In a highly anticipated announcement, the University of Miami is set to officially name Jai Lucas, the associate head coach at Duke, as its next men's basketball head coach this Thursday, according to sources from CBS Sports. This decision follows a series of reports, with CanesInSight first highlighting Lucas as the leading candidate for the position back in late February.
Lucas is expected to depart from Duke following their regular season finale against North Carolina this weekend. His move is aimed at jumpstarting the rebuilding process for the Miami Hurricanes, who have faced significant challenges this season. At just 36 years old, Lucas has been a pivotal figure under head coach Jon Scheyer at Duke, contributing to the team's sustained elite reputation in the post-Mike Krzyzewski era.
During his tenure at Duke, Lucas has played a crucial role in the recruitment of top talent, including five-star players such as Cooper Flagg and the highly touted Boozer twins, Cameron and Cayden, who are both from Miami. Despite choosing Duke over Miami last fall, the Boozer twins are expected to make a significant impact in college basketball next season, showcasing Lucas's ability to attract elite talent.
Jai Lucas comes from a prestigious basketball lineage as the son of John Lucas II, a former No. 1 overall pick from Maryland in 1976. John Lucas II enjoyed a successful NBA career from 1976 to 1990 before transitioning into coaching, where he remained until 2023. Jai Lucas himself began his coaching journey at Texas in 2016, later joining John Calipari's staff at Kentucky in 2020 before being recruited to Duke by Scheyer two years later.
Following Duke's impressive 110-67 victory over Illinois at Madison Square Garden on February 22, Scheyer expressed his confidence in Lucas's coaching abilities. "Absolutely he's a head coach, no question about it," Scheyer stated. "The job he's done for us has been incredible. I can tell you 100% Jai's an amazing coach." This endorsement highlights Lucas's readiness to take on the challenges of leading a major program like Miami.
Miami has been aggressive in the NIL era, largely due to the support from an ambitious booster. However, their performance has waned in recent years. With the arrival of Lucas, who is poised to become the youngest head coach in high-major basketball, Miami is expected to re-enter the competitive landscape of both the transfer portal and high school recruiting. Lucas has established himself as a strong recruiter and defensive strategist during his time at Duke, where he contributed to the team's fourth-place ranking nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Lucas is anticipated to join Miami full-time after the Duke-UNC game this weekend. This unique timing reflects the evolving landscape of college sports recruiting, particularly as the transfer portal accelerates roster turnover. By making this move in early March, Lucas will provide Miami with a significant advantage over other power-conference programs that will undergo coaching changes this year.
Lucas will be stepping in for Jim Larrañaga, who retired in late December following a challenging start to the season with a 4-8 record. Larrañaga had a notable tenure at Miami, amassing 274 wins and leading the team to the 2023 Final Four. Since Larrañaga's departure, Miami's performance has declined, with a dismal record of 6-24. As the ACC transitions to an 18-team format, the bottom three teams will not qualify for the conference tournament, meaning Miami's season will conclude this weekend against NC State.
With Jai Lucas at the helm, Miami basketball aims to reclaim its competitive edge and return to prominence in college basketball.
