PHOTOS: Coach K’s Trip to West Point
Coach K was inducted in the Army Sports Hall of Fame during a banquet Friday evening at West Point’s Eisenhower Hall. The 1969 West Point graduate served as both a player and head coach during his time at Army. As a player, Coach K helped the team to a pair of NIT trips and served as team captain his senior year. As head coach, Coach K posted a 73-59 mark and led Army to the school’s most recent birth in the NIT in 1978.
Introduced by his West Point coach Bob Knight, Coach K called the NCAA’s all-time wins leader the best educator he experienced during his time at the Academy. Coach K also praised the accomplishments of each of the other seven members of the induction class.
“West Point has been the foundation for everything in my life,” said Coach K. “It produces very genuine people. I am honored to represent our class tonight. On behalf of our class I say, ‘Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.’”
Joining Coach K in the 2009 Hall of Fame class are Bill Carpenter (football and lacrosse), Ralph Chesnauskas (football, hockey and baseball), Tracy Hanlon (track and field and women’s basketball), Ray Murphy (Athletic Director, lacrosse, basketball, football), Nicki Robbins (softball), Jack Rust (lacrosse) and Thomas Truxtun (lacrosse and men’s soccer). The group was recognized during halftime at Saturday’s Duke-Army football game as well. After the game, a 35-19 Blue Devil victory, Coach K hustled home to speak at Duke’s annual grad student campout with another prestigious honor in hand.
