Mike Krzyzewski is a name that needs no introduction to any basketball fan. The legendary coach, who led the Duke Blue Devils for 42 seasons, helped shape the program’s storied legacy. Over the years, he developed countless NBA players. However, among all the players he’s coached, one story stands out—not for its success, but for its tragedy: the story of Jason “Jay” Williams.

Jay Williams’ rise to basketball stardom was nothing short of meteoric. While averaging 21.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in his junior year, Williams led Duke to its third championship under the legendary Coach K, capturing the Naismith Player of the Year award along the way. He was the golden child of college hoops, a future NBA star, and also became the second overall pick in the 2002 draft.

Expectations were sky-high, but in the blink of an eye, everything came crashing down. A devastating motorcycle accident ended what promised to be a legendary NBA career. The world never got to see the full extent of what Jay Williams could have achieved.

While this part of Jay Williams’ story is widely known in the basketball world, what’s less understood is how Coach K managed to recruit the National Player of the Year, who had offers from prestigious schools like Notre Dame and Yale and Georgetown! Williams sat down with Sloane Weinstein in her podcast Sloan Knows to talk about it.

He says, “This dude got me here (Coach K), I played for the greatest coach of all time. “ He continues, “ When I came into meet coach K, I sit in his room with my mom and dad, my parents are sitting in two small chairs next to me and I am sitting in a foldup chair like this and coach K in a grandfather chair and he goes hey David hey Althia ( his parents first names) nice to meet you and he goes so like Mr Williams.”

Addressing a 16-year-old Jason as an adult obviously went a long way in capturing his interest in signing for Duke! Jay also highlights how this was the first time he automatically felt accountable as he felt coach K addressed him by his surname as he needed him to act like an adult!

Jay has since established himself as a prominent figure in the media industry, working as an NBA analyst for ESPN. His insights and commentary have made him a go-to voice in basketball coverage, and fans everywhere appreciate his perspective on the game.

After Jay’s departure, Coach K went on to win two more national championships. In 2022, Coach K finally decided to retire after an illustrious 42-year career at Duke. While he serves as an ambassador for Duke, promoting the university’s basketball program and keeping his connection to the Blue Devils strong, he also took on another full-time job which many don’t know about!

Mike Krzyzewski gets another job

At 77, Coach K will continue his ambassador role at Duke but will now also work closely with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as the advisor to basketball operations! Silver who is a 1984 Duke graduate and Duke Board of Trustees member since 2015, and the board’s vice chair was influential in getting coach K to take this job!

The most successful coach in college history couldn’t hide his excitement about the new opportunity, saying, “This is a tremendous opportunity to deepen my connection to the NBA and participate in conversations about further strengthening the league and the game.” “Even in my retirement from coaching, my passion for the sport has never been higher. This role will enable me to stay engaged with basketball at the highest level.”

Mike Krzyzewski wasn’t just famous for his tactics, his true strength was in his ability to connect with players on a deeper level. There’s a reason Coach K is adored by so many, and Jay Williams is living proof of the profound impact he had, not just on the court, but on shaping the lives of those who played for him!