>>> There are legends in
basketball so famous you know
them by one name.
Jordan, kobe, Lebron, then there
is a legend whose status is so
iconic you know him by one
letter, K.
As in coach K.
For 42 seasons, Mike krzyzewski
was coach for the duke blue
devils.
He won 129 games at duke and
five national change-ups.
I went to North Carolina to talk
about leadership ahead of his
first March Madness since
retirement and got coaching whiz
wisdom and told me what is more
important than oning.
>> It's a pretty cool view.
And, you know, all the banners
and --
>> That's all your national
championships.
>> Yeah.
Five.
And the final fours.
And the championships.
>> You're often described by
people in profiles of you as the
son of a cleaning woman and
elevator operator.
I don't think that's how you
would describe your parents.
>> No, my parents were the basis
of who me and my brother became.
They taught us the dignity of
work.
They even tell my teams for
years I want you to be as tough
as your mother.
And just think about your
mother.
Was there ever a day that she
didn't show up?
Did you ever see her sick?
Did you ever see her tired?
I never saw my mom sick or
tired.
I saw her every day doing
everything that she could
possibly do to make it nice for
me and my brother bill.
I didn't appreciate it until
later in life.
And my dad died when I was
senior at west point.
He didn't go by the name
krzyzewski.
He went by the name cross
because he was always afraid of
losing his job because there was
a lot of ethnic discrimination
at that time.
I didn't realize all the things
that my parents --
>> Gave up?
>> Gave up.
>> Hid.
Your parents didn't want you
guys to learn to speak Polish.
>> Polish, right.
>> Why?
>> And I didn't find this out
until later.
They didn't want us to have an
accent.
Because they were afraid, again,
during that time, somebody with
a vowel at the end of their name
made them look differently.
They were concerned.
>> They were trying to protect
you.
>> They were trying to protect
me and many I brother.
>> So much so it wasn't on his
tombstone until --
>> He was in World War II as
William cross.
When he died and we, you know,
low income family, the
government provides the
tombstone.
It said cross.
We were not able to change it
until my mom passed.
My brother and I made sure it
said krzyzewski.
I was inducted into the
basketball hall of fame in 2001.
One of the part of the speech
and the most emotional for me
was I said I wish my mom and dad
were here tonight.
I'm going to start crying.
To see a krzyzewski going to the
hall of fame.
It was emotional then.
It's emotional now because I
recognize just the life they led
to make sure me and bill would
be taken care of.
Amazing.
>> How much of what you have
done and how you led and carried
on this name so proudly?
It's so famous.
You just walk in the krzyzewski
center.
>> They couldn't find another
name for it.
They put one that no one could
pronounce.
>> I love this picture.
>> Yeah.
You can tell she's --
>> Proud.
I've been married 53 years to
Vicki and we knew that it was
going to be a partnership of.
I call it two is better as one
if two can act as one.
And we were able to act as one.
That's my family.
Whenever we play in the
olympics, we brought everybody.
>> You did?
You did a lot of it together.
>> Yeah.
I have three daughters.
>> They hold you down here?
>> They have -- whatever
humility I did not have, they
tried to interject in me over
and over again.
So when there used to be family
dinners and people would eat
together and I'd be sitting at a
table with my four girls and
we're playing carolina.
We -- or whatever.
We just won a bug game.
And we're talking.
And nothing is said.
>> About your win.
>> Or about the game.
My wife did a great thing,
poppy.
When all my girls were growing
up, we never had anything
basketball in the house.
The players would come over.
There weren't trophies,
pictures.
>> There was no shrine to coach
K in your house?
>> There is no shrine.
And there shouldn't be.
You know?
>> Well, there are in some
people's houses.
>> Now because it's just me and
Vicki and my dog coach.
I'm in the basement -- well, the
lower level and I can but
anything I want in there.
Whenever I need my ego boost, I
go down there and start looking.
Man, you were really good.
No, I don't do that.
>> Do you ever come stand here
alone?
>> I do.
Usually -- not a lot.
But later at night when all the
lights are out.
There might be just a little bit
on the national championship
banners or whatever you walk in
and you feel like you're in a
field of dreams.
>> This is your field of dreams.
>> Yeah.
You feel like I better get out
of here because the basketball
gods are going to play pickup
here in a little bit.
>> There are stars.
There are star players.
But we've seen in college
basketball and in the NBA that
when you just put a bunch of
stars together, it often doesn't
work.
>> You heard that expression
leave your egos at the door?
I hate that expression.
>> You do?
>> I hate it.
>> Bring your ego?
>> Bring everything you got.
Bring who you are.
Why wouldn't you -- why would
you leave something you are --
>> To make room for others?
>> We should make the room
bigger.
You know, you're not confined.
When you bring all the egos in,
put them under one umbrella.
That's what we did.
It said usa on it.
And then you develop common
ground.
Quick -- you know a quick story?
Had.
>> Yeah.
I want all the stories.
>> Jason Kidd, first practice.
Our captain.
Hall of famer.
Leading a fast break drill.
Dwyane wade is one way.
Lebron is another.
The ball is going everywhere.
So I bring them together.
Like I know we can't play like
this.
Before I say anything, Jason
Kidd says, coach, I'll tone it
down.
And immediately, kobe, Lebron,
Dwayne said, no, no, no.
We never played with you -- with
a talent like you.
We'll adapt to you.
>> Really?
>> Yes.
One of the great moments in my
coaching where I saw talent say,
come on, talent, give me more.
It's like the piano player
telling the sax player, come on.
And then if you can get everyone
playing with
maximize, you know?
And it doesn't mean you have to
give up talent to maximize.
And if that all works together,
wow.
>> How many presidents have you
met?
All of them in your lifetime?
>> Yeah.
When we won.
And 41, president bush, became a
close friend.
>> You and kobe.
>> This is U.S., thanks for all
the golden moments.
This is a great book for me
because each player gave their
quote.
>> Reporter: Can we read what
Lebron said about you?
>> Yes.
>> Reporter: He allows us to
play the game of basketball and
have fun but at the same time he
wants us to be perfect.
We should expect perfection and
that is what he is about.
We like that.
We like that kind of challenge.
Read the last line.
>> Coach K is one of the best
coaches of all time period, no
question about it.
>> Reporter: One of the things
that I learned about you is how
hard you are on yourself.
And that there have been moments
when you will actually, you
looked in the mirror over your
career and cursed yourself out.
>> We are all better if we are
held accountable, you know?
And how you hold players
accountable along the years
change, but you still have to
hold them accountable.
>> Reporter: You have been tough
on them, very.
>> You hold them accountable.
And sometimes there is nobody