Duke Basketball Architect to Offer Resiliency and Team-Building Insights to Automotive Industry

 The Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) has invited Coach Mike Krzyzewski as its headline speaker for the AAPEX 2026 Keynote Breakfast, taking place on November 3, 2026, at The Venetian Hotel, Palazzo Ballroom. One of the fastest-growing trade shows in the world, it attracts thousands of exhibitors and attendees from more than 120 countries. In a business so interconnected across international markets, one of the most paramount issues is managing the supply chain and mitigating external political risks.

“Supply chain uncertainty is perhaps one of the most complex issues that directly affects an industry that accounts for 2.5% of the U.S. GDP and impacts every consumer that owns a vehicle,” said Emily Poladian, president, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, which co-produces AAPEX with its partner, the Auto Care Association. “Coach K’s experiences are especially well-suited to deliver the right message at the right time at AAPEX 2026.”

Coach K’s keynote will be called “Victory through Teamwork and Leadership”, followed by a live question-and-answer session with the legendary head coach.

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Krzyewski played basketball at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he later began his coaching career. As a cadet, he faced adversity managing a demanding workload and high-level expectations as a commissioned U.S. Army officer. After serving in the U.S. Army, Coach K took over at Duke University in 1980. Over 42 seasons, he transformed the Blue Devils into a powerhouse, compiling a 1,129–309 record, winning five NCAA national championships (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, 2015), reaching a record 13 Final Fours, and securing 15 ACC tournament titles.

“Coach K served as a basketball coach for 42 seasons – that’s 42 times he had to lead raw, young talent and forged them into a cohesive team that dominated college-level basketball for decades,” said Auto Care Association President and CEO Bill Hanvey. “There’s an amazing similarity to that legacy and what the thousands of aftermarket businesses are facing right now with the skilled labor shortage.”

Krzyzewski has also penned two New York Times best-sellers, including “Beyond Basketball: Coach K’s Keywords for Success” (2006) and “The Gold Standard: Building a World-Class Team” (2009), on how to find success and build a winning organization. Internationally, he coached the U.S. men's national team to three consecutive Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012, 2016) and multiple FIBA titles, finishing with an 88–1 record as head coach. A Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, he retired from coaching in 2022 and now serves as Professor of the Practice of Leadership at Duke's Fuqua School of Business while remaining involved in the program and speaking nationally.

For tickets to experience this keynote, visit here.

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