Amaker accepted a graduate assistant position on Krzyzewski 's staff at Duke in 1988 while pursuing his MBA degree from the Fuqua School of Business ; the team reached the Final Four of the 1989 NCAA Tournament . He was an assistant coach from 1989 through 1997 , during which Duke won two NCAA Championships ( 1991 and 1992 ) and made two other Final Four appearances ( 1990 and 1994 ) . By 1992 , Duke had been to five consecutive final fours . While an assistant coach , he declined numerous Division I head coaching opportunities . Duke also won four regular season Atlantic Coast Conference men 's basketball championships ( 1991 , 1992 , 1994 and 1997 ) and the 1992 ACC Men 's Basketball Tournament . The 1994 – 95 season was turbulent . In October 1994 , Krzyzewski underwent back surgery . He attempted to return to coaching two weeks later but eventually was re-admitted to Duke University Hospital for four days in January due to related complications . He eventually relinquished control of the team for the season to interim coach Pete Gaudet
1992 ACC Men 's Basketball Tournament
1992 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament
Tommy Amaker