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Coach K Presented with Order of The Long Leaf Pine by Governor Cooper

By September 1, 2022No Comments

Per Duke Comms:

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper presented Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest honorary society, for his significant impact on the State of North Carolina during his tenure as men’s basketball coach at Duke University and in for his substantial work in communities across North Carolina. The ceremony occurred Thursday at the governor’s mansion in Raleigh.

“Thank you for your dedication to the young people you’ve served on and off the court, and congratulations on joining the company of so many outstanding North Carolinians,” said Cooper. “No matter what shade of blue you wear on game day, it’s impossible to deny the essential role that Coach K has played in uplifting education, preparation for life, Duke University and, of course, the greatest rivalry in sports history.”

“I’m a North Carolinian. It’s been an honor to be part of Durham and see Durham grow into the magnificent city it has become,” said Krzyzewski. “It’s an amazing honor for me to accept the award, not only for me, but for my family and for Duke, because it’s a team award.”

“It means so much for us gathered here to honor the great Coach Krzyzewski,” said Duke President Vincent E. Price. “His name is not only on our court, it’s also on buildings across Durham, it’s in the minds of everyone who loves college basketball, and it’s in the hearts of loyal Duke fans around the world.”

During his 42 seasons at Duke, Coach K’s teams won five NCAA Tournament championships and a record 15 ACC Tournament championships. He amassed an NCAA-record 1,202 career wins in 47 years — 1,129 coming at Duke — including a record 535 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) wins, while leading the Duke program to a record 13 Final Four appearances. As head coach of the U.S. National Team, the Americans captured Olympic gold medals in 2008, 2012 and 2016. Krzyzewski retired from coaching following the 2021-22 season.

In addition to his successes on the court, Krzyzewski has been recognized nationally for his philanthropic efforts, and is known for his efforts to mentor students. He is an honorary chairman of the Duke Children’s Hospital and on the board of the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. He also started his own charity, the Emily K Center, a non-profit organization in Durham that provides quality educational experiences to young students in the community.

Prior to his career at Duke, Krzyzewski served in the Army, directing service teams for three years and served as head coach at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Since 1963, North Carolina’s governors have reserved their highest honor, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, for persons who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments. Persons named to The Order become North Carolina “Ambassadors” with their names and award dates recorded on a roster maintained by The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society.