Message from LA: Hello Duke fans!  We recently caught up with two-time NCAA champ Tony Lang.  Tony was inducted in the Mobile, AL Sports Hall of Fame earlier in April after a state title at LeFlore High School followed by four great years at Duke, six years in the NBA and several more pro seasons in the Philippines and Japan.  About a year ago, Tony was named head coach of the Mitsubishi Diamond Dolphins of the Japan Basketball League.

What are your best Duke memories?
I had so many memorable memories at Duke my four years.  Three memories stick out the most.  These memories are winning the national championship in 1991, winning the national championship again in 1992, and graduating in 1994.  Those championship years will always be special.  The friendships that formed those years will always be sacred to me.  It was an honor to be part of something that special.  I don’t think it can be matched.  My graduation is something special also.  I really had the best of both worlds as a student-athlete.  Duke challenged me both on the basketball court and in the classroom.

Which former players do you stay in touch with the most and do you have any funny college stories to share?
I still stay in touch with Grant Hill, Jeff Capel, Stan Brunson, Quin Snyder, Wojo, Chris Carrawell, Nate James and Chris Collins.  Grant, Chris, Jeff, and Stan may still remember my stylish car when we were at Duke — A 1980 Blue Grand Prix.  We called it the Blue Ghost. All of those guys had the privilege of riding in the Ghost.  The Blue Ghost had a few problems though.  For instance, The Ghost could only be driven by me.  There was a special way to start it and drive it.  Once it got started, there was a special way to drive it.  Once you drove it, it needed oil at least once a week.  When I would take The Ghost to a drive-through restaurant, I had to open the door to order because my window was broken and it couldn’t be rolled down.  One day, Stan needed to use my car.  I tried to warn him, but he wouldn’t listen.  Stan got stuck on an accelerating lane on 15-501.  After I graduated from Duke, The Ghost was handed down to my brother Andre.  A year later, the Ghost was stolen!!!!!

Best advice from Coach K?
Coach K gave me a lot of advice and still gives me advice.  The best advice Coach gave me was to be myself.  He told me to bring out the good qualities inside of me.  He felt that I should come out of my shell and let people know my personality.  He taught me to be more vocal and more passionate.  When Coach named me tri-captain my senior year, he gave me responsibility.  He gave me a chance to be a leader.  Before the 1994 season, Coach invited me to his house and told me that my leadership was the key to our team being successful.  I didn’t have the chance before that to lead because we had great leaders like Bobby, Christian and Brian in the years before.  We also had the best player in the country on our team, Grant Hill.  Coach told me to believe in myself.  He saw something in me that I didn’t.  I didn’t want to let him or my team down.  That year, we were one possession away from winning our third championship in four years.  Those experiences helped me to become successful in my career.

Favorite in-game memory at Duke?
My favorite game memory was “The Shot.”  We all know what “The Shot” was — the shot Christian made against Kentucky was one of the most clutch plays ever.  I was under the basket when the shot went in.  All I could do was fall.  My second favorite moment was winning back-to-back championships in 1992.  Beating Michigan made the victory even sweeter.  We know why it was sweet, but we won’t go there.  LOL!

Was there something in particular at Duke that has helped you during your career playing and coaching professionally in Japan?
Duke is a melting pot of different cultures.  While at Duke I met different people from different countries with different customs, and I learned to respect different ways of thinking.  That prepared me for my experience in Japan.

How have your Duke experience and time with Coach K impacted the teams and players you have coached since entering the coaching ranks?
Coach K taught me the importance of communication and teamwork.  He taught us that with communication and teamwork you can build a strong defensive team.  He taught me that defense is the key to winning championships.  Coach K continues to teach me by giving me advice and helping me with things such as preparation, practice and game situations.  I continue to confide in Coach and ask for advice.

Your first season as a head coach was cut short this year due to the earthquake.  We were glad to hear you are okay…
I’ve experienced numerous earthquakes while living in Japan, but nothing like this last one.  Fortunately we were 400 miles away from the epicenter.  Although we were that far away, we still felt the earthquake.  The city of Nagoya — where I live — had a 6.0 quake that shook for three minutes.  By the grace of God my family and I were safe.  Hopefully the country will continue to recover.

