Hated. Feared. Respected. These and the things Carolina Tar Heel fans usually have for coach Mike Krzyzewski of rival Duke. But every four years those feelings turn to love, admiration, and still respect. Along with the rest of the nation those Tar Heel fans root for Coach K and Team USA as they compete for gold in the summer Olympics.

Mike Krzyzewski took over as head coach after the Americans lost to Argentina in the semi-finals at the 2004 Olympic games in Greece and had to settle for bronze. He took over a program filled with superstars and the biggest egos which only play together in the summertime because the rest of the year they are rivals on NBA courts throughout the United States and Toronto.

In three years he got these players to set aside those egos, play together, share time in the spotlight, and took gold in the Bejing Olympics. This year Coach K had to take a patchwork of players to the Olympics due to injuries that forced Team USA to replace five of its 12 players. As of today the team was together for only 38 days and they take home gold by defeating a very good Spanish team again.

Today, before this tournament's gold medal game against Spain for the second straight Olympics, Coach K said this will be his last game as USA Basketball's head coach. Since he took over they are 61 and 1. Their single loss was back in 2006. There is also no dropoff at Duke as during this time period he lead the Blue Devils to their fourth national championship in college basketball in 2010.

May all Americans be appreciative of Coach Mike Krzyzewski for restoring USA basketball to its rightful place at the top of the basketball universe. Even those rival Tar Heels of North Carolina.

Pictures
Coach Mike Krzyzewski, USA Basketball
2008 Team USA, Bejing
2012 Team USA, London
Players placing gold medals around their coach's neck in 2008.
Coach K wearing Gold in 2008.
Mike Krzyzewsk, still Coaching Duke.