Five Best Coaching Trees In College Basketball

3. Mike Krzyzewski, Duke

Nov 8, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski coaches his team from the sidelines against the Central Missouri Mules at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

Notable Proteges: Tommy Amaker (Harvard), Johnny Dawkins (Stanford), Mike Brey (Notre Dame), Chris Collins (Northwestern), Steve Wojciechowski (Marquette), Bobby Hurley (Buffalo), Quin Snyder (Utah Jazz)

Why He’s a Great Mentor: In a word, leadership.  Krzyzewski played for and coached under Bob Knight at West Point, the institution that practically invented the word.  Coach K teaches accountability and runs a program that breeds great commanders.  Any assistant at Duke will leave with a blueprint on how to structure a program with values. Duke integrity is in demand.

Why He’s Here: In sheer numbers, Coach K’s tree is hard to match. Krzyzewski keeps things in the Duke family and his staff is full of former players.  But once they leave the confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium and lead a program of their own, big time success has been marginal.  Coach K has churned out many leaders but none have come close to breaking through with a title of their own.