Why Duke’s Jai Lucas is a perfect fit as Miami’s new head coach
Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich had the tough task of replacing a legend in Jim Larranaga, who stepped down in December at 75 years old after 14 seasons leading the Hurricanes’ basketball program.
Those aren’t easy shoes to fill — Larranaga led the Hurricanes to six March Madness appearances, four Sweet 16s and one Final Four in his time with the program — but Radakovich may have struck gold with his new hire.
Duke associate head coach Jai Lucas will be the next head coach at Miami, and this is a great hire.
Lucas has been a big part of building Duke’s current No. 2-ranked team as an assistant to Jon Scheyer. He helped Scheyer put together the top recruiting class in the nation in 2024, which included likely No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick Cooper Flagg. Duke’s 2025 class is also looking elite, and Lucas deserves some of the credit because of his abilities as a recruiter.
He’s also the architect of Duke’s top-10 defense this season.
Ultimately, he feels he has what it takes to get it done in Miami.
“I am incredibly grateful and honored to be the next head coach at the University of Miami,” Lucas said in a statement. “Miami has everything you need to compete at the highest level — elite academics, a passionate fan base, and a commitment to excellence in athletics. Beyond that, the city of Miami has a rich culture and energy that makes this an incredibly special place. The history, diversity, and passion for sports here are second to none.”
Lucas has been an assistant coach for 10 seasons at places like Duke, Kentucky and Texas.
A former McDonald’s All-American, Lucas played college ball himself at Florida and Texas.
