Duke Coaches Basketball History
Duke University, located in Durham, North Carolina, has a storied history in college basketball. The Duke Blue Devils are one of the most successful NCAA Division I men’s basketball programs in the United States. Here is a summary of Duke basketball history:
Early Years: Duke basketball traces its roots back to the early 1900s. The program was established in 1905, and the team was known as the Trinity College Blue and White. The team’s first official game was played in 1906, and Duke basketball began to gain traction as a competitive program.
Emergence under Coach Vic Bubas: Duke basketball experienced a period of success under Coach Vic Bubas in the 1960s. Bubas took over as head coach in 1959 and led Duke to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1960. During his tenure, Duke won three ACC Championships (1960, 1963, 1964) and made four NCAA Tournament appearances.
Coach K Era: The most significant era in Duke basketball history began in 1980 when Mike Krzyzewski, better known as Coach K, took over as head coach. Under Coach K’s leadership, Duke has become one of the most successful college basketball programs in the country. Duke has won five NCAA Championships (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, 2015) and has made a total of 12 NCAA Final Four appearances. Coach K has also been recognized with numerous coaching awards and has produced numerous NBA players who have had successful careers at the professional level.
Conference Success: Duke has been a dominant force in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball. Duke has won a total of 22 ACC Championships, the most in conference history. The team has also won 13 ACC Tournament Championships, the most in conference history.
NCAA Tournament Success: Duke has been a regular participant in the NCAA Tournament, known as March Madness. The team has made a total of 42 NCAA Tournament appearances, and as of 2021, has advanced to the Sweet 16 round or beyond 27 times. Duke has reached the NCAA Championship Game 11 times, winning five titles.
NBA Players: Duke basketball has a long history of producing successful NBA players. Many Duke players have gone on to have successful careers in the NBA, including stars like Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, Elton Brand, Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, and Zion Williamson, among others.
Historic Rivalries: Duke has several historic rivalries in college basketball, including heated matchups against the University of North Carolina (UNC) and North Carolina State University (NC State), both of which are fellow ACC members. The Duke-UNC rivalry, in particular, is one of the most intense and well-known rivalries in college sports.
Overall, Duke basketball has a rich history of success, with numerous conference championships, NCAA Tournament appearances, and notable players who have excelled at the college and professional levels. The program’s success has been driven by outstanding coaching, talented players, and a strong tradition of excellence on the basketball court. Coach K’s tenure as the head coach has been particularly remarkable, and Duke basketball has become a powerhouse in college basketball. As of my knowledge cutoff date in September 2021, Coach K announced that the 2021-2022 season would be his final season as head coach, and Duke basketball is poised for a new chapter in its storied history. It’s always best to consult the latest and most up-to-date sources for the most current information on Duke basketball or any other sports team.
Duke University is known for many things, including its excellent academic programs and its beautiful campus. But for many sports fans, the name Duke is synonymous with basketball. Duke basketball has a storied history, with numerous championships, legendary coaches, and some of the most talented players to ever step on the court. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history of Duke basketball, from its early days to the present.
The Early Years Duke basketball got its start in 1905, with the formation of the school’s first basketball team. In the early years, Duke had little success on the court, with a losing record in most seasons. It wasn’t until the 1930s that Duke began to gain traction in college basketball, thanks to the efforts of coach Eddie Cameron. Cameron led Duke to its first Southern Conference championship in 1938 and went on to win two more conference titles in the following years.
The Coach K Era While Duke basketball had some success in the early years, it wasn’t until the arrival of Mike Krzyzewski, also known as Coach K, that the program truly took off. Coach K was hired in 1980, and in his second season, he led Duke to its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1966. From there, Duke went on to win its first NCAA championship in 1991, with a team led by Christian Laettner and Bobby Hurley. Coach K and Duke would go on to win four more championships in 1992, 2001, 2010, and 2015, cementing Duke’s place as one of the greatest college basketball programs of all time.
Notable Players Over the years, Duke has produced many talented basketball players, some of whom have gone on to successful careers in the NBA. Some of the most notable Duke players include:
- Christian Laettner: Laettner is considered one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. He helped lead Duke to two national championships and was a two-time consensus first-team All-American.
- Grant Hill: Hill played for Duke from 1990-1994 and was a key player on the 1991 and 1992 championship teams. He went on to have a successful career in the NBA, earning seven All-Star selections.
- Shane Battier: Battier played for Duke from 1997-2001 and was a key player on the 2001 championship team. He went on to have a successful career in the NBA, winning two championships with the Miami Heat.
