Krzyzewski might coach Team USA again

DURHAM — Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said Wednesday that he will remain involved with the U.S. Olympic Team, and there is a chance he will be Team USA’s head coach again in 2012 in London.

Last summer, Krzyzewski coached Team USA to the gold medal in Beijing.

"I'm going to be with the Olympic Team in some capacity," Krzyzewski said during a media availability at his K Academy camp on campus. "It’s just that the NBA season hasn't even ended. I think once the NBA season has ended, I'll have an even more clear picture of who’s going to go forward, maybe, from the players, how we’re going to do coaching."

Krzyzewski said the national team will have one event lasting about four days in Las Vegas this summer for 24 NBA players to add to the pool of athletes in the program.

Asked if he has an interest in coaching in the Olympics again, Krzyzewski said, "We’ll see," and "there's a chance."

"How everything goes forward has not been clearly defined yet," he said. "The main thing is Jerry Colangelo now heads USA Basketball, which is great. Now what do you do with the culture and structure that you have developed for three years?

"Now what do you do? Part of that is coaching, but also part of that is a new pool of players, commitments from different people. There’s a lot that goes on."

— Players take next step. Krzyzewski has made the rounds with the national media over the last few months promoting his book, "The Gold Standard."
But he met with the local media Wednesday for the first time since Gerald Henderson left for the NBA after his junior season and former guard Greg Paulus announced he would play football in 2009 at Syracuse.

"We knew that, once [Henderson] put his name in, was not coming back," Krzyzewski said. "Otherwise he wouldn't have put his name in. ... I think things look good for him as long as he stays healthy, and we’re totally happy and supportive."

Krzyzewski said Henderson will work out Thursday for the Charlotte Bobcats.

Paulus' decision also was endorsed by Krzyzewski.

"Where he went, school-wise and opportunity-wise, is by far the best decision,” Krzyzewski said. “And I think he’s going to do well.”

— Duke goes big. Krzyzewski said the 2009-10 Duke team will be quite different from the ones he has coached in recent years.
The traditionally guard-oriented Blue Devils have just three scholarship perimeter players – Nolan Smith, Jon Scheyer and Elliot Williams – returning.

Krzyzewski said there is a chance that Kyle Singler, who has played power forward and center the last two seasons, will play entirely on the perimeter.

"I like our team,” Krzyzewski said. “We're going to be a very big team, which is kind of unusual. So I'm excited about coaching a little bit of a different style. Not necessarily we won't run or whatever. But we have a big team."