In the world of college basketball, coaching hires can be a crapshoot. Programs often take risks on up-and-coming coaches, hoping they’ll be the next big thing. But sometimes, those risks don’t pay off. Just ask Jon Scheyer, Duke’s current head coach, who was turned down by two programs in 2021. Fast forward to the present, and both of those programs have moved on from their coaches.
Scheyer, a former Duke player and assistant coach, was considered one of the top coaching candidates in 2021. He had spent 10 years as an assistant coach under Mike Krzyzewski, learning from one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history. Despite his impressive credentials, Scheyer was turned down by two programs: the Marquette Golden Eagles and the Boston College Eagles.
Marquette ultimately hired Shaka Smart, who had previously coached at Texas and VCU. Smart’s tenure at Marquette lasted just two seasons, during which the Golden Eagles went 32-23 overall and 18-18 in the Big East. Despite showing promise in his first season, Smart’s team took a step back in year two, leading to his eventual dismissal.
Boston College, on the other hand, hired Earl Grant, who had previously coached at Charleston. Grant’s tenure at Boston College lasted just two seasons as well, during which the Eagles went 26-32 overall and 12-24 in the ACC. Despite showing some improvement in his second season, Grant’s team ultimately underwhelmed, leading to his dismissal.
Meanwhile, Scheyer landed on his feet at Duke, where he took over as head coach after Krzyzewski’s retirement. In his first season, Scheyer led the Blue Devils to a 27-9 overall record and a 16-4 mark in the ACC. Despite losing in the NCAA Tournament, Scheyer’s team showed promise, and he established himself as one of the top young coaches in the country.
In hindsight, it’s clear that Marquette and Boston College missed out on an opportunity to hire a talented young coach. Scheyer’s success at Duke is a testament to his abilities, and it’s likely that he would have achieved similar success at either Marquette or Boston College.
As for Scheyer, he’s not dwelling on what could have been. Instead, he’s focused on building a championship program at Duke. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be the head coach at Duke,” Scheyer said. “I’m excited to see what the future holds for our program.”
In the world of college basketball, coaching hires can be unpredictable. But one thing is certain: Jon Scheyer is exactly where he’s meant to be.