Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski to undergo knee replacement surgery

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will undergo total right knee replacement surgery this weekend, the school announced Thursday.

Krzyzewski will undergo the procedure at Duke University Hospital. The 70-year-old will likely spend three days in the hospital before being released.

Due to Krzyzewski's health situation, the Blue Devils canceled their scheduled exhibition trip to the Dominican Republic. The team was scheduled to leave on Aug. 17.

"While it's disappointing that we aren't able to make the Dominican Republic trip, this is a positive development for both our team and myself because it will allow us to be at full strength for the start of practice this fall," Krzyzewski said in a news release. "After three consecutive days of working with the team, it became clear that the condition of my knee wouldn't be sustainable through next season. The best course of action is to correct the problem now rather than later, when our team would be more profoundly impacted."

The right knee situation is the latest health situation to plague the coach, who is undergoing his sixth surgery in the past 16 months. He missed seven games last season due to back surgery.

The man known as Coach K had his left knee replaced in the spring of 2016. He also has had both hips replaced -- his left in 1999 and the right in 2002.

Athletic director Kevin White agreed that the legendary coach needed to get the knee situation addressed now.

"Unequivocally, this is the absolute right thing Mike should do, and at precisely the right time," White said in a statement. "Certainly, we know Mike will receive unparalleled medical care here at Duke, and that his recovery will lead him into his 38th season here at full strength.

"Once again, that is exactly what Mike, and our team, should do as we head into the 2017-18 season, wherein we are extremely excited to see what the upcoming year brings."

Krzyzewski, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, holds the Division I record of 1,071 coaching victories. He had won five national titles at Duke.