The Real Genius Of Coach K

Just prior to the start of this years NCAA tournament, a radio sports analyst was hating on Duke because, he said, "the dukies are an elitist program; they just have too many white faces."  Skin color isn't the issue; education is.

Duke basketball is an example of what college athletics should be about.  Talented young men (in this case), black and white, who leverage their skills to earn a world class education.

The real genius of Coach K is that he's managed to "keep the main thing, the main thing."  The results of his ability as a coach, mentor, teacher and motivator have enriched the lives of hundreds of players, thousands of students and tens of thousands of fans.

Just what is the main thing?  Helping his players become college graduates and good citizens...and in some cases, professional athletes.  He has built a dynastic program on this foundation.

These days we hear more and more voices decrying the exploitation of student athletes.  These commentators reason that it's time we begin to pay college athletes.  We do that now; we call them FULL scholarships.  Short term, they are worth thousands of dollars.  Long term, hundreds of thousands of dollars and more.  

That said, exploitation is an issue in college sports today. But it's not about financial justice for athletes.  It's about institutions, programs and coaches who build their endowments, reputations and careers on the skills of young athletes and fail to deliver on their commitment to educate and equip their athletes for the long road of life.

There is an exchange that must take place over the careers of student athletes; athletic skills are exchanged for life skills.

It's here that Coach K's genius shines through.  He understands that his mission is much bigger than building winning a program; it's about shaping young men to become husbands, fathers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, bankers, business professionals, social workers, pastors; LEADERS and contributors.  Men who will advance Coach K's legacy by leaving their world's a better place for them having been here.

Coach K has set the bar for his success very high.  The by-product of that standard, the most successful basketball program of this generation.  The measure of that success is not the wins v. loses.  It's lives changed; that, friends, is real genius.