Former Duke All-American and two-time team captain Jon Scheyer was named the 20th head coach in Duke University’s storied basketball history on June 4, 2021. He succeeded Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who announced in June 2021 his plan to retire following the 2021-22 season.
Scheyer, who enters his second season as head coach in 2023-24, has vast experience on the Duke bench, having served on Krzyzewski’s staff since the 2013-14 season. His previous roles with the Blue Devils include special assistant, assistant coach and the previous three years as associate head coach. Scheyer and Duke agreed to a new six-year contract in October of 2023, extending him through the 2028-29 season.
The 35-year-old Scheyer was among the youngest head coaches in Division-I men’s basketball, and the youngest at a power conference institution, at the time of his hire. He was named to The Athletic’s 40 Under 40 in college sports in 2022 and was previously touted as one of the best assistant coaches in college basketball.
Record-Setting Debut Season as Head Coach
Leading the Blue Devils to a 27-9 mark in his first season, Duke captured the ACC Tournament title and went undefeated at home as Scheyer became the first coach in the conference’s storied history to post an undefeated home record in a debut season and the first to lead a team to an ACC title as both a player (2009, 2010) and as a head coach (2023).
He is just the fourth major conference coach all-time to win 27 or more games at age 50 or younger in a debut season and the first to do so at 35 or younger. In Division I history, only seven other coaches younger than 35 years old have won more games in a debut season.
Playing its best basketball as the season progressed, Scheyer’s first squad carried a nine-game winning streak into the program’s 45th NCAA Tournament, the fourth longest winning streak entering the NCAA Tournament in program history. The Blue Devils stretched the winning streak to 10 with a dominant first-round win.
Overcoming a season plagued by injuries and with one of the nation’s youngest teams that returned just one starter from the 2022 Final Four run, Scheyer’s squad was 19-1 with its full roster available. With an emphasis on defense and rebounding, the Blue Devils ranked top-20 in nearly every rebounding statistic and were top 30 defensively.
Scheyer was named a finalist for the Joe B. Hall Coach of the Year Award, presented annually to the best first-year coach in college basketball.
In his 14 seasons as player and coach at Duke, Scheyer has been part of two National Championships (2010, 2015), three Final Fours (2010, 2015, 2022), five ACC Tournament crowns (2009, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2023), while averaging 27.6 wins per season with a winning percentage of .780 (387-109).