- Zion Williamson: Williamson played for Duke in the 2018-2019 season and was one of the most dominant players in college basketball that year. He was selected first overall in the 2019 NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans.
In Conclusion Duke basketball has a rich and storied history, with numerous championships, legendary coaches, and talented players. From its early days to the present, Duke has been a powerhouse in college basketball and is widely considered one of the greatest programs of all time. As Duke continues to compete at the highest level of college basketball, fans can look forward to many more exciting seasons and memorable moments.
| Rank | Seed | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Jon Scheyer (27-9) | ACC | 12 | Lost NCAA Tournament Second Round | 5 |
| 2021-22 | Mike Krzyzewski (32-7) | ACC | 9 | Lost NCAA Tournament National Semifinal | 2 |
| 2020-21 | Mike Krzyzewski (13-11) | ACC | |||
| 2019-20 | Mike Krzyzewski (25-6) | ACC | 11 | ||
| 2018-19 | Mike Krzyzewski (32-6) | ACC | 1 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Final | 1 |
| 2017-18 | Mike Krzyzewski (29-8) | ACC | 9 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Final | 2 |
| 2016-17 | Mike Krzyzewski (28-9) | ACC | 7 | Lost NCAA Tournament Second Round | 2 |
| 2015-16 | Mike Krzyzewski (25-11) | ACC | 19 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal | 4 |
| 2014-15 | Mike Krzyzewski (35-4) | ACC | 4 | Won NCAA Tournament National Final | 1 |
| 2013-14 | Mike Krzyzewski (26-9) | ACC | 8 | Lost NCAA Tournament Second Round | 3 |
| 2012-13 | Mike Krzyzewski (30-6) | ACC | 6 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Final | 2 |
| 2011-12 | Mike Krzyzewski (27-7) | ACC | 8 | Lost NCAA Tournament Second Round | 2 |
| 2010-11 | Mike Krzyzewski (32-5) | ACC | 3 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal | 1 |
| 2009-10 | Mike Krzyzewski (35-5) | ACC | 3 | Won NCAA Tournament National Final | 1 |
| 2008-09 | Mike Krzyzewski (30-7) | ACC | 6 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal | 2 |
| 2007-08 | Mike Krzyzewski (28-6) | ACC | 9 | Lost NCAA Tournament Second Round | 2 |
| 2006-07 | Mike Krzyzewski (22-11) | ACC | Lost NCAA Tournament First Round | 6 | |
| 2005-06 | Mike Krzyzewski (32-4) | ACC | 1 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal | 1 |
| 2004-05 | Mike Krzyzewski (27-6) | ACC | 3 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal | 1 |
| 2003-04 | Mike Krzyzewski (31-6) | ACC | 6 | Lost NCAA Tournament National Semifinal | 1 |
| Season | Coach(es) | Conf | AP Final | NCAA Tournament | Seed |
| 2002-03 | Mike Krzyzewski (26-7) | ACC | 7 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal | 3 |
| 2001-02 | Mike Krzyzewski (31-4) | ACC | 1 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal | 1 |
| 2000-01 | Mike Krzyzewski (35-4) | ACC | 1 | Won NCAA Tournament National Final | 1 |
| 1999-00 | Mike Krzyzewski (29-5) | ACC | 1 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal | 1 |
| 1998-99 | Mike Krzyzewski (37-2) | ACC | 1 | Lost NCAA Tournament National Final | 1 |
| 1997-98 | Mike Krzyzewski (32-4) | ACC | 3 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Final | 1 |
| 1996-97 | Mike Krzyzewski (24-9) | ACC | 8 | Lost NCAA Tournament Second Round | 2 |
| 1995-96 | Mike Krzyzewski (18-13) | ACC | Lost NCAA Tournament First Round | 8 | |
| 1994-95 | Mike Krzyzewski (9-3), Pete Gaudet (4-15) | ACC | |||
| 1993-94 | Mike Krzyzewski (28-6) | ACC | 6 | Lost NCAA Tournament National Final | 2 |
