Coach K details how Duke planned the transition for when he retired

When Mike Krzyzewski turned 70 in 2017, the conversation shifted from whether he would retire to when he would. More importantly, the biggest question mark was who would take over for the legendary coach who built Duke basketball into a powerhouse, winning five national championships, reaching 13 Final Fours and combining for 28 ACC titles between the regular season and tournament.

That question was answered in 2018, when Jon Scheyer was promoted to associate head coach under Coach K after four years as an assistant. He was being groomed as the next in line for the Blue Devils, and for Krzyzewski, that was how he wanted the transition to go the entire time.

I went to West Point, and I believe in succession,” he said on Thursday at the Jimmy Rane Foundation Charity Event. “We had a carved-out succession plan where I knew I was going to retire a year in advance. I wanted that coach named that year in advance, and I wanted him working with me so we could have continuity. Obviously, Jon was already working for me, and he was the perfect guy for it. So, we had it well planned out.”

That transition has worked seamlessly, with Scheyer already leading the Blue Devils to the 2025 Final Four, three ACC Tournament titles and two ACC regular-season titles. The one thing missing is the national title, but from the talent he continues to bring in, Scheyer is bound to get one soon enough.

This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Coach K details how Duke planned the transition for when he retired