Miller at a roast on April 26, 1988. In the center is Anne Allen of Greensboro.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski instructs his players from the bench at a game on March 23, 1986.
Wearing a Carolina blue tie, Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, left, outside Binkley Memorial Baptist Church where the funeral service for Dean Smith, former UNC basketball coach, was held, on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski shouts directions to his team.
