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Garrett Cherishes His Duke Visit
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Jason Garrett visited with Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski.
INDIANAPOLIS - Since 1992, Jason Garrett has been around NFL coaches in some capacity. Whether it was playing for guys like Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, Chan Gailey or Sean Payton, or working with the likes of Nick Saban, Wade Phillips and now Rob Ryan, Garrett has always been surrounded by accomplished football coaches.
Let's not forget he grew up with one every day, as his dad, Jim, was a longtime coach and NFL scout.
But sometimes even coaches need to step out of the box. That's what Jason Garrett did a few weeks ago, as he visited one of the greatest college basketball programs and coaches of all-time.
In an attempt to learn more about building a program into a consistent winner, what better place for Garrett to go than Duke University, where he spent a weekend soaking up the electric atmosphere and visiting with coach Mike Krzyzewski, known in the college basketball world as simply, "Coach K."
"It was just a great visit," Garrett said. "I think you'd be hard pressed over the last 30 years to find an organization, in or out of sports, college or pro, whatever it is, that has been more successful than Duke basketball. He's obviously been there that entire time."
Now Garrett admits he's always been a fan of Duke and admiring the success they've had. But he said a close-up view exceeded even his lofty expectations.
"My expectations were blown completely out of the water," he said. "It was amazingly good. Amazingly good. The people involved in that program, led by Coach K and his family, were really remarkable. It was a really, really impressive operation and something we aspire to with the Cowboys.''
When asked what he learned specifically, Garrett said he didn't have enough time.
"We literally could talk about this for five days I learned so much," Garrett said. "He has an amazing way of creating an environment that is so organized, so systematic, so seamless, the execution and everything they do is off the charts. He also has this amazing personal touch with everyone involved in the organization. He has a personal relationship with everybody. He cares deeply about everybody. They care about each other."
Garrett said the connection he used with Krzyzewski was former Cowboys running back Calvin Hill, who still works for the organization as a consultant. Hill is the father of NBA star Grant Hill, a former Duke All-American who went to three Final Fours in his four-year career (1990-94).
"Calvin is the one who initiated it," Garrett said. "He said, 'You need to go see Coach K.' And I said, 'Don't ask me twice.' As soon as that was made available we made sure we had time to do it."
Of course, Garrett isn't naïve to think one visit to Duke will jumpstart the Cowboys to a similar dynasty.
"You think about right now and you try to learn some of the lessons that he has learned over time and implemented into his program," Garrett said. "We are not trying to be Duke basketball, but it's a good model to how an organization functions."
Garrett Cherishes His Duke Visit
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Jason Garrett visited with Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski.
INDIANAPOLIS - Since 1992, Jason Garrett has been around NFL coaches in some capacity. Whether it was playing for guys like Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, Chan Gailey or Sean Payton, or working with the likes of Nick Saban, Wade Phillips and now Rob Ryan, Garrett has always been surrounded by accomplished football coaches.
Let's not forget he grew up with one every day, as his dad, Jim, was a longtime coach and NFL scout.
But sometimes even coaches need to step out of the box. That's what Jason Garrett did a few weeks ago, as he visited one of the greatest college basketball programs and coaches of all-time.
In an attempt to learn more about building a program into a consistent winner, what better place for Garrett to go than Duke University, where he spent a weekend soaking up the electric atmosphere and visiting with coach Mike Krzyzewski, known in the college basketball world as simply, "Coach K."
"It was just a great visit," Garrett said. "I think you'd be hard pressed over the last 30 years to find an organization, in or out of sports, college or pro, whatever it is, that has been more successful than Duke basketball. He's obviously been there that entire time."
Now Garrett admits he's always been a fan of Duke and admiring the success they've had. But he said a close-up view exceeded even his lofty expectations.
"My expectations were blown completely out of the water," he said. "It was amazingly good. Amazingly good. The people involved in that program, led by Coach K and his family, were really remarkable. It was a really, really impressive operation and something we aspire to with the Cowboys.''
When asked what he learned specifically, Garrett said he didn't have enough time.
"We literally could talk about this for five days I learned so much," Garrett said. "He has an amazing way of creating an environment that is so organized, so systematic, so seamless, the execution and everything they do is off the charts. He also has this amazing personal touch with everyone involved in the organization. He has a personal relationship with everybody. He cares deeply about everybody. They care about each other."
Garrett said the connection he used with Krzyzewski was former Cowboys running back Calvin Hill, who still works for the organization as a consultant. Hill is the father of NBA star Grant Hill, a former Duke All-American who went to three Final Fours in his four-year career (1990-94).
"Calvin is the one who initiated it," Garrett said. "He said, 'You need to go see Coach K.' And I said, 'Don't ask me twice.' As soon as that was made available we made sure we had time to do it."
Of course, Garrett isn't naïve to think one visit to Duke will jumpstart the Cowboys to a similar dynasty.
"You think about right now and you try to learn some of the lessons that he has learned over time and implemented into his program," Garrett said. "We are not trying to be Duke basketball, but it's a good model to how an organization functions."