Jai Lucas, an associate head coach of Duke basketball, will be Miami’s next head coach.

Duke Assistant Set to Take Over as Miami’s Next Head Coach

Miami men’s basketball is poised to hire Duke assistant coach Jai Lucas as its next head coach. Lucas, currently in his third season with the Blue Devils, was elevated to associate head coach alongside Chris Carrawell in 2023.

This season has been nothing short of disastrous for the Hurricanes. Initially projected to finish sixth in the ACC preseason poll, Miami now holds a dismal 6-20 overall record, with a 2-13 standing in conference play—the worst in the ACC.

The Hurricanes have secured just two wins since December 21st, suffering losses to teams like Mount St. Mary’s, Charleston Southern, and VCU.

Miami’s season was effectively derailed when longtime head coach Jim Larranaga announced his immediate retirement just after Christmas, following a disappointing 4-8 start.

“I’m exhausted,” Larranaga said upon stepping down. “I’ve tried every way possible to keep this going.”

Following Larranaga’s departure, associate head coach Bill Courtney was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season, but the search for a long-term leader was already underway.

Now, Miami has found its next head coach in Lucas, who has built a strong résumé across several top college basketball programs.

Before joining Duke, Lucas spent four years as an assistant at his alma mater, the University of Texas, followed by two years at Kentucky. He then became part of Jon Scheyer’s staff after Mike Krzyzewski’s retirement.

Lucas has been instrumental in securing major commitments for the Blue Devils in recent years, including Cooper Flagg and the Boozer twins.

At 36 years old, Lucas becomes one of the latest young head coaches to take the reins in the evolving landscape of college basketball, where recruiting and NIL deals play a crucial role. Miami has struggled in recruiting for the 2025 class, securing just one four-star prospect, Matthew Able. However, the Hurricanes are now bringing in a proven recruiter with a fresh perspective, aiming to revitalize the program in this new era.