Jai Lucas, former Kentucky assistant, promoted to Duke Associate Head Coach

jai-lucas-duke-associate-head-coach-promoted-former-kentucky-assistant — John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

After just one season at Duke, Jai Lucas is moving on up. Duke head coach Jon Scheyer announced today that Lucas has been promoted from assistant coach to associate head coach. The news comes one year after Lucas left Kentucky to join the Blue Devils’ staff.

“Jai has been an amazing addition to our coaching staff,” Scheyer said in a release. “I’m so proud of what he’s done in taking our defense to another level this past season and he’s great on the floor with player development. He’s incredible with relationships. You can ask any of our players, when they’re around him they feel better — that’s the mark of a good coach. I’m very lucky to have him on our staff and excited to name him associate head coach.”

“I am thrilled at the opportunity to continue my coaching career at Duke,” said Lucas. “I appreciate the trust that Jon has put in me, and I look forward to helping him and our staff continue building on the incredible legacy and tradition in this program. Durham is home for me and my family and it’s an honor for me to be here.”

S/O @CoachJLuc! Promoted to Associate Head Coach! 😈 pic.twitter.com/VXCdUeoDFi
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) June 29, 2023

Lucas spent two seasons on Kentucky’s staff, the first as recruiting coordinator and the second as a full-time assistant. Prior to that, he worked at Texas, his alma mater. Although there was plenty of chatter about his departure last year, Lucas’ family has roots in Durham. His parents were raised there and he still has several family members in the area.

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“It was a big part of it,” Lucas said of his family ties to Durham in his introductory press conference in May 2022. “I mean, it was kind of like the cherry on top, you know, the opportunity to be at Duke and be with Coach (Jon) Scheyer and the rest of the staff was really my main reason for doing it. But then throwing in the family part and being able to be around them, because I haven’t been with how hectic my schedule is with just being all over the place.”

Last season at Duke, Lucas helped develop the Blue Devils’ backcourt and served as the program’s defensive coordinator. Now, he’ll take on even more responsibilities as associate head coach.