The Legends Club Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Valvano, and an epic college basketball rivalry

Sportswriter Feinstein (Where Nobody Knows Your Name) explores the rivalry and relationship among three coaches-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Dean Smith, North Carolina State University's Jim Valvano, and Duke University's Mike Krzyzewski-both on and off the court. Extensively researched with interviews from players, colleagues, family, and Krzyzewski himself, the book traces how these legendary coaches led their teams to eight NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) championships, highlighting winning seasons, major games, milestones, and iconic plays. The author points out each coach's triumphs as well as their defeats. For example, Krzyzewski met early criticism at Duke as the team struggled to win games, while an academic scandal and NCAA investigation resulted in Valvano's resignation from North Carolina State. The heart of the title is the evolution of their relationships: the professional bond between -Krzyzweski and -Valvano morphed into brotherly love as Valvano battled cancer; and the tense, contemptuous relationship between Krzyzweski and Smith transitioned into one of respect over time. Although Johnny Moore and Art Chansky's The Blue Divide and Joe Menzer's Four Corners have previously covered these Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) rivals, Feinstein's volume adds depth to these coaches that extends beyond games and recruiting. -VERDICT A must for college basketball history fans, especially those fascinated by the ACC. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.