Mike Krzyzewski Wins 1,000th Career Game: Latest Comments and Reaction

In 1975, a young head coach by the name of Mike Krzyzewski, leading a small Army program at Gillis Field House, earned his first career win. Almost 40 years later, and about 60 miles south, he captured No. 1,000. 

Almost like a movie script, history was made Sunday inside Madison Square Garden, the mecca of basketball, as No. 5 Duke knocked off St. John's, 77-68, to help Coach K become the first man in Division I history to reach four digits in the win column.     

Bleacher Report congratulated the college basketball legend:    

Duke shared a video of Coach K's players celebrating the victory:

NCAA president Mark Emmert also issued a statement regarding the achievement:

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Coach Krzyzewski has spent his career equipping young men for success on the court and in life. Congratulations to Coach K on his 1,000th win, which is an historic achievement and important milestone in his remarkable career as a coach, educator and mentor.

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After the game, Krzyzewski shared his comments with reporters:

He also commented on his future, via Matt Norlander of CBS Sports:

With a military background from West Point and a playing career under the fierce Bobby Knight, Krzyzewski is one of college basketball's most stringent teachers.    

“From the first meeting, you knew he was business,” former Army player Paul Aiello told Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde. “Practice was unbelievable—all defensive stuff. The first two weeks was all half-court drills and box-outs. It wasn’t until the third week that we played full-court.”

Ellen Ozier/Associated Press/Associated Press

Of course, success wasn't immediate for Krzyzewski. After compiling a 73-59 record in five seasons at Army, he made the move to Durham. The Blue Devils went 38-47 in his first three years, failing to make the NCAA tournament after three straight 20-plus-win seasons under Bill E. Foster. 

That kind of start in today's college basketball might earn a swift kick out the door. But Duke stuck with its man, and he rewarded the school for its patience by building one of the greatest, most consistent programs in all of sports. Over the next 31 seasons, the Blue Devils compiled 30 winning records, 30 tournament appearances, 13 ACC tournament championships, 12 ACC regular-season titles, 11 Final Fours and four national championships. 

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

The only season during that stretch the Blue Devils didn't make it to the Big Dance? The 1994-95 campaign, when Krzyzewski was sidelined with health problems. That year, Coach K went 9-3, while interim head coach Pete Gaudet went 4-15.   

ESPN Stats & Info noted one of a handful of records Krzyzewski holds:

ESPN Stats & Info also shared that the legendary coach is no stranger to big moments at Madison Square Garden:

Coach K's legacy is untouchable at this point. One of the sharpest minds and greatest motivators in the sport, he reached college basketball immortality a long time ago, and now he has a nice even number to put next to his name. 

Of course, knowing his consummate professionalism and demanding expectations, he's likely more concerned about a first-half turnover, a missed free throw or the upcoming game against No. 8 Notre Dame in South Bend. 

Krzyzewski won't be satisfied until his team is cutting down the nets in Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium. 

That's why, no matter how many wins he ends up with, he'll go down as one of the best ever.