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Mike Krzyzewski’s Recruiting Letter To Michael Jordan At Duke Speaks Wonders About His Character

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  • Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski is set to retire at the end of the season.
  • While his success on the basketball court is impressive, the importance he places on relationships will be his legacy.
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Mike Krzyzewski took over as the head basketball coach at Duke University on March 18, 1980. In his first year with the Blue Devils, the then-33-year-old faced a big recruiting battle with in-state rival North Carolina for a young man who went on to become the greatest of all-time.

Michael Jordan emerged as the best player at a prestigious Five-Star Camp in Pittsburgh in the summer prior to his senior year. After standing out as a potential future superstar, the shooting guard from Wilmington, N.C. was considering U.N.C., Maryland, South Carolina, Duke and N.C. State.

Jordan grew up idolizing North Carolina State’s David Thompson as a child, so the Wolfpack was considered the favorites. However, North Carolina discovered Jordan before any other ACC program and made landing him a top priority.

In the end, Tar Heels head coach Dean Smith and his staff’s early interest and consistent persistence ruled out. Jordan committed to play in Chapel Hill.

After arriving on campus, Jordan was an instant success. He earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors and famously sunk the game-winning shot in the national championship.

Meanwhile, across the state in Durham, a first-year Coach K was unable to convince Jordan to play for the Blue Devils. That did not stop him from wishing him all the best.

As Krzyzewski gears up for his final regular season game at Duke, a letter that he sent a young “Mike” speaks wonders about who he is. In the note, he wished Jordan the best and told him that he is a fine young man set to make an immediate impact on U.N.C.

Here is what he wrote:

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Coach K was right. In his three seasons with the Tar Heels, Jordan averaged 17.7 points per game and shot 54 percent from the field, winning the Wooden and Naismith player of the year awards as a junior. The rest is history.

Beyond his note to Jordan, multiple people have shared letters that Coach K wrote them throughout the years. Whether for recruiting, or just to say congratulations to a member of the media, they speaks loudly about who he is as a person.

After this season, the 48-year coaching veteran is set to retire as a legend with five National Championships and 12 Final Four births. While that is all impressive, it is the importance that Krzyzewski places on relationships that will highlight his legacy.