Anyone know what Coach K did for Uncle Sam in the Army from 1969 to 1972?
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After graduating from Westpoint near the height of the Vietnam War, from 1969 to 1972 Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski served as an officer in the U.S. Army.
What did he do for active duty? I googled a bit and found no reference to what he did on active duty. Does anyone know?
I got curious about his military service while looking at his W&L statements for a post I was thinking of writing.
He mentions his ties with the U.S. Army frequently and so I wondered: what exactly did he do for Uncle Sam during the Vietnam War?
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Form his bio on Wikipedia…
"From 1969 to 1974, Krzyzewski served in the United States Army and directed service teams for three years. In 2005 he was presented West Point’s Distinguished Graduate Award. Krzyzewski was discharged from active duty in 1974 and started his coaching career as an assistant on Knight’s staff with the Indiana Hoosiers during their historic 1974–75 season. After one year with Indiana, Krzyzewski returned to West Point as head coach of the Army Cadets. He led the Cadets to a 73–59 record and one NIT berth in five seasons."
So…the short answer is that the was coaching basketball for the military and, if he went to Vietnam, it was likely with basketball team and not with a combat unit.
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Thank you very much. Hmmm. Wouldn’t 69 to 74 be either 4, or 5 years, depending on how one counts it? So: if he were coaching service teams 3 years, then what would he have been doing the other one or two years?
Did you happen to notice anything about that period of service? I haven’t read a book about him, but the stuff on line doesn’t have anything else that I can see.
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I think he was Forrest Gump’s ping pong partner.
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HOWLING!
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“During his military service, he coached service teams and served for two years as head coach at the U.S. Military Academy Prep School at Belvoir, Virginia”
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@brooksmd
Thx.
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You can read about his service on the Stars and Stripes web site.
https://www.stripes.com/sports/coach-k-recalls-his-army-years-during-visit-to-camp-casey-1.53281
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@loota Nice info. But how on earth did you find a four-year old thread to which to add?
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Probably Google. Good to have you join KUBuckets. Happy Veterans Day to all those who have served.
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@nuleafjhawk Sorry bro, it wouldn’t let me private message you but I find that comment inappropriate. It’s your first inappropriate comment in 10 years so that aint bad, I write one about every other hour somewhere, but just saying.
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@wissox Well, I guess in retrospect it wasn’t that great of a comment. But it was about Krzyzewski…
Ok - I’ll delete it.
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@nuleafjhawk I tried to delete it, but it’s still kinda there. If you or anyone else can really delete it, please do.
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@nuleafjhawk It’s not visible, but you’re right, it is about K so…!
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@JayHawkFanToo Coach K was at West Point as a student until 1969 when he was to give 5 years back to the Army for his great education. He however did not go to Viet Nam like the rest of his graduates, he coached basketball for West Point. So serving his country was not wearing a uniform but wearing sweats. So that great education the tax payers pay for so he can be the best of the best military officers was at West Point.
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@rushrc I don’t blame any person for doing whatever they could to avoid Vietnam, even slimy Coach K.
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Anyone who served did the jobs they were assigned. I know many vets who served in Germany in the VN era, and none of them made that choice themselves. I doubt K assigned himself to be in sports at WPt (wasn’t HCoach until after he was out) or to be coach at a military prep school. Active duty, retired, and reserve officers often served as ROTC teachers in state universities or military colleges (like The Citadel) in that era (and maybe still), or private military prep schools as he did.
No one should gainsay his service. I am sure there are many graves in national cemeteries of his classmates and players, and I am equally sure any surviving officers he coached are proud to have been among the first he influenced. We don’t like him, but I respect his accomplishments. Including being in the Army when it was very risky to do so.
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I dont care about his military service or lack thereof. I just dont like him as a person. I think hes an arrogant, vain, entitled, whiny, classless person on a pedestal and I’m glad he’s out of the game.
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@approxinfinity And that is just kind of sad, and emblematic of a trend in the US now to totally hate people.
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@approxinfinity agree, but you forgot liar. Whispering to Dillon brooks after the Oregon game on a live mic, oops!
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@mayjay i dont hate Coach K, i hate what he represents. There is no reason i should celebrate a person like him, and i hate that he is crammed down our throats by a company that profits whether we love him or hate him. Blame ESPN.
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@approxinfinity I salute Coach K for his service to our country in whatever capacity he served. Beyond that, he is an entitled weasel who should be criticized just as much as he’s praised. His lectures to players after they whipped his butt speak volumes.
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I’m trying not to put my foot in my mouth throughout the history of this website. lol
I know I tend to soften my thoughts about people over time. And I know others often do this, too.
I remember my youth summers in California and the Wooden era. I remember a lot of anger towards Wooden from others while I defended Wooden. I see things a bit more without colored glasses today… but still appreciate Wooden. Some of my crowd that was so critical back then have lightened up now. I suspect more to lighten up on K.
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@jaybate-1-0 I missed you buddy.
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Hope Coach Ks hand selected heir apparent stalls out and turns the program into a dumpster fire with Coach Ks grubby weasel pawprints all over the scene of the crime.
