What Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer said about contract extension with Blue Devils
Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer confirmed Friday night that he has agreed to a contract extension with the Blue Devils.
Duke announced Saturday afternoon that Scheyer, 36, agreed to a six-year contract extension through the 2028-29 season.
“I’m lucky to be at Duke. … I’ve had discussions with (Duke athletics director) Nina (King) for some time. To get that done is great – it’s important. I’m committed to Duke. To know that they’re committed to me as well and our staff – and the job we’ve done – is great," Scheyer said after Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
"I’m thankful to (Duke) president (Vincent) Price, thankful to Nina … it’s a great thing. Tonight’s about the team and I was a little bit emotional just watching them out there. There’s 12 guys on scholarship. All 12 of them were being recruited by other places. They could’ve gone pro, they could’ve done other things.
"They’re committed to Duke. Hopefully, everybody in this room knows I’m committed to Duke, too. That’s been something for me – seeing the crowd tonight, seeing the support – it’s been such a special thing. It’s an honor for me to be the coach and I’ll never take that for granted.”
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Scheyer led Duke to 27 wins and an ACC Tournament championship in his debut season. He replaced five-time national champion Mike Krzyzewski, who retired at the end of the 2021-22 season.
A national championship player in 2010 with the Blue Devils, Scheyer is the only person to win an ACC title as a player and coach. He spent eight seasons on Krzyzewski’s coaching staff before being promoted to the head job.
"Jon Scheyer has seamlessly continued the championship culture in Duke Basketball with his relentless energy, passion and attention to detail," Duke athletics director Nina King said in a school-issued statement.
"He and his staff hold their team to the highest standard. The entire Duke community and our fans should be proud of what these young men have accomplished on and off the court with Jon as their head coach. Our program is in tremendous hands well into the future and I could not be more excited to have Jon lead the way."
Duke, which returns four of its five starters from last season, enters the 2023-24 season as the No. 2-ranked team in the AP Top 25.
The Blue Devils have an exhibition game against UNC Pembroke on Nov. 1 before opening the regular season Nov. 6 against Dartmouth at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer gets contract extension