Who Is Jai Lucas? Duke Associate Head Coach Who Is Leaving, Vacating His Position On Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer's Coaching Staff Who Is Becoming Head Coach Of Miami
Who is Jai Lucas?
Duke Associate Head Coach who is leaving ,vacating his position on Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer’s coaching staff who is becoming Head Coach Of Miami
Ahead Of Duke playing at Miami on Tuesday February 25, 2025 Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer was asked by the media about Jai Lucas about the possibility of him becoming Head Coach of Miami!
Jon Scheyer’s response?
Absolutely he’s a Head Coach . No question about it . It’s part of why I hired him . The job he has done for us has been incredible . Any report or anything that is out there . I’m just getting wind of it now . So will cross that bridge and figure it out. But I can tell you 100 % Jai is an amazing coach. We’ll continue to move forward together and figure that all out , but all across the board he’s great!
It’s not ideal Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer said Monday morning. It’s not ideal by any means.
The portal is different this is a little bit of a different world so anyway I have a lot of thoughts but I do know that Jai Lucus is the ultimate pro, a class act. He’ll do everything to handle this situation the best way possible starting with doing his job coaching Duke including preparing the scouting report.
Clearly Miami would want him to start as it’s Head Coach as soon as possible if he is indeed their choice.. Clearly that wasn’t thought out well enough . Jai and I look he’s one of my best friends in the world me and him are always going to be great. Me and him are always going to be able to navigate this. He’s a terrific coach a terrific person but there’s more that’s involved then just Jai and I. You think about the Miami staff in the job they’re trying to do right now. The Miami players. Obviously our players and what we’re trying to do so our thing is to really block out stay in the moment until anything comes final or if and when it happens. I can tell you Jai and I started this three years ago our intention is to finish it. But again I don’t want to get into that until I know something is final or done. We’ll have to cross that bridge when the time comes.
According to Stephen Wiseman News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article300861894.html
On Wednesday it announced that Duke Associate Head Coach Jai Lucas is leaving, vacating his position on Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer’s staff, becoming Head Coach of Miami and won’t be on the sidelines for Duke during postseason play!
Though, Will Avery, Chris Carrawell, Emanuel Dildy will be!
Jai Lucas replaces Jim Larranaga who retired on December 26, 2024 by saying After more than fifty years in college coaching, it is simply time,” said Larrañaga. “There is never a great moment to step away, but I owe it to our student-athletes, our staff and the University of Miami to make this move now when my heart is simply no longer in the game and I owe it to Liz, Jay, Jon, and my grandchildren to be a greater part of their lives. The University needs a new leader of the program, one who is both adept at and embracing of the new world of intercollegiate athletics. It has been the honor of a lifetime to be a part of the Hurricane Family and to represent this world-class institution. Most importantly, I have been so blessed to have coached the hundreds of young men who chose to wear the UM jersey and who have gone on to flourish in their respective journeys. I will always be a Cane.”
According to ttps://miamihurricanes.com/news/2024/12/26/jim-larranaga-ums-all-time-winningest-head-mens-basketball-coach-steps-down/
Following Jai Lucas becoming Head Coach of Miami Miami Vice President/ Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich had this to say about Jai Lucas becoming Head Coach of Miami!
We are excited to welcome Jai and his family to the Hurricane Family,” Radakovich said. “Jai is an innovative coach, a relentless recruiter and proven talent developer whose knowledge and passion for the game resonated throughout the interview process. He has coached at some of college basketball’s most storied programs under tremendous head coaches.
“It is clear that Jai understands what it takes to compete on and off the floor in this new era of college basketball and he sees the great potential at Miami. We are fortunate to have Jai join us in Coral Gables.”
According to https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2025/03/06/university-of-miami-names-jai-lucas-as-head-mens-basketball-coach/
Following Jai Lucas becoming Head Coach of Miami Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer had this to say!
I just want to say congratulations to Jai Lucas on becoming the next Head Coach at Miami. He’s been an ineradicable addition to our staff the last few years I’ve been excited to have on the journey with me from the beginning with me not only is he a great coach, teacher he’s even better person and I’ve loved developing our relationship he’s one of my closest friends he’s going to do a great there he’s done a great job for us.. Couldn’t be happier for him taking the next step in his professional career no better opportunity that he has become a Head Coach in the ACC. and want to wish him all best and couldn’t be more excited for him and his family.
According to https://x.com/DukeMBB/status/1897668857780982250
Jai wanted to stay said Thursday. This wasn’t a decision that Jai made this is me and him working to get together”
Im not going to sit here and say Jai isn’t important to what we do . He’s smart he’s great . We continuity . But really at this point in the year we’ve developed our identity already so really comes to the day to day preparation, the job with our players on the court and that’s why you have a staff that’s why it’s not just one guy.
According to Stephen Wiseman News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article301550484.html