Mike Krzyzewski shares perspective on retirement with Doc Emrick

Former Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski sat down with former NHL announcer Mike “Doc” Emrick on Basketball and Beyond. Coach K talked about the subject of retirement with the legendary broadcaster.

Emrick retired from the booth following the 2019-20 season. Krzyzewski retired from coaching after the 2022 NCAA Tournament and watched Jon Scheyer take over the Blue Devils program.

Krzyzewski asked Emrick about his perspective on retirement when the two spoke on the former Duke coach’s show.

“It was difficult,” Emrick said. “I have absolutely no regrets about retiring. NBC had a magical time doing the games because they had the rights for so long. And I think they did a wonderful job of helping develop the game and they had some really wonderful outdoor contests and memorable contests. In helping build the game, I really am proud of what the network accomplished during their decade and a half of having the rights. 

“But I think too, that the greatest thing that hockey has always had, and it goes back to those games that you watched as a kid in Chicago Stadium, was the players in that not only were they skilled …  The game was 98% Canadian, right? And those guys came from all over Canada. But they came to the United States to Chicago and Boston and Detroit and places like that, with the notion that they had to continually sell the sport. And we’re not done with that yet … But I think that’s the one valuable heritage that the sport has. And my association with it is, I’ve always found that and that’s the value that NBC always had was telling stories about the individuals that play the sport regardless of where they came from.”

Krzyzewski has a new perspective of his own. He recently attended a Duke basketball game, but just as a distinguished fan.

Jon Scheyer talks Mike Krzyzewski’s return to Duke

Scheyer, who played under Krzyzewski and then served as an assistant, found the experience to be special in a number of ways.

“We talked about it preseason. ‘When are you going to come to a game? We want you at a game.’ And for him to be here tonight, it’s special for me,” Scheyer said. “I’ve been in so many battles and games here with him, with him right next to me. I don’t know how he felt sitting over there instead of on the bench.

“It just means a lot, his support. He’s been incredible throughout this whole year, throughout this whole process. And I just wanted to make sure we got a win while he was here. But it was really special for me to having him and Mickie as well. That was a really cool thing for me and the team and our staff.”

CLICK HERE to subscribe to the On3 YouTube channel today for all of the latest news on college football, recruiting, NIL, more!