When you’re back in your hometown of Mobile after the basketball season ends in Japan, what do you do to relax?  Any special summer plans?
When I return home from Japan, I spend as much time as possible with my family — my beautiful wife Lekeshia, and my sons T.J. (15) and Alan (11).  The majority of our time is spent in baseball parks or basketball gyms and that is very important to me.  We also run various camps and charity events as a family for those in need.

Here’s a recent interview with Tony from a local news station in Mobile…

WKRG.com News

Alaa Abdelnaby update

Message from LA: Hi Duke fans! In 1990, Alaa Abdelnaby was averaging 15 PPG and 7 RPG while helping the Blue Devils reach the national championship game. Since then, Alaa has moved from a big man on the court to a big man in front of the camera, providing college hoops analysis for CBS. Although he’s a busy man this time of year, Alaa recently took some time to answer our questions and provide a little life update. Thanks Alaa!

You are a 1990 Duke graduate who played with many other Duke greats.  What are some of your most memorable moments during your time at Duke?
I think the thing I remember most are the “huge” games I got to play in.  The three Final Fours!  The ACC/Big East Challenge.  The ACC Tourney!  Those are tremendous opportunities, only possible at Duke!  In retrospect, I simply remember kicking a lot of butt!  We were so lucky to be a part of it!  If I had to choose one game, it would be the ‘89 ACC Final.  What a battle!  I still have the scars to prove it.  I recently spoke to a reporter who covers the league and he said that a lot of journalists think that was the most physical game played in 50 years!  I don’t know if that’s true, but it shows how the intensity of that games still lingers.

You were drafted 25th in the 1990 NBA Draft by Portland.  How did your time at Duke prepare you for your NBA journey?
Coach taught me so much that helped me when I got to the league!  It was a lot easier of a transition than I expected.  Overall, it wasn’t one thing; it was the whole body of knowledge that I took with me and still carry with me to this day.  It’s things like looking people in the eye, always being on-time, and of course, knowing how to play.  That’s probably the most important, regarding the game.  I played in the ‘92 Finals against the Bulls and I wasn’t overwhelmed by the situation because we had played in so many big games before at Duke.  That’s life at Duke!  Nobody played in bigger games collectively than the boys from Duke.  What great preparation!

You are a regular at our annual Coach K Academy held each June.  Besides the former players you see at the Academy do you stay in touch with other former teammates?
Yes, I keep in touch with a lot of our former players!  At Duke there’s a lineage — guys that came before you and the ones that followed.  I still speak to Christian, Bobby and of course, Robert Brickey(My roomie)!  I’m lucky enough to know and talk to some guys who came before me.  Dennard, Gminski, and the great Dick Groat!  What a treat!  I’m still amazed when someone remembers me — it was 20 years ago!  We relate to each other so well across wide swaths of time.  That’s because we all share one common thing.  We all played for the best school and the greatest fans, ever!  That’s a bond that won’t ever be broken!

You are now working with CBS College Sports and Westwood One Radio.  Tell us about those experiences.
As far as work, it was something that I realized that I wanted to do when I was still playing.  Coach K lesson: Always be prepared for the next opportunity!  It wasn’t easy, starting out.  You work for free, doing anything to get your “foot in the door.”  It’s amazing how many Dukies are in the media!  From Charlie Rose on down to me.  I even work with a Blue Devil (Seth Davis) now!  We are EVERYWHERE!!  There are a lot of us working!!  What I’m most proud of is hanging in there until I got my chance.  Its very competitive!  The idea for TV came from my time at Duke.  We would get interviewed all the time.  I realized I was very comfortable in front of the camera.  That’s when the seed was planted!

Thanks, Alaa.  Any other life updates or general thoughts we didn’t touch on?
As far as an update, I started a Real Estate company (Acquisitions and Management) 10 years ago.  I can’t believe it’s 10 years!  With a few stumbles out of the box, we are succeeding now.  Consistency… another Coach K lesson!  I recently took the employees of Alladin’s (yes, that’s my full name) Enterprises on vacation to Antigua.  We had a blast in a stress-free environment.  They deserved it for putting up with me for 10 years.  I take a lot of pride in “our” work!  I’m part of another great team.  Being a good teammate and leader… another Coach K lesson!  Finally, to see my coach leading my beloved Blue Devils to championship after championship over the years has been so satisfying!  It just solidifies the best decision of my life; to go to Duke and play for Coach K.  It’s something that I still benefit from every single day.  I walk a little taller, after all, I went to Duke!

