Immortality is within Coach K’s grasp as he got to 902 wins yesterday. Now, it’s only a matter or which win is going to be 903 (probably their next one.) Then, it’s a question of how much longer he’s going to coach.
We always knew (for a very long time) that Pat Summitt would get to 1000 wins first, but the recent revelations about her health (which are very sad) put further strides in that area in jeopardy. So, will Coach K coach long enough to reach 1000 and beyond? In other words, will he stick around long enough to to waters uncharted?
I don’t know. When he was ill back in the mid-90′s, no one was sure if he would be able to hold up after that. However, he’s proven with two more national titles that he can stand up to the pressure. He didn’t take the Lakers‘ very lucrative offer a couple years back, and he seems as though he is happy and healthy.
So, how far do we go after 903? At this rate, I bet he gets to 1200 or 1300 before he retires. Not sure if he’s going to set a record that others won’t be able to touch, or perhaps he is going to set a record that something in the future is bound to break. I mean, 1300 wins is a ton for a college basketball coach. Can you see anyone being that successful for that long in the future.
In the “I want it now” culture of sports, I’m not sure anyone would be able to hold a job long enough to amass that many wins. Plus, coaches are paid so much now that most guys would probably get fired, go work on TV, and that would be the end of it.
Can I get an amen for Coach K’s longevity for now and the future?
