Two CBB Programs Turned Down Duke’s Jon Scheyer in ’21; Both Have Since Fired Coaches
In the ever-evolving world of college basketball, the coaching carousel has become an annual spectacle, where schools seek the best leaders to guide their programs. Jon Scheyer, who took over the reins at Duke University as head coach following Mike Krzyzewski’s retirement, is one of the most promising young coaches in the sport. However, his path to becoming the head coach of the Blue Devils wasn’t without its hurdles, as two prominent college basketball programs turned him down in 2021—programs that have since gone through major coaching changes.
In 2021, as Krzyzewski’s retirement loomed, Duke’s athletic department sought a worthy successor to continue the program’s storied legacy. While many expected a seasoned coach to step in, the Blue Devils surprised many by promoting Scheyer, a former player under Coach K. Despite his relatively short coaching resume at the time, his connection to Duke and his leadership skills as an assistant coach made him a logical choice for the job. However, two other major college basketball programs had the opportunity to hire Scheyer before Duke, and both ultimately passed on him.
One of these programs was Indiana University, a school with a rich basketball tradition but a program that had struggled to regain its former glory in recent years. In 2021, Indiana was in the midst of a coaching search after firing Archie Miller. Scheyer was considered a top candidate, given his ties to the game, his knowledge of recruiting, and his ability to lead. Yet, Indiana chose to hire Mike Woodson, a former NBA head coach with deep ties to the program. While Woodson’s experience in the NBA was appealing, the decision to pass on Scheyer would ultimately prove to be one that led to significant changes at Indiana in the years following.
Similarly, another major college basketball powerhouse, the University of Texas, also had Jon Scheyer on its radar during its own coaching search in 2021 after parting ways with Shaka Smart. The Longhorns, known for their desire to compete at the highest level, ultimately hired Chris Beard, the former head coach at Texas Tech, who had led his team to a national championship game. At the time, Beard’s track record as a successful program builder and his reputation for defensive prowess made him an appealing option. However, after a series of off-court issues and disappointing on-court results, Beard was fired in early 2023, leaving the Longhorns searching for yet another head coach.
In the span of just a few years, both Indiana and Texas have made major changes to their coaching staffs—firing two high-profile coaches in Beard and Woodson—while Scheyer has flourished in his first years at Duke. The Blue Devils, under Scheyer, have remained competitive in the ACC and nationally, building a future-oriented program that has already shown significant promise. Scheyer’s ability to adapt quickly to the pressures of leading one of the most prestigious programs in college basketball has made him one of the brightest coaching minds in the sport today.
The decisions made by Indiana and Texas, in hindsight, seem to have been pivotal in their respective programs’ struggles. Scheyer’s success at Duke only amplifies the missed opportunities for both programs, which now find themselves facing yet another rebuilding phase. As for Scheyer, his career trajectory continues to rise, proving that sometimes, the right fit comes at the perfect time.
In conclusion, Jon Scheyer’s journey to becoming Duke’s head coach is a testament to the unpredictability of college basketball’s coaching carousel. While Indiana and Texas opted to go in different directions in 2021, both programs have since made changes to their coaching staffs. Meanwhile, Scheyer has proven that his time under Coach K at Duke was not just a preparation for a job, but a launching pad for a highly successful coaching career.
