The University of Miami has officially announced the hiring of Jai Lucas as the new head coach of its men's basketball program. Lucas now gets his first head coaching opportunity at the young age of 36 and brings with him a reputation as an elite recruiter and defensive strategist.
Lucas's coaching career includes stints at Texas, Kentucky, and most recently, Duke, where he served as associate head coach under Jon Scheyer. At Duke he held the role of defensive coordinator, with the team achieving a No. 4 national ranking in defensive efficiency this season.
So, what's the catch? Well, the new coach of Miami basketball is still a part of the Duke coaching staff until Saturday.
The news has elicited strong reactions from the Duke community
Needs to be benched from team activities starting today @DukeMBB! We trying to win a Chip!!
— Trump45_47-42079 (@JDuke42079) March 5, 2025
Jai Lucas was a key component in the Duke engine, and we will miss him dearly.
— Rick Heidrick (@rheidrick24) March 6, 2025
Blame the stupid NCAA transfer portal rules/dates and not him, for him leaving after the regular season ends.
He was Duke’s defensive coordinator and I’m interested to see who picks up that role.
I really hate that you can accept coaching positions and leave before the season is officially over. With that being said, good luck in Miami Jai Lucas, we lost a good one
— T ▪️ (@telizabethhx) March 5, 2025
Big picture: many will say that Jai Lucas is a big loss for Duke, but this is exactly what you want and expect as a successful organization.
— The Brotherhood (@BrotherhoodCBB) March 6, 2025
Every talented recruiter/assistant in the country should want to replace Jai and follow the exact same path. That’s great for Duke.
Jai Lucas leaving next week is NOT good https://t.co/K8ThaU1a5F
— JMann_ (@JMannsTakes) March 5, 2025
Jai Lucas better not take the Boozer twins cuh
— Derrick Williams (@dwill312) March 5, 2025
Head coach Jon Scheyer expressed support for Lucas continuing his career at Miami and mentioned that the decision to keep Lucas on until the end of the regular season was a mutual decision. Fans are mostly split on this case though with some recognizing the nature of college athletics and others arguing that Lucas should have stayed through the tournament.
Fans are particularly concerned about the potential impact on Duke's recruiting class, notably the commitments of five-star prospects Cameron and Cayden Boozer. Lucas played a pivotal role in securing their commitments, and there is apprehension that his move to Miami could lead to a reevaluation by the Boozer twins. Lucas was the main recruiter for Duke with the Boozer twins and also was trusted as the main recruiter for Cooper Flagg.
As Lucas transitions to his new role at Miami, he faces the challenge of revitalizing a program that has struggled this season. His immediate focus will be on assembling a coaching staff and solidifying the current roster, aiming to restore competitiveness in the ACC.