Coach K Was Asked About His Unique Role on This Season of Hulu’s ‘The Bear’

The former Duke coach was surprisingly a significant figure in the hit show.

Hulu’s hit show The Bear released its second season last week and the drama is nothing short of a cultural moment. The show, starring Jeremy Allen White as Carmy Berzatto, centers around a talented chef who is trying to make his restaurant that bears the same name as the show a success. The show has nothing to do with the sports world—until one character is given a gift. 

A somewhat random storyline surrounding former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski begins to play a major role when Sydney, played by Ayo Edebiri, is gifted his book, Leading With Heart, by her father. As the show goes on, the legendary coach and book are repeatedly brought up, but apparently, Krzyzewski had no idea. 

“This was all a surprise to me,” Krzyzewski told The News & Observer. “Just started receiving texts from people last week about being mentioned on the show. All positive. We will have to watch it!” 

The first reference comes in episode 3 when a waiter spots the book while Sydney is eating, thinking she’s a Blue Devils fan. But it becomes clear she’s not much of a college basketball aficionado when she’s FaceTiming fellow chef Marcus in episode 4. He asks her what she’s reading, prompting her to show him the book, to which he says, “Coach K, the greatest comeback of all time.” 

“Why does everybody know that?” she said surprised. 

“Sydney, it’s Coach K.” 

“Why are you saying his name like it’s Martin Luther King Jr.? He’s like a college basketball coach.”

The series had several more references to Krzyzewski in almost every episode thereafter, and it’s all broken down here. Maybe the Hall of Fame coach will add actor to his resumé and gift the show with a cameo in season 3.