| 1992-93 | Mike Krzyzewski (24-8) | ACC | 10 | Lost NCAA Tournament Second Round | 3 |
| 1991-92 | Mike Krzyzewski (34-2) | ACC | 1 | Won NCAA Tournament National Final | 1 |
| 1990-91 | Mike Krzyzewski (32-7) | ACC | 6 | Won NCAA Tournament National Final | 2 |
| 1989-90 | Mike Krzyzewski (29-9) | ACC | 15 | Lost NCAA Tournament National Final | 3 |
| 1988-89 | Mike Krzyzewski (28-8) | ACC | 9 | Lost NCAA Tournament National Semifinal | 2 |
| 1987-88 | Mike Krzyzewski (28-7) | ACC | 5 | Lost NCAA Tournament National Semifinal | 2 |
| 1986-87 | Mike Krzyzewski (24-9) | ACC | 17 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal | 5 |
| 1985-86 | Mike Krzyzewski (37-3) | ACC | 1 | Lost NCAA Tournament National Final | 1 |
| 1984-85 | Mike Krzyzewski (23-8) | ACC | 10 | Lost NCAA Tournament Second Round | 3 |
| 1983-84 | Mike Krzyzewski (24-10) | ACC | 14 | Lost NCAA Tournament Second Round | 3 |
| Season | Coach(es) | Conf | AP Final | NCAA Tournament | Seed |
| 1982-83 | Mike Krzyzewski (11-17) | ACC | |||
| 1981-82 | Mike Krzyzewski (10-17) | ACC | |||
| 1980-81 | Mike Krzyzewski (17-13) | ACC | |||
| 1979-80 | Bill E. Foster (24-9) | ACC | 14 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Final | 4 |
| 1978-79 | Bill E. Foster (22-8) | ACC | 11 | Lost NCAA Tournament Second Round | 2 |
| 1977-78 | Bill E. Foster (27-7) | ACC | 7 | Lost NCAA Tournament National Final | |
| 1976-77 | Bill E. Foster (14-13) | ACC | |||
| 1975-76 | Bill E. Foster (13-14) | ACC | |||
| 1974-75 | Bill E. Foster (13-13) | ACC | |||
| 1973-74 | Neill McGeachy (10-16) | ACC | |||
| 1972-73 | Bucky Waters (12-14) | ACC | |||
| 1971-72 | Bucky Waters (14-12) | ACC | |||
| 1970-71 | Bucky Waters (20-10) | ACC | |||
| 1969-70 | Bucky Waters (17-9) | ACC | |||
| 1968-69 | Vic Bubas (15-13) | ACC | |||
| 1967-68 | Vic Bubas (22-6) | ACC | 10 | ||
| 1966-67 | Vic Bubas (18-9) | ACC | |||
| 1965-66 | Vic Bubas (26-4) | ACC | 2 | Lost NCAA Tournament National Semifinal | |
| 1964-65 | Vic Bubas (20-5) | ACC | 10 | ||
| 1963-64 | Vic Bubas (26-5) | ACC | 3 | Lost NCAA Tournament National Final | |
| Season | Coach(es) | Conf | AP Final | NCAA Tournament | Seed |
| 1962-63 | Vic Bubas (27-3) | ACC | 2 | Lost NCAA Tournament National Semifinal | |
| 1961-62 | Vic Bubas (20-5) | ACC | 10 | ||
| 1960-61 | Vic Bubas (22-6) | ACC | 10 | ||
| 1959-60 | Vic Bubas (17-11) | ACC | 18 | Lost NCAA Tournament Regional Final | |
| 1958-59 | Harold Bradley (13-12) | ACC | |||
| 1957-58 | Harold Bradley (18-7) | ACC | 10 | ||
| 1956-57 | Harold Bradley (13-11) | ACC | |||
| 1955-56 | Harold Bradley (19-7) | ACC | 17 | ||
| 1954-55 | Harold Bradley (20-8) | ACC | Lost NCAA Tournament First Round | ||
| 1953-54 | Harold Bradley (21-6) | ACC | 15 | ||
| 1952-53 | Harold Bradley (17-8) | Southern | |||
| 1951-52 | Harold Bradley (24-6) | Southern | 12 | ||
| 1950-51 | Harold Bradley (20-13) | Southern | |||
| 1949-50 | Gerry Gerard (15-15) | Southern | |||
| 1948-49 | Gerry Gerard (13-9) | Southern | |||
| 1947-48 | Gerry Gerard (17-12) | Southern | |||
| 1946-47 | Gerry Gerard (19-8) | Southern | |||
| 1945-46 | Gerry Gerard (21-6) | Southern | |||
| 1944-45 | Gerry Gerard (13-9) | Southern | |||
| 1943-44 | Gerry Gerard (13-13) | Southern | |||
| Season | Coach(es) | Conf | AP Final | NCAA Tournament | Seed |
| 1942-43 | Gerry Gerard (20-6) | Southern | |||
| 1941-42 | Eddie Cameron (22-2) | Southern | |||
| 1940-41 | Eddie Cameron (14-8) | Southern | |||
| 1939-40 | Eddie Cameron (19-7) | Southern | |||
| 1938-39 | Eddie Cameron (10-12) | Southern | |||
| 1937-38 | Eddie Cameron (15-9) | Southern | |||
