Jon Scheyer faces task of replacing Nolan Smith
Nolan Smith's departure from Duke is certainly a big blow, and Jon Scheyer now faces the task of hiring two new assistants.
Rising star.
That’s how now former Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski described Nolan Smith when he hired him as an assistant coach in April of 2021. The promotion to a full assistant came after serving as a special assistant and most recently director of basketball operations and player development.
Krzyzewski spoke glowingly of Smith at that time and still does. So, too, did and does Smith’s close friend, former teammate and fellow coach Jon Scheyer.
They were not the only ones who saw promise in Smith’s future as a coach.
Memphis tried to hire him away in 2020. Now, Louisville has pulled it off, luring the former Blue Devil star as a player, and budding one on the sidelines, away from a place he holds dear to his heart.
Perhaps Louisville is the only place that could accomplish the hiring. Smith has not spoken publicly about the hiring yet, as it Louisville has not officially announced it, so we can really only speculate what led him to leave Durham.
Several factors certainly have to be considered: his connection to the city of Louisville, and his late father’s legacy with the University of Louisville are likely two very prominent factors. But there are certainly others.
Jeff Goodman reported that Louisville “broke the bank” to land Smith. That, undoubtedly played a role as well. However, any one that knows Smith is well aware money is never a primary point in his decision making process. No doubt it’s important — we’d be fools to think it’s not, but it’s not at the top of his pecking order.
Another factor in Smith’s departure that must be considered is the opportunity Kenny Payne is presenting him at Louisville. After just one season as a full assistant coach, Smith is being promoted to associate head coach at a major Division I basketball program.
That opportunity is a hard one to pass up.
At Duke, Scheyer already has an associate head coach on staff — Chris Carrawell. And yes there is a precedent in Durham for co-associate head coaches, but it’s difficult to say what kind of plans Scheyer had for Smith on his staff going forward.
Could a co-role have been a possibility? Maybe. We have no information one way or another to support that or debunk that possibility.
No matter what kinds of plans did or didn’t exist for Smith in Durham, there’s no doubt Scheyer was excited to have Smith running alongside him during his first year as Duke’s head coach.
The duo had accomplished a lot together. They won a national championship running a backcourt together. They went out and together, along with Carrawell, landed one of the most impressive recruiting classes for a first-time head coach that you’ll ever find.
There’s no doubt these two together could have, and would have, accomplished some remarkable things together at Duke.
Sadly, it’s not meant to be. At least for now, as Smith will step away from the Duke program to take his infectious personality to Louisville.
Scheyer will miss Smith — on a lot of levels. Of course there’s a close friendship there. But the energy, ability to connect with players and his natural instincts for the game will be sorely missed.
In the end, Smith’s future is bright, and Louisville has indeed landed a rising star. Duke will miss him greatly, and now Scheyer will be faced with the task of filling two vacant roles on his staff.
Amile Jefferson is a top candidate to be promoted to an assistant role after just one season in Smith’s previous role — director of basketball operations and player development.
Scheyer’s big task will be replacing Smith’s most recent position. It won’t be easy to fill those shoes — the whole package: likability, energy, knowledge, a prominent face in the community. This hire will be important for Scheyer, and he’s well aware of that fact.