Duke associate head coach Jai Lucas has officially committed to taking over as the head coach for Miami’s men’s basketball team, pending the finalization of contract discussions, as reported by a knowledgeable source on Saturday night.
These discussions will likely include specifics about when Lucas will depart from the Blue Devils and officially begin his role with the Hurricanes, whose regular season concludes on March 8. Unfortunately for Miami, a postseason appearance, including a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, seems unlikely, as the team has struggled with a 2-14 record in the ACC and an overall record of 6-21 following a defeat to Virginia Tech on Saturday night.
On the other hand, Duke is poised for the NCAA Tournament and is viewed as a contender for the national championship, buoyed by standout player Cooper Flagg, a candidate for player of the year. This means the Blue Devils may continue competing until early April; with the transfer portal set to open on March 24, Miami would likely prefer to have a new coach in place by then to initiate roster rebuilding efforts.
In a twist of fate, Duke is scheduled to face Miami on Tuesday night, although it is not expected that Lucas and the Hurricanes will finalize their contract before this game. Lucas will succeed Jim Larrañaga, who unexpectedly stepped down in December, leaving longtime Miami associate head coach Bill Courtney as the interim leader.
Miami’s recent history includes a trip to the Final Four just two seasons ago and a strong start last season with 11 wins in their first 13 games. However, since early January 2024, the Hurricanes have recorded a dismal 10-36 record, marking the lowest performance among Division I power conference teams during that timeframe, with a 6-29 record against ACC rivals.
At 36 years old, Lucas is the son of former NBA coach John Lucas and has spent the last three years on coach Jon Scheyer’s staff at Duke, serving as the associate head coach for the last two seasons.
Renowned for his recruiting prowess, Lucas played a significant role in Duke’s successful recruitment of twin brothers Cameron and Cayden Boozer last fall. The Boozer twins, sons of former Duke star and NBA player Carlos Boozer, reside in Miami and were also high-priority targets for the Hurricanes.
Additionally, Lucas serves as Duke’s defensive coordinator. His coaching journey includes two seasons at Kentucky as a recruiting coordinator and assistant coach, following seven years at Texas—his alma mater—where he advanced from special assistant to director of basketball operations and ultimately to assistant coach.
