I agree, but tend to think that K was in an unwinnable situation.
If Duke would have fired Coach K for standing up for what was right, it was time to retire. Retiring would have been a “win” in that situation.
What would have probably resulted would have been an earlier end to the insanity, and K would still be coach. Brodhead and the faculty don’t have that much power, when it comes to Duke hoops, especially when they are/were provably in the wrong.