WEST POINT, N.Y. – The United States Military Academy Department of Physical Education (DPE) hosted the 18th annual Coach Mike Krzyzewski Teaching Character Through Sport Awards on May 9 at the Thayer Awards Room on the ground of West Point. The award recognizes West Point cadet-athletes, coaches, officers in charge (OIC) and sport educators for their outstanding commitment to the development of noble character through athletic participation and leadership.
Krzyzewski, a 1969 U.S. Military Academy graduate, was not present for the ceremony but participated in a leadership round table virtually with the winners and runners-up of the award.
During the ceremony, six winners and six runners-up from three categories of athletics – Company Athletics (CA), Competitive Club Athletics (CCA) and Corps Squad Athletics (CSA) – were acknowledged with a certificate and the winners were also given a medal. One cadet athlete and one coach, sport educator or OIC were chosen in each category of athletics as a winner and runner-up.
The attributes of an athlete of character are an exceptional cadet who exemplifies the Army values of integrity, respect, selfless service, duty, honor, loyalty and personal courage both on and off “the fields of friendly strife.” The athlete of character is a team player who combines athletic skill with exemplary sportsmanship and fair play.
The Coach K Award cadet winners were Class of 2024 Cadets Shari-Lee Bennett (CA/team handball), Alyssa Hershey (CCA/women’s team handball) and Isabella Sullivan (CSA/volleyball). The runners-up were Class of 2024 Cadets Kevin Yucetepe (CA/orienteering), 2023 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) New York Division First Team All-Conference honoree Jorden Corpuz (CCA/water polo) and Reagan Warren (CSA/women’s basketball).
A former Army officer and Army men’s basketball coach from 1975-80, Krzyzewski is the winningest men’s collegiate basketball coach in history with 1,202 wins, a winner of five national championships and 13 Final Four appearances, three Olympic gold medals and two World Cup gold medals as USA Basketball’s head coach, two more Olympic gold medals as the national team’s assistant, and named to several halls of fame, including an inductee in the West Point Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Information courtesy the United States Military Academy
