Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Valvano, And An Epic College Basketball Rivalry
On March 18, 1980, the immensely powerful Duke basketball program announced the hiring of its new coach -- the man who would resurrect the team, restore glory to Duke, and defeat the legendary Dean Smith, who coached down the road at UNC Chapel Hill and had turned UNC into a powerhouse. Duke's new man was Mike Krzyzewski. The only problem was, no one knew who Krzyzewski was, he had a so-so record in his short time as head coach of Army, and worst of all, no one could even pronounce his name. The announcement caused head scratches -- if not immediate calls for his head -- and on this note his career at Duke began.