Alaa (pointing) provides college hoops analysis for CBS

Alaa coaching at the annual K Academy

ABOUT LA’S CORNER… Laura Ann Howard is now in her 20th season as staff assistant in the Duke Basketball office.  She works closely with our assistant coaches, coordinates player autographing, keeps tabs on former players, staff and managers, and delivers smiles at our offices on the fifth floor of the Schwartz-Butters Center.  The Roxboro, NC native shares one of her updates in LA’s Corner as part of every issue of Blue Planet magazine.

Kenny Blakeney launches Sportin’ Scarves while coaching at Harvard

Message from LA: Hello Duke fans!  This month we headed to Beantown for LA’s Corner and checked in with former Duke player Kenny Blakeney (1995 graduate).  It seems like just yesterday Kenny was riding his scooter around campus and winning national titles!  Now, Kenny is doing great things at Harvard with several other Blue Devils and also started his own business.  Check it out!  Thanks for reading!

At Duke you were a part of something very special — back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992. What are your memories of those experiences?
That’s one of the reasons I chose Duke — to become a champion at the college level. I’ve been very lucky and fortunate to have been on championship teams throughout my life (#8 Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls Club, DC Recreation League at Rabaut Junior High School, AAU with Executive 3, and then in high school at DeMatha). Winning championships is all I know. To be a part of history and win one national championship is truly special and unique. But, to win two — and to do it back to back — was just extraordinary. We were the first team to win back-to-back national championships since 1973 when John Wooden’s UCLA team did it. People still talk about our 1992 team as arguably one of the best teams ever in ANY sport.

We all get busy in our lives. Have you been able to stay in touch with former teammates?
Absolutely. All of them. My teammates and I have a very special bond, a life-long one. I think that’s why we were so good — us being so close. And because of that, everyone was invested in one common goal: winning. Being on a team where nobody cared who scored the ball and everyone embraced their role, well that’s very unique.

You are now with Harvard Basketball with former Duke player Tommy Amaker. What did you guys learn from your experiences at Duke that you incorporate into your coaching style at Harvard?
Commitment. Preparation. Hard work. Selflessness. I have been incredibly fortunate to have been coached by some of the best coaches in the history of the game. Obviously, Coach K, I’m not here without him. I’ve never been around a coach who earns more respect from his players. That respect comes from the love his players have for him. Coach K truly defines the player-coach relationship. Those values that he has instilled in Duke Basketball can be seen every day here at Harvard. Obviously, in a lot of ways Coach Amaker is an extension of Coach K. They both have such an amazing presence. When they talk, the room listens.

You have started a business called Sportin’ Scarves. What is it all about?
Sportin’ Scarves (S’S) is the perfect fashionable accessory crafted from quality fabrics that feels good to the hand and designed for today’s young and trendy consumers. These scarves can be worn by both men and women who are passionate about representing and expressing their support for their favorite sport teams in a stylish, versatile and yet affordable manner.

That’s great! How’d you come up with this concept?
The idea was born out of my love for sports and fashion. I wanted to find a way to harmonize the two in a market that had a void. This vision was born while I was in Ireland during the 2009 NBA playoffs, as I found myself only able to access soccer games on television. While watching a soccer crowd of 60,000 people on TV, I noticed that they were all waving soccer scarves in support of their team. Amazed at the showing of support from spectators beyond a typical sports jersey, hat or t-shirt, I began to vigorously research if other major sports leagues had a similar concept and found there was a void in this market. Wanting to create something that could be worn professionally to reflect a sense of style and show choice in sports teams, the S’S brand brought to life the design of the perfect “go-to” accessory with an authentic and global appeal.

Where can we get these scarves?
Currently, through a deal with the NBA, S’S is offering fashionable scarves for the six most popular teams in the NBA for merchandising sales for the 2010-11 NBA season. Additional NBA teams will be available at the start of the 2011-12 season. And, if basketball isn’t your sport, no worries. S’S is currently working with the other major professional sport leagues and college sports to bring these fashionable and versatile scarves to keep all of us who love sports wrapped up in style.

