USA – Krzyzewski ties Smith in all-time NCAA wins; Coach K, Auriemma scoop honors

DURHAM (NCAA) - Team USA boss Mike Krzyzewski won't lead the American side again until the London 2012 Olympics.

Coach K, who guided the United States to gold in Beijing and in Istanbul this summer at the FIBA World Championship, therefore has plenty of time to concentrate on his top-ranked Duke Blue Devils.

Along the way, Krzyzewski is making history by winning so many games that one day soon he'll have more than any other coach in the history of American college basketball.

On Monday night, he steered Duke (11-0) to a 98-72 win over South Conference opponents Elon (4-7).

The triumph tied Krzyzewski with Dean Smith, the legendary University of North Carolina coach who is in the FIBA Hall of Fame, with 879 career victories in the NCAA.

Monday’s victory came at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina – the place where he and his Blue Devils had many showdowns with Smith and the Tar Heels.

Bobby Knight, the man Krzyzewski played for at West Point who later became a coaching great of the Indiana Hoosiers, has 902 victories.

"It's an honor to have won that many games," Krzyzewski said.

"I'm sure Dean would say the same thing, that it was an honor for him to win that many games.

"I have the utmost respect for Dean - the fact that we've been really good coaches in this league ... he was at his school a long time and I've been here a long time."

Meanwhile, Krzyzewski and USA women’s boss Geno Auriemma have been named as USA Basketball’s National Coaches of the Year.

It’s the fourth time Krzyzewski has received the honor.

"Any time a coach is recognized for representing his or her country, it is a tremendous honor," Krzyzewski said.

"USA Basketball enjoyed a terrific summer, and we were proud to do our part at the World Championship.

“In all of my years in coaching, there's nothing I've enjoyed more than being a part of the USA Basketball program. So, receiving this award for a fourth time is very special to me."

Auriemma led his team to the gold medal at the FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic.

They did not lose a game.

"It's a great honor," Auriemma said.

"Looking at who the other coaches were this past year, it means even more. Certainly being mentioned with Coach K is a great honor, and I'm thrilled. I can't be more appreciative of the hard work my staff and players did during the World Championship."

Auriemma coaches the University of Connecticut women.

His program clinched its 88th consecutive win on Sunday with an 81-50 demolition of Ohio State.

The win equaled the mark of the John Wooden-led UCLA men’s teams from 1971-74.

The Huskies, who have won all 10 of their games this season, will look for the 89th win at home against No. 15 Florida State on Tuesday night.

FIBA