Duke wanted the different perspective that Jai Lucas could add to coaching staff

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Jai Lucas, left, says he liked how Duke coach Jon Scheyer was “not afraid of rocking the boat.” (Photo by Duke Athletics)

Duke coach Jon Scheyer said the one thing that impressed him about Jai Lucas more than anything else was the amount of coaching experience he had at age 33.

“It’s incredible what he’s done,” said Scheyer at the press conference introducing Lucas as a Duke assistant coach. “(He’s been at) high-level schools at Texas and Kentucky. He’s been ops, he’s been an assistant coach, he’s worked on offense, he’s worked on defense, he’s been a great recruiter. He checks all the boxes.”

That’s the same kind of thing coach John Calipari said about Lucas two years ago when he hired him away from Texas.

Scheyer also said it was important to add someone to his staff with a “different perspective” from other coaches on the staff that Scheyer had worked with and all had connections to Duke that Lucas does not.

“That adds an incredible amount of value. I think those perspectives, there’s great value in all of that,” Scheyer said.

Scheyer and Lucas played against each other in high school but the new Duke coach says he’s gotten to know Lucas on a “deeper level” recently.

“The more that I got to know him, the more I came away impressed with not just what a great coach he is, but who he is and what he stands for as a person,” Scheyer said.

Lucas said he was surprised to be added outside the “Duke brotherhood” because it had not happened.

“The outside perspective is something that’s never happened, so you didn’t think it was going to happen. I think it’s a testament to coach Scheyer, what he’s trying to do and where he’s trying to grow the program. It’s a big thing,” the former UK assistant coach said.

“It’s never been done but it just shows that he’s in the right seat and the right situation to do it because he’s trying to find a way to continue to advance Duke to be more. It’s already been built on a great foundation by Coach K and he’s trying to find a way to make it his own and take it to the next step.”

Making that kind of move by Scheyer is a bold change to the Duke culture just a few months after the end of Mike Krzyzewski’s legendary coaching career. His willingness to do that impressed Lucas enough to convince him to leave John Calipari’s staff.

“I think that just goes to show how serious he is about the job and how committed he is to the University and to the program. When he was willing to do that, it made even more sense because he’s thinking the right way and he’s not afraid of rocking the boat a little bit to go with his vision and what he sees,” Lucas said.

3 Responses

  1. I’m sure he will be missed in Lexington but as old saying goes “next man up” and I’m sure there are plenty of young up and coming coaches out there that would love to have a seat on bench in Rupp Arena and to have that on there resume. And even know I have lost some faith in Cal last few seasons I’m sure he will pull a rabbit out of the hat and land someone with just as much skills as Lucas.

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