Check us out on the web…
*Official website: sportinscarves.com
*Facebook fan page: Sportin’ Scarves
*Twitter: @sportinscarves

S’S is currently available at the following retailers and online as well…
NBA Store in NYC on 5th Avenue, Boston Garden arena shop, Staples Center arena shop, Store.NBA.com, Espnshop.com, Modells.com, DicksSportingGoods.com

You have a daughter, Nona. Does she have any of dad’s basketball moves or is she pursuing other interests at this point???
(Laugh). She’s the best thing in my life. It’s amazing how many different interests she has. She has such an abundant energy about her and a smile that lights up a room. Between her learning Chinese and Spanish, playing sports, and her excitement for school everyday, it’s hard for me to keep up with her sometimes (laugh). She’s just an amazing little girl. The love of my life.

Thanks for your time, Kenny. Good luck with the rest of the season and please say hello to our Duke family at Harvard… Hey TA, Brian and Kirsten!

ABOUT LA’S CORNER… Laura Ann Howard is now in her 20th season as staff assistant in the Duke Basketball office.  She works closely with our assistant coaches, coordinates player autographing, keeps tabs on former players, staff and managers, and delivers smiles at our offices on the fifth floor of the Schwartz-Butters Center.  The Roxboro, NC native shares one of her updates in LA’s Corner as part of every issue of Blue Planet magazine.

An interview with Lindsay Wojciechowski

Message from LA: The biggest perk of my job is the friendships I’ve been able to develop with some of the amazing people who are a part of the Duke Basketball program.  One of these people – Lindsay Wojo – is right at the top of my list of amazing and she is a true inspiration.  Lindsay is married to Coach Wojo and is the mother of their two handsome young boys, Jack and Charlie.  Thanks Linds for taking on my questions in the latest LA’s Corner!

How do you handle the job of being a coach’s wife?
I think a key to this is flexibility.  Over the years I have learned to be more understanding of the required job demands and last-minute schedule changes.  This is easier to do now because I more fully appreciate the incredible rewards that come along with the job.  When I agreed to induce our second child during the 72-hour break between the end of the ACC and the beginning of the NCAA Tournament, I think I earned my A+ in flexibility!

What is something about the Wojo family that would surprise the fans?
I bet most would be surprised to know that Steve does most of the cooking at home.  He never uses a recipe and his meals are always fantastic.  He’s an incredible chef!

What is the most bizarre encounter/story you’ve had in public being married to Coach Wojo?
For our first Valentine’s dinner as a couple, we went out to dinner at a restaurant in southern Durham.  Our waiter brought our check out on a platter with “Go NC State!” written across it in ketchup.  Luckily, this was before we left the tip. 

How does the Wojo family “relax” when you finally have time in the off-season?
We have become pretty good at post-season relaxation.  It generally involves a trip to Bald Head Island where we can hunker down in a house on the beach, play with our kids in the sand, eat meals that Steve whips up, and go to bed early.  The rest of the off-season revolves around BBQs with our neighbors and visiting family.

In March you gave birth to your second son, Charlie, right in the middle of March Madness.  Shortly after, you discovered something was wrong.  Can you explain and tell me how that has impacted you?  I’ve really admired how strong you have been and am so happy you are feeling better.
I had a health scare shortly after Charlie was born that changed a lot of things for us as a family.  I resigned from work to spend more time with Steve and our boys.  I was reminded how important it is to “be in the moment” with my children.  It also gave me an even deeper appreciation for the Duke Basketball family.  The support of everyone on staff was incredible.  As Steve told me, we had an “army” of supporters that successfully helped me get healthy again.

How does a Utah girl and a Maryland boy combine worlds…I hear Coach Wojo tried fly fishing one time????
When I first met Steve, I drove a huge 1989 Chevy pickup that filled his driveway with smoke every time I left his house.  He must’ve thought I was a complete redneck.  I’m proud to tell you that during our eight years together, Steve has become quite good at road biking, hiking, skeet shooting and appreciating the outdoors (however fly fishing may test his patience a bit too much!).  A few years ago, a trekking guide told us that Steve had the “spirit of the deer.”   Ha, he’s come a long way but that one was a bit of a stretch!

ABOUT LA’S CORNER… Laura Ann Howard is now in her 20th season as administrative assistant in the Duke Basketball office.  She works closely with our assistant coaches, coordinates player autographing, keeps tabs on former players, staff and managers, and delivers smiles at our offices on the fifth floor of the Schwartz-Butters Center.  The Roxboro, NC native shares one of her updates in LA’s Corner as part of every issue of Blue Planet magazine.

