Jim Larranaga discusses Miami hiring Jai Lucas as next head coach

Former Miami head coach Jim Larranaga discussed his successor Jai Lucas on what was the first of weekly appearances on the Hochman and Crowder Show on WQAM on Thursday. Larranaga stated he does not know Lucas very well, but he is very good friend with Lucas’ father John.

John Lucas II played 14 years in the NBA and was a head coach in the association for six seasons. Larranaga and Lucas II have known each other since the 1970s, when according to the former Miami coach, he hired the latter to coach at the Davidson College basketball camp when he was still a player from 1972-76.

Larranaga was an assistant at Davidson under Terry Holland from 1971-76. Larranaga later coached under Holland at Virginia where his dream of being a head coach in the ACC began. Jai Lucas was hired by Duke head coach Jon Scheyer to be on his inaugural staff beginning with the 2022-23 season.

After being an assistant under Holland at Virginia from 1979–1986 it took Larranaga until 2011 when he was hired at Miami to become a head coach in the ACC. Larranaga retired as the Miami head coach in his 14th season in December. During his appearance on Hochman and Crowder, Larranaga discussed Lucas’ comments about becoming the Miami head coach.

“Jai did a great job explaining his interest and how excited he is. I don’t know Jay very well…He was an assistant and Duke obviously we battled for the last three years…He worked under John Scheyer but I’m very good friends with his dad…I hired his dad to work the Davidson College Basketball Camp when John Lucas was a player at the University of Maryland before he became a an All-American in both basketball and tennis….John Lucas Sr. is one of the great guys, great athletes. NBA player, first pick in the draft so you know he comes from a family tree of basketball guys so I’m sure he’ll come in with a lot of enthusiasm and do a great job.”

Former Miami head coach Jim Larranaga

Larranaga’s comments stating Jai Lucas did a great job explaining his interest and how excited he is was in reference to the interview by Miami play-by-play announcer Joe Zagacki in on Thursday with the Hurricanes’ new head coach. Lucas discussed NIL and the style he wants Miami to play among other topics with Zagacki.

Larranaga had retired this season before Miami was blown out by a combined 72 points by Duke in two games in January and February. Lucas and Scheyer were 3-1 versus Larranaga during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Lucas has a great family tree with his father and brother, as well as the coaching trees he comes from.

Lucas’ brother John III played in the NBA and coached with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns before becoming a player development coach with the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA earlier this season. Jai Lucas began his coaching career at Texas in 2016 under Shaka Smart.

Lucas remained at his alma mater Texas through 2020 when he left to accept a position on the Kentucky staff under John Calipari. Lucas spent two seasons at Kentucky before leaving to join Scheyer’s staff at Duke. Lucas has been renowned as an elite recruiter with Kentucky and Duke and outstanding defensive coach with the Blue Devils.

Lucas works with the development of the Duke backcourt as well as being the Blue Devils’ defensive coordinator. Being a former McDonald’s All-American should help Lucas in recruiting. Lucas will be familiar with Florida after beginning his collegiate career with the Gators before transferring after one season to Texas.

The press conference to officially introduce Lucas as the new Miami head coach will be on Monday. Lucas is spending the weekend with Duke to finish out the regular season with the Blue Devils as they play at North Carolina on Saturday. Lucas will then begin working on hiring a staff with Miami.