The Ultimate Coach K - Dean Smith Career Comparison

Duke basketball fans are extremely proud of their esteemed coach Michael Krzyzewski. Most claim that Krzyzewski has even surpassed the career achievements of his legendary formal rival, Dean Smith, both as a coach and a man. Admittedly, this claim seemed a bit far-fetched - that is until I sat down to do a point by point comparison. Consider the following and draw your own conclusions:

Basketball roots

College Mentor

Dean: Coached by legendary Kansas coach Phog Allen, who was himself coached by James Naismith, the inventor of the game.

K: Coached by Bobby Knight, a man renowned for verbally abusing players; advising if a woman must be raped, she should "at least relax and enjoy it;" assaulting a police officer; kicking his own son; and stating his ambition to ultimately be buried face down so that critics can "kiss my @#$%."

College Playing Experience

Dean: Played on 1952 National Champion Kansas team.

K: Played an NIT game with Army.

Game innovations

Dean: Developed multiple defenses, including the point zone and trapping defenses; perfected the Four Corners offense; started tradition of team huddles at the line, pointing to the passer in recognition of selflessness, many others.

K: Introduced game to player floor slapping.

Campus memorials

Dean: State of the art, 22,000 seat domed coliseum constructed and named in his honor, all from private funding.

K: " Coach K Court" spray painted onto existing floor of 75 year old, antiquated gym; also signed his name to center jump circle.

Views on sportsmanship

Dean: Frowned on player showboating; told players after any celebratory act to "try to act as if you've done this before."

K: Encourages players to shout, chest bump, man-hug, and basically act as if they are the world's greatest living human being after any made basket.

Dean: Required entire team to run laps after any player was assessed a technical foul.

K: Recognized Matt Christenson as the player who most symbolized Duke basketball shortly after he physically accosted a game official following a Duke upset tournament loss.

Dean: Forbade fans from waving hands behind backboards during opponents' free throws.

K: Allowed student body to hurl snack cakes, shoes, record albums, condoms, and women's panties to floor during opposing player introductions; encouraged same students, already notorious for shouting obscenities, taunting/mocking opposing players, etc. - to step up their intensity, "get hungrier," "understand what the hell is going on here at Duke University," etc.

International experience

Dean: Coached USA team of collegiate underclassmen to Olympic gold medal in 1976, thus avenging country's controversial silver medal four years prior.

K: Coached team of NBA All-Stars, including Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony, to a bronze medal after losing to immeasurably undermanned Greece team in 2006 World Games. Finally captured gold medal two years later, but only after squeaking by a team of nobodies from Spain with additional All-Star help from Kobe Bryant

Public service/Social Activism

Dean: Often held team practices at state prisons.

K: Opened usually closed practices to attendees of his corporate leadership seminar, in exchange for additional $1,500.00 cash payment per attendee.

Dean: Spearheaded desegregation in North Carolina, by (1) joining local pastor and theology student in integrating a famous Chapel Hill restaurant; (2) recruiting and playing Charlie Scott, first black player in ACC; (3) assisting Howard Lee, a black graduate student, in buying a home in an all-white neighborhood.

K: Allows black housekeeper to sweep his office.

Famous historic fervent protests

Dean: In opposing capital punishment, once told North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt, "You're a murderer, and I'm a murderer. The death penalty makes us all murderers."

K: Once yelled to a referee, "You killed us," after tournament upset loss to UConn.

Response to difficult seasons

Dean: After starting 1996-97 season with a disappointing 0-3 ACC record, responded to media criticism by leading team to dramatic turnaround, to go 11-5 in ACC and to Final Four appearance.

K: After starting 1994-95 season 9-3 and 0-1 in ACC play, announced need for season long medical leave due to five month old back pain and "mental exhaustion."

Response to student criticism

Dean: Responded to student editorial (by S.I. Price) that criticized decision to fund Dean Dome by inviting student to his office to hear and consider his perspective.

K: Called for meeting with Duke student newspaper writers in which he berated students with profanity-laced tirade for assigning sub-A "grades" to team's performance.

Spiritual Views

Dean: Lifelong, devout church member, closely guided in day to day life by his walk with God.

K: Frequently references the Almighty while berating officials in obscenity-laden tirades during games.

Coaching pedigree

Dean: Includes Larry Brown (winner of both NCAA [Kansas] and NBA [Detroit] titles); Billy Cunningham (coach of 1983 NBA World Champion 76ers); Roy Williams (Coach of 2005 NCAA Champions, five Final Fours, and 7 time National Coach of the Year); George Karl (one of 12 coaches in NBA history to win 800 games); Eddie Fogler (former National Coach of Year at Vanderbilt and South Carolina); Bill Guthridge (Coached two Final Four teams in three years); Jeff Lebo (up and coming coach of Auburn Tigers).

K: Includes Quinn Snyder (resigned after years of futility and scandalous controversy at Missouri), Tommy Amaker (dumped by Michigan after 3 NIT trips in 4 years, last of which ended in 21 point drubbing to FSU), David Henderson (fired after six seasons of futility at recognized basketball power Delaware), Kenny Blakeney (fired as assistant coach of same Delaware team). Also includes sizeable herd of Duke assistant coaches - Dawkins, Wojo, Collins, Snyder, Amaker, Bilas).

Response to NBA opportunities

Dean: Repeatedly declined offers to coach NBA teams, always in confidence.

K: Repeatedly publicized his discussions with various NBA teams; dragged out Lakers "deliberations" for weeks, releasing daily press statements and eliciting more publicity of his 5 year $40 million offer than the Allied invasion of Normandy.

Views on commercialization of game

Dean: Steadfastly refused to allow advertising in Carmichael Auditorium or Smith Center, fearing it would detract from game integrity.

K: Opened practice sessions to corporate bigwigs for fees; authorized placement of more corporate advertisements about perimeter of Coach K Court than a class A minor league baseball park outfield wall.

Dean: Before, during, and after coaching career refused to advertise or endorse products, with the exception of public service announcements, (e.g., encouraging seniors to obtain flu shots).

K: Starred in multiple television ads, including several filmed in part on Duke's home court, for virtually any corporation that would pay him to do so.