Three of our biggest fans spread the Blue Devil spirit in Europe

About 10 years ago I met a huge Duke fan, Renato Calvi, who was visiting Duke all the way from Italy!  We have stayed in touch throughout the years and Renato and friends have made their way to many a Duke game.   Italy to Durham is quite the “road trip” I would say, and he even named his baby boy J.J.  So, for this round of LA’s Corner, I thought it would great to introduce the Cameron Crazies to the Italian Crazies!

Italy is a long distance from Durham.  How did you first become a Duke fan?

I live in Latina, just 40 miles south of Rome and my passion for Duke started when Danny Ferry signed for the “Messaggero Virtus Roma” in July 1989.  As I am a big fan of Virtus Roma, in order to show support to Danny Boy, I used to go to the games wearing Duke stuff.   That was the beginning of my craziness.

You have gone to great lengths to make it to Duke games.  Tell us some of your “Italian Crazie” stories!

I have seen Duke playing in London, in NYC, in Boston (twice) and in Cameron (three times).   As for the tickets in CIS I really want to thank Laura Ann Howard and Gerry Brown who made my dreams come true, providing tickets for three home games (Georgia Tech in 2004, Princeton 2005 and Georgia Tech 2010).  Craziest thing was holding my little son Gianmarco/J.J. (he was 15 months) for the entire second half of the Princeton game because he was sleeping regardless Cameron Crazies noise.  Now he is six and on the way to become crazier than me.

How did your group of three Italian Crazies form?

I travel with some Crazies, Marco Vanzulli, Corrado Palumbi and Carlo Perotti.  They live near the lake of Como and Milan, far away from my town.  As we share the same passion for Duke we got to know in London (with Marco and Corrado) and in Boston (with Carlo).  In 2004 I organized the travel to Duke for the Georgia Tech game with Marco and Corrado.  I met Carlo in Boston for the BC game last year.  In 2010, Carlo, Marco and I were at Duke for the G-Tech game and in Boston for the BC game.   I am not going to forget my wife who was with me at MSG in 2003 for the St John’s game and in 2005 at Duke, with our children Francesca Romana and Gianmarco, for the Princeton game.  We organize all the travels using Internet.

Does your wife think you are crazy?

My wife thinks that I am really crazie and she’s worried our little son can become crazier than me.  I think she is happy if I am happy and she just let go my passion for Duke.

Is it tough to follow the team from all the way in Italy?

The hardest part for a crazie like me, who lives in Europe, is waking up in the middle of the night to watch Duke playing on TV or just listening to the voice of Bob Harris on web radio.  Due to jet lag, when a game is scheduled at 7 PM/9 PM, in Italy is 1 AM/3 AM, I never miss a game but it’s hard then to wake up and go to work.  Besides games, I have been to Durham during the summer several times.   Just to stroll around the Duke campus, walk inside Cameron and be, in a different way, part of a tradition that will last forever.  Anyway, even without games, I was lucky enough to meet former players like Trajan Langdon, Chris Carrawell and Christian Laettner.

The Italian Crazies at the Georgia Tech game!

Laura Ann Howard is now in her 19th season as administrative assistant in the Duke Basketball office.  She works closely with our assistant coaches, coordinates player autographing, keeps tabs on former players, staff and managers, and delivers smiles at our offices on the fifth floor of the Schwartz-Butters Center.   The Roxboro, NC native shares one of her updates in LA’s Corner as part of every issue of Blue Planet.

An interview with the captains of the 1st Duke national championship team

Greg Koubek and Clay Buckley returned in January and checked out their alma mater take on Boston College in Cameron.  After their visit, I chatted with the former Duke teammates about their college memories, Cameron, Coach K and more!

LA: You guys achieved something very special at Duke as captains of the first-ever national championship team.  Looking back, are there any special memories that stand out?

THE CLAY & GREG FILE

*Duke teammates from 1988-1991

*Reached Final Four all four years at Duke

*Captains of Duke’s first NCAA title team

*Both played forward position

Greg and Clay at our office during their recent visit to Duke

Where Are They Now?

*Clay is set to start a new job as Chief Revenue Officer for Tech Forward (company provides buybacks on consumer electronics with a 100% recycle/re-use policy).  He and wife Carrie Buckley have two children (Fletcher- 7th grade, Ellie- 5th grade), and the family lives in Virginia.

