Coach K congratulated on U.S. House floor

Two U.S. Representatives spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives Tuesday to congratulate Coach Mike Krzyzewski on his 1,000th win against St. John's on Sunday.

Both pointed out Krzyzewski's accomplishments at Duke and as coach of the U.S.A. men's Olympic basketball team, as well as his charitable endeavors including founding the Emily Krzyzewski Center.

Representative David Price, a Democrat from North Carolina's 4th district and a former Duke professor, spoke from his perspective as a member of the Duke community. See his remarks below:

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Mr. Butterfield, to congratulate Coach Mike K of Duke University on becoming the first coach in the history of Division I NCAA basketball to win 1,000 games. Blue Devils everywhere are proud of this remarkable feat the crowning achievement of a career that has seen Coach K win four national titles and two Olympic gold medals. Many of these 1,000 wins came against other storied ACC programs such as Carolina, N.C. State, Wake Forest. That makes Coach K’s historic achievement all the more impressive. I taught at Duke and then represented the campus for a number of years. I know firsthand of Mike Krzyzewski’s character and integrity. He’s not just a world class coach, he’s also a committed educator that trained his players to succeed in whatever they take in life. The Emily Krzyzewski Center in Durham, behind which Mike was the driving force, stands as a memorial to his mother and the sign of his dedication to at-risk youth as they aspire to a college education. So on behalf of the Duke community, whose core values Coach K exemplifies, and on behalf of House of Representatives, congratulations. We look forward to watching you build on your winning tradition for many years to come.

Rep. G.K. Butterfield, a Democrat from North Carolina's 1st district, also called on the House to congratulate the coach:

Madam Speaker, I rise with Congressman Price to recognize the head coach of Duke University men’s basketball team on becoming the winningest Division I basketball coach in our nation’s history—Coach Mike Krzyzewski. His 1,000th career victory came Sunday afternoon in New York City at Madison Square Garden against the Red Storm of St. John’s University, a thrilling second half. Over his 35 years as their head coach, he has led the Blue Devils to four NCAA Division I Championships, 13 ACC tournament championships and 12 ACC regular season championships. People like Grant Hill and Johnny Dawkins and Shane Battier and even my son-in-law, Dahntay Jones, all honed their skills under the watchful eye of Coach K, went on to successful careers in the NBA. Coach K is a four-time Olympic gold medal winner—in 1984, in 1992, as the USA team’s assistant coach and in 2008 and 2012 as head coach. In his most recent book entitled “The Gold Standard: Leading a World-Class Team,” he said leading the team to gold was one of the most gratifying things in his life. His career is impressive by any measure. Perhaps most impressive, though, is through his work off the basketball court. In addition to supporting countless charities over the years, he and his wife Mickie founded the Emily Krzyzewski Center, named in honor of his mother. The center mentors school-aged children to prepare them with skills of college and beyond. When asked what he wanted to be remembered for, he said just for the fact I’m an honest man, a truthful person and someone that cares about people, not just himself. Coach K serves as an inspiration to so many around the nation and the world. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Coach Mike Krzyzewski on his most historic 1,000th victory.

To see a video of the remarks, click here and watch the program from the beginning. Rep. Price's speech starts at about 10:22 and Rep Butterfield's at about 13:15.