Blue Devil Leadership:

Courtside in Cameron with Coach K

Blue Devil Leadership: Courtside in Cameron with Coach K, a special component of Leadership Roundtable open to all members of the first-year class, made its debut in October 2007. 

Nearly half of the Class of 2011’s 1,700 members arrived at Cameron Indoor Stadium in time to watch the Duke Men’s Basketball team’s full practice.  Attendees received a printed copy of the minute-to-minute practice schedule to follow as they observed the interactions between the players and coaching staff.  Coach Mike Krzyzewski, who alternately imparted feedback to his players and words of wisdom to his audience, engaged the first-year students in the stands and, later, on the court. The first-years, desirous to prove themselves as the newest “Cameron Crazies,” cheered on the players through their drills. 

Following practice, basketball staff treated the entire first-year class to pizza and chose approximately fifteen students to join the players for free throw and three-point shot contests. Each contest participant, in turn, was awarded an autographed copy of Krzyzewski’s book, Leading with the Heart: Coach K’s Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life.  Krzyzewski concluded the evening’s events with a lively talk and video presentation highlighting the importance of will, respect, and passion for successful team leadership.