The Buckley family!

*Greg has been working with the YMCA for 11 years and running his annual hoops camp after playing overseas for seven years (Hungary, Turkey, Japan and South Africa).  He and wife Natalie Shum have two daughters (Helena- age 3 and Olivia- age 1), and reside in California.

The Koubek family!

Laura Ann Howard is now in her 19th season as administrative assistant in the Duke Basketball office.  She works closely with our assistant coaches, coordinates player autographing, keeps tabs on former players, staff and managers, and delivers smiles at our offices on the fifth floor of the Schwartz-Butters Center.   The Roxboro, NC native shares one of her updates in LA’s Corner as part of every issue of Blue Planet.

An interview with actress (and new mom!) Bobbi Baker-James

For this month’s LA’s Corner, I interviewed Bobbi Baker-James, wife of assistant coach Nate James.  Bobbi is an accomplished actress, having graduated from world-renowned Juilliard and appearing in “House of Payne” and “Madea Goes to Jail” among other impressive projects!  Also, Bobbi and Nate had their first child on July 26 when Nathaniel Drake James III entered the world!!

Our own in-house celebrity!  Tell us how you got started in TV/film!?
My original plan in high school was to pursue a degree in journalism.  I wanted to be a news anchor.  After attending a workshop at UCLA I discovered I didn’t really have what it took to be in that field but I still loved being on camera so acting was the next best thing to me.  I claimed drama as a major at Western Carolina University never even having done a play!  They seemed to like me quite a bit because I was on stage year round.  After taking time to study abroad at The Oxford School of Drama (Oxford, England) I figured I could benefit from a more intense program so I decided to audition for The Juilliard School.  I graduated from Juilliard in May of ‘07 and was signed to Tyler Perry Studios in October.  Prior to that, I was doing mostly theatre and occasionally I played a cop on Guiding Light so the world of TV and film is really fairly new to me.  I’m still learning!

How did  you meet Coach James?
I can’t help but laugh every time someone asks this question… We actually met at a party/club which never seems to work out for most people.  We met on a Friday, got together again that Sunday, and we were inseparable for two weeks straight up until he had to go home for Mother’s Day.  It was fast.  There’s also still an ongoing debate to this day as to who approached who that night.  Any sensible human being would and should believe me and my friends… not him and Chris (Carrawell)!  I will admit though, it wasn’t a hard sale at all.  He flashed that smile and it was over!  That and I saw his aura as he walked through the crowd to approach me… It was green.  I like green.

Who in the showbiz world who has “wowed” you that you have met so far?
I have been fortunate to meet several icons.  I’ve met Cicely Tyson twice, Ruby Dee, Oprah, and Sidney Poitier.  Ms. Tyson gave me good words of wisdom and Mr. Poitier was very impressed with my accomplishments, my training, and my husband.  When I introduced Nate, he said, “WELL…HE’S HANDSOME!”  I think so too.

Is there anyone in particular who you would like to work with?  Any upcoming projects in the works?
I would really love to work with Quentin Tarantino.  I have a dark side but it doesn’t lack humor.
I’m really excited about some other roles and opportunities that I’m auditioning and being considered for.  Unfortunately it’s all hush hush right now for both legal reasons and fear-of-jinx.  Just keep your fingers crossed for me Duke!

Have you had any bizarre encounters with fans?
I’ve had a few weird encounters.  One fan gave me all her personal info.  I’m talking home address, home and cell number, her title at work.  Then she yells across the parking lot, “CALL ME!”  I just might one day too on three conditions: 1) I have to be really bored 2) my “good deeds account” has to have a negative balance 3) I have to learn how to make my number not show up on caller ID!

You just had a baby!  How is juggling motherhood and working going for  you?
Motherhood is the most wonderful challenge ever.  Juggling motherhood with anything is hard especially if you’re like me and have a perpetual image of this constantly growing brain that I am responsible for.  Every activity that doesn’t actively involve him somehow makes me feel a little guilty.  Then I remember everything I do has something to do with him.  I could never look my son in the eye and tell him to see his dreams through having not done that with mine.  When I went back to work for a couple days a few weeks back I was a little uneasy at first, but Nate is an excellent father.  He also keeps me motivated to keep investing in my craft.  So I guess the answer to “how” I do both is Nate, that’s how.

