Last spring, Duke’s men’s basketball program announced that head coach Mike Krzyzewski would be retiring following the 2021-22 season.
Former Duke basketball star turned assistant coach Jon Scheyer would be taking over the program as head coach.
According to a new book by Ian O’Connor, though, the Blue Devils administration wanted another head coach to succeed Coach K.
Duke reportedly went as far to offer the job to Tommy Amaker. However, Coach K was able to convince him to not take the job, as he wanted it to go to Jon Scheyer.
From Ian O’Connor’s book:
O’Connor reports that Krzyzewski held a Zoom call with Amaker last year and had what a source described as “a very difficult conversation” with him. Coach K explained to Amaker that if he left Harvard to join the Duke staff as a successor-in-waiting for the 2021-22 season, the move would force the demotion of a Blue Devils assistant and “create an awkward dynamic with Scheyer.” Realizing that he didn’t have his mentor’s blessing, Amaker left the call “heartbroken,” according to someone close to him.
“Mike had to explain to Tommy why he couldn’t be the guy,” said one Duke source. “He can be Don Corleone when he needs to be.”
Amaker, 56, has been Harvard’s head coach since 2007.
Duke wanted to Harvard coach Tommy Amaker to replace Mike Krzyzewski.
Mike Krzyzewski wanted Jon Scheyer to succeed him.
From my new book, “Coach K,” the story of how Coach K beat Duke at his own game.https://t.co/9gdexFZmvH via @nypostsports
— Ian O’Connor (@Ian_OConnor) February 15, 2022
Duke, meanwhile, will let Jon Scheyer take over the program beginning in 2022-23.
You can order Ian O’Connor’s Coach K book here.
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