The second-ranked Duke Blue Devils are in top form as they prepare for their regular season finale on Saturday against their ACC rival, the North Carolina Tar Heels in Chapel Hill.
However, the team received disappointing news on Friday regarding their coaching staff—associate head coach Jai Lucas has been named the next head coach of the Miami Hurricanes.
Lucas is set to depart Duke following the regular season finale, meaning the Blue Devils will lose a key staff member and their defensive coordinator just before the start of postseason play next week.
Despite the timing, head coach Jon Scheyer and the Duke program expressed their appreciation for Lucas, recognizing his significant contributions during his time in Durham.
Lucas has played a crucial role in shaping one of the nation’s top defenses this season. Duke currently ranks sixth in scoring defense and fourth in field goal percentage defense, while KenPom places them as the fourth-best defensive team in college basketball with an 89.6 defensive efficiency rating.
Though his hiring wasn’t entirely unexpected, Lucas has been an essential part of Duke’s success since joining the staff. Over his 12-year coaching career at Duke, Kentucky, and Texas, he has helped guide those programs to seven NCAA Tournament appearances.
Lucas now steps into the head coaching role at Miami, replacing Jim Larrañaga, who led the Hurricanes for 13 seasons and became the program’s all-time winningest coach.
“I am incredibly grateful and honored to be the next head coach at the University of Miami,” Lucas said. “Miami has everything needed to compete at the highest level—elite academics, a passionate fan base, and a commitment to excellence in athletics.”
He continued, “I look forward to building on an incredible foundation and leading this program into an exciting new era. My family and I can’t wait to get to Coral Gables and get to work.”