Carolina caught a break with Mike Krzyzewski’s retirement.
When Duke announced that this will be Coach K’s last season as its Hall of Fame basketball coach, the timing was right for the Blue Devils to turn to Brad Stevens as his successor.
Earlier in the day, the Boston Celtics announced its own shakeup when Danny Ainge retired as general manager and said the burned-out Stevens, 44, was moving from the bench to the front office to replace him. You know I predicted Stevens to be the next Duke coach.
I was not surprised with Krzyzewski announcing he would coach the 2022 season when his team will be good enough to win his sixth NCAA title after he makes a victory tour around the ACC and the nation. But Jon Scheyer as the Duke coach-in-waiting is a surprise.
Scheyer was an outstanding player and captain on the 2010 national championship team and since joining the staff he has risen to chief assistant. He is 33 years old, the same age Coach K was when he came to Durham, but that was in 1980 and Duke was no dynasty.
While Scheyer may have been heavily involved with the signing of Duke’s famous one-and-dones, he was riding Coach K’s reputation and record as not only the college coach with the most all-time wins but guiding numerous NBA all-stars to three Olympic Gold Medals.
Without head-coaching experience, Scheyer got the nod over former Blue Devils and current head coaches Tommy Amaker of Harvard, Johnny Dawkins of Central Florida and Pitt’s Jeff Capel, with ex-Dukies Mike Brey, Chris Collins and Quinn Snyder also out there.
So, unless they can win one more in Krzyzewski’s swan song season, the Blue Devils and Tar Heels will move on equally from Hall of Famers to long-time assistants who were understated in their roles behind iconic head coaches.
Both were All-ACC players as seniors, 18 years apart. Scheyer had a brief pro career in Israel; Hubert Davis was a 12-year NBA regular, plus an ESPN hit on Game Day for eight years. Scheyer’s true personality is a mystery to outsiders and most fans; since succeeding Roy Williams, Hubert’s is re-emerging from his TV days.
As aspiring head-coaching stars, call them even-Steven, which is better than having to match wits with a proven brand of Stevens.
Featured image via AP Photo/ Gerry Broome
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