How do you relax as a family?
To relax, we talk or watch TV.  We love the one-hour HBO shows.  Nate is a huge movie buff, I surprisingly am not.  Sometimes I’ll watch whatever movie he brings home as long as it’s not scary.  I hate those movies.

Does Coach James have any superstitious rituals on game day?
Nate: “Hey Sweetie which tie do you think I should wear, the one on the left or the one on the right?”  Me: “The one on the right.”  Nate leaves wearing the one on the left.

How do you  handle the grueling schedule your husband has as a coach?
Nate and I are actually quite accustomed to being apart for long periods of time.  Our first four years together I was in New York and he was overseas, so these days it’s just nice to be in the same time zone.  Of course I miss him when he’s gone but we mentally prepared a long time ago for the fact that neither of us would be leading typical 9-5 lives.  Whenever I need him I know he’ll always be home as soon as he can.

Laura Ann Howard is now in her 19th season as administrative assistant in the Duke Basketball office.  She works closely with our assistant coaches, coordinates player autographing, keeps tabs on former players, staff and managers, and delivers smiles at our offices on the fifth floor of the Schwartz-Butters Center.   The Roxboro, NC native shares one of her updates in LA’s Corner as part of every issue of Blue Planet.

PHOTOS OF THE BLUE DEVIL STAFF “RECHARGING BATTERIES”

Laura Ann Howard is now in her 18th season as administrative assistant in the Duke Basketball office.  She works closely with the Blue Devil assistant coaches, coordinates player autographing, keeps tabs on former players, staff and managers, and lifts the spirits of each team member who visits our offices on the fifth floor of the Schwartz-Butters Center.  The Roxboro, NC native shares one of her former player updates each month in LA’s Corner.

Hello Duke fans!  Welcome to another month of LA’s Corner.  For this month, I decided to do a little Q&A with my good friend Kim Collins, wife of Associate Head Coach Chris Collins, to give our readers an idea of life behind the scenes for a coach’s family.  Thanks for sharing Kim and GO DEVILS!

Does Coach Collins have any “superstitious” rituals on game day?
Not really.  Before we had children, he would come home in the early afternoon and rest, but now he comes home and spends time with our children.  I do though!  I keep track of his suit, tie and shirt combinations throughout the season so that he never wears the same combination twice in one season.  I am a bit OCD!

How do you handle the grueling schedule he has as a coach?
I think I handle it well.  You pretty much know year to year what is coming down the pike during basketball season and even after the official season is over.  It is a huge time commitment.  One thing I love about Chris is that he loves what he does.  He is so passionate about Duke, the game.  There are not many people that are truly passionate about what they do for a living.

What is the most bizarre encounter you have had in public?
I have to laugh, the one that sticks out in my mind the most is when we were on our honeymoon in Kauai, Hawaii.  We were on our way to the pool and stopped by the counter to get some towels and the guy working there sees Chris and says very nonchalantly, “Hey, do you think Jason Williams is coming back?”   I was like, we are all the way in Hawaii on our honeymoon!

What is the proudest moment you have shared together?
There are a lot of proud moments.  I think my favorite is the day he became a father.  He was so proud, excited, beaming.  He was holding a little piece of himself right in his hands!  We had our son, Ryan, and I have never seen him so happy, oh, except for the day he married me!  Ha-Ha!

What do you do as a family to relax?
Most of CC’s days off are spent at home.  He hangs with all of us, spends time with the kids.  They beg to wake Daddy up!  When he gets up he likes to take them to Bruegger’s Bagels to get breakfast and the papers.  He also loves to relax and watch TV.   We try to catch up on our episodes of 24 and Lost!  In general, we just spend time together.  Chris and Ryan like to play Wii together and I can tell you that Ryan is as competitive as his father.  The apple does not fall far!

How is Ryan’s hoops career going?
I would imagine it would be hard for Chris to be a spectator at a basketball game when he is a coach, but he is a parent first.  There is a bit of guidance from him to Ryan but he knows his boundaries.  We are watching 5-6 year-olds play.  It is amazing how literal they take everything.  When Ryan passes the ball in bounds, he tells the kid he is passing it to to give him the ball right back so he can shoot it!  Sounds a bit familiar!

Kim and Coach Collins