First-time Duke coach Jon Scheyer on filling the shoes of his legendary predecessor Coach K: “Never been afraid of a challenge”

To the checklist of lifestyles’s certainties — loss of life and taxes — you’ll be able to upload Duke University’s presence in the NCAA March Madness match.

The Blue Devils already notched one victory, successful towards Oklahoma’s Oral Roberts University on Thursday night time. While their presence in the match is not anything new — that is their forty fifth time enjoying in it — they have got a new face main the staff this 12 months after legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski retired remaining 12 months after 42 seasons with the staff. 

For former Duke participant and new head coach Jon Scheyer, it is the get started of a new technology. 

“I’ve never been afraid of a challenge, and I understand what a challenge this is. I understand the incredible expectations, but at the same time, I think our program is set up for amazing success,” he advised “CBS Mornings.” 

Scheyer met Krzyzewski, often referred to as Coach Okay, as a teen. He was once recruited from his suburban faculty highschool and helped Duke win the 2010 NCAA match, its fourth win. (They added any other victory in 2015 for a overall of 5 match wins.) In 2014, he joined the Blue Devils’ training group of workers and had the probability to be informed from Krzyzewski. 

“I don’t know if anybody in their right minds … thinks that ‘Alright, I’m going to be the one to, I want to succeed Coach K,'” Scheyer mentioned. “But of course, when that opportunity came about, I was all in.” 

While Krzyzewski is now not training the staff, he is nonetheless Scheyer’s mentor. 

“I love him. He’s family to me and, you know, his support means the world. He’s the best motivator. He has a feel, his ability to relate and connect. That’s what separated him and made him a special coach,” Scheyer mentioned. “Obviously the Xs and Os and all that take care of (themselves). But for me, you know, I pride myself on relationships, you know, just the connection with our guys … being able to get them ready to play, to believe in themselves for the highest possible level that they can.” 

Scheyer has massive shoes to fill, however it is been a fairy-tale season thus far: He led the staff to 23 wins in the common season, atmosphere a college report for the maximum wins in a first season. However, he is not resting on his laurels. 

“I’m going to use after the year to reflect and be proud of the accomplishments. Right now, (my) focus is on the next game and making a special run here,” he mentioned. 

While Duke has a lengthy historical past of doing smartly in March Madness — they have made it to the Final Four 17 occasions and feature 119 sport wins in the match — Scheyer mentioned that the staff is simply getting began. 

“For me, it’s all about controlling what you can control,” he mentioned. “I promise my expectations are higher or as high as anybody from the outside about our success that we can have, as far as wins and losses in this program. The margin is thin. The ‘little plays’ (can) turn out to be the difference in winning or losing, and so for us, handling that the right way, controlling what we can control, we’ll put ourselves in a position to make a special run. And that’s what it’s all about for me.”