Foundation
Coach K builds from scratch. The Godfather Class arrives. Duke becomes relevant again.
Gene Banks
Before Dawkins. Before Laettner. Before Coach K had a single championship. There was Tinkerbell — the kid from West Philly who made Duke a destination.
Vince Taylor
Lexington’s playground legend who chose Duke over Kentucky, led the ACC in scoring, never missed a game, and has been coaching for a quarter century.
Chip Engelland
A tennis coach taught him to shoot. He taught Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, Steve Kerr, and Grant Hill. The NBA’s greatest Shot Whisperer.
Johnny Dawkins
He started it all.
Mark Alarie
The Godfather Class. The one who wanted Stanford.
Jay Bilas
From walk-on mentality to the voice of college basketball.
David Henderson
Duke’s first choice was someone else.
Tommy Amaker
The quiet engine of the dynasty.
Marty Nessley
Be careful what you wish for.
Billy King
Before he ran the Nets, he guarded the best.
John Smith
He didn’t need a Wikipedia page to matter.
Tom Emma
Dan Meagher
The Canadian who ate glass.
Richard Ford
Mike Tissaw
Ned Franke
Doug McNeely
Gordon Whitted
Allen Williams
Kenny Dennard
The jester, the enforcer, the cancer survivor. Banks got the roses. Dennard made the inbounds pass.
Jim Suddath
Jay Bryan
Todd Anderson
Greg Wendt
Loel Payne
Weldon Williams
Kevin Strickland
Bill Jackman
George Burgin
Amaker's high school teammate, part of Coach K's DC pipeline — three Final Fours, 38 games, and the foundation of a dynasty.