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Jon Scheyer is the safe and also the perfect successor to Coach K as next Duke basketball coach

By Mike Phillips

COLUMBIA, SC - MARCH 21: Associate head coach Jon Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils looks on during their practice session prior to the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship at Colonial Life Arena on March 21, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SC - MARCH 21: Associate head coach Jon Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils looks on during their practice session prior to the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship at Colonial Life Arena on March 21, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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Jon Scheyer is slated to succeed Mike Krzyzewski as Duke’s head coach in a move that makes perfect sense.

Duke fans are still reeling from the bombshell that was dropped on them today in the form of news that legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski is planning to retire after the 2021-22 season. The upcoming campaign will give Krzyzewski the chance to go on a farewell tour with a loaded roster but the program should be in good hands when the baton is passed from Coach K to Jon Scheyer.

Most college basketball aficionados are familiar with Scheyer’s work as a player for Krzyzewski at Duke from 2006-2010, playing a key role on the Blue Devils’ national championship team in 2010. A deadly marksman from beyond the arc, Scheyer played overseas for a few years before returning to Durham in 2013 to work on Krzyzewski’s staff.

Scheyer has worked under Krzyzewski for the past seven years, becoming a full-time assistant after Steve Wojciechowski departed for Marquette in 2014 and eventually earning the role of associate head coach after Nate James departed to become the head coach at Austin Peay this spring. The Blue Devils notably turned to Scheyer to coach a game this past season when Krzyzewski was quarantined after exposure to the coronavirus, a sign that they believed in his ability to be a leader for the program.

Recruiting has also been a strength for Scheyer, who was a key factor in luring future NBA stars Zion Williamson and Jayson Tatum, among others, to Duke. Being able to connect to today’s high school stars is more of a challenge since there are many more options for them to pursue their future dreams, making this skillset extremely valuable as college basketball enters a whole new world.

Jon Scheyer is the perfect choice for Duke to succeed Mike Krzyzewski

The big changes ahead in college basketball, such as the addition of the one-time transfer rule and potential legislation to allow athletes to be compensated for the use of Name, Image, and Likeness pave the way for a dramatically different sport than the one that Krzyzewski lorded over for decades. It makes sense that Krzyzewski had little interest in trying to adapt to the new world order at age 75 so tabbing the 33-year old Scheyer gives Duke a coach who can fit into this new era of the game.

Making this decision now is also advantageous for Duke in the recruiting world since a lot of players would be curious how long Krzyzewski planned on staying in Durham. Tabbing Scheyer now allows him to be the main pitchman to recruits for 2022 and beyond, allowing the Blue Devils to remain an evergreen threat to land the best talent.

There is also no person more equipped to understand what taking over for Krzyzewski means than Scheyer, who both played for Duke and coached with Krzyzewski for years. Scheyer knows the lay of the land and is well-positioned to execute a seamless transition from the Krzyzewski era to his own run as head coach.

Picking Krzyzewski’s replacement now is also a smart move for Duke this season since it cuts off all of the speculation about who would be Coach K’s successor. Instead of spending an entire year listening to the rumor mill churn about potential coaching candidates, Krzyzewski and Duke can now focus on contending for a national championship this season while also getting Scheyer in the best possible position to hit the ground running.

Scheyer also is a nice fit for today’s college basketball world where the idea of hiring a former program star to lead the school back to glory has taken hold. Juwan Howard’s early success at Michigan and Penny Hardaway’s strong recruiting classes offer hope that this strategy can lead to success in March but no one has been able to marry that type of leader alongside a program with the vast resources that Duke has to offer.

It also doesn’t hurt that Scheyer is a very good coach in his own right, playing a key role in the development of Duke guards like Luke Kennard and Tyus Jones. Not all players are cut out to coach but Scheyer has already demonstrated that he has the chops to be a good teacher to young men hoping to develop into great Blue Devils.

There is no sure thing when it comes to filling Krzyzewski’s shoes and trying to live up to the massive legacy he will leave behind. Scheyer offers Duke the best chance they have at keeping everything running smoothly in the post-Krzyzewski world.

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