Miami is officially entering its next chapter of college basketball, which comes in the form of Jai Lucas. Lucas is taking over coaching duties after the legendary Jim Larranaga retired in December. While it’s certainly not going to be easy, Lucas hopes to step in and bring success back to Miami.
On Monday, March 10th, the University of Miami held a press conference with Lucas to discuss his hopes for the upcoming season and so much more. In the press conference, he discussed what made Miami an “easy decision.”
Jai Lucas Shares Why Becoming Miami’s Head Coach Was an Easy Decision
“I am incredibly grateful and honored to be the next head coach at the University of Miami,” Lucas said in a statement. “Miami has everything you need to compete at the highest level — elite academics, a passionate fan base, and a commitment to excellence in athletics.
“