| 1936-37 | Eddie Cameron (15-8) | Southern | |||
| 1935-36 | Eddie Cameron (20-6) | Southern | |||
| 1934-35 | Eddie Cameron (18-8) | Southern | |||
| 1933-34 | Eddie Cameron (18-6) | Southern | |||
| 1932-33 | Eddie Cameron (17-5) | Southern | |||
| 1931-32 | Eddie Cameron (14-11) | Southern | |||
| 1930-31 | Eddie Cameron (14-7) | Southern | |||
| 1929-30 | Eddie Cameron (18-2) | Southern | |||
| 1928-29 | Eddie Cameron (12-8) | Southern | |||
| 1927-28 | George Buckheit (9-5) | Ind | |||
| 1926-27 | George Buckheit (4-10) | Ind | |||
| 1925-26 | George Buckheit (8-12) | Ind | |||
| 1924-25 | George Buckheit (4-9) | Ind | |||
| 1923-24 | J.S. Burbage (19-6) | Ind | |||
| Season | Coach(es) | Conf | AP Final | NCAA Tournament | Seed |
| 1922-23 | J.S. Burbage (15-7) | Ind | |||
| 1921-22 | James Baldwin (6-12) | Ind | |||
| 1920-21 | Floyd Egan (9-6) | Ind | |||
| 1919-20 | W.J. Rothensies (10-4) | Ind | |||
| 1918-19 | H.P. Cole (6-5) | Ind | |||
| 1917-18 | Chick Doak (10-5) | Ind | |||
| 1916-17 | Chick Doak (20-4) | Ind | |||
| 1915-16 | Chick Doak (9-11) | Ind | |||
| 1914-15 | Noble Clay (10-10) | Ind | |||
| 1913-14 | Noble Clay (12-9) | Ind | |||
| 1912-13 | J.E. Brinn (11-8) | Ind | |||
| 1911-12 | Cap Card (6-1) | Ind | |||
| 1910-11 | Cap Card (4-3) | Ind | |||
| 1909-10 | Cap Card (4-4) | Ind | |||
| 1908-09 | Cap Card (8-1) | Ind | |||
| 1907-08 | Cap Card (2-3) | Ind | |||
| 1906-07 | Cap Card (4-2) | Ind | |||
| 1905-06 | Cap Card (2-3) | Ind |
| Reg Champ | Tourn Champ | NCAA’s | F4 | Nat Champ | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Krzyzewski | 1981 | 2022 | 1129 | 309 | 0.785 | 13 | 15 | 36 | 13 | 5 |
| 2 | Eddie Cameron | 1929 | 1942 | 226 | 99 | 0.695 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Vic Bubas | 1960 | 1969 | 213 | 67 | 0.761 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Harold Bradley | 1951 | 1959 | 165 | 78 | 0.679 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Gerry Gerard | 1943 | 1950 | 131 | 78 | 0.627 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Bill E. Foster | 1975 | 1980 | 113 | 64 | 0.638 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Bucky Waters | 1970 | 1973 | 63 | 45 | 0.583 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Chick Doak | 1916 | 1918 | 39 | 20 | 0.661 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 9 | J.S. Burbage | 1923 | 1924 | 34 | 13 | 0.723 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 10 | Cap Card | 1906 | 1912 | 30 | 17 | 0.638 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 11 | Jon Scheyer | 2023 | 2023 | 27 | 9 | 0.75 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | George Buckheit | 1925 | 1928 | 25 | 36 | 0.41 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 13 | Noble Clay | 1914 | 1915 | 22 | 19 | 0.537 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 14 | J.E. Brinn | 1913 | 1913 | 11 | 8 | 0.579 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 15 | W.J. Rothensies | 1920 | 1920 | 10 | 4 | 0.714 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 16 | Neill McGeachy | 1974 | 1974 | 10 | 16 | 0.385 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Floyd Egan | 1921 | 1921 | 9 | 6 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 18 | H.P. Cole | 1919 | 1919 | 6 | 5 | 0.545 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 19 | James Baldwin | 1922 | 1922 | 6 | 12 | 0.333 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 20 | Pete Gaudet | 1995 | 1995 | 4 | 15 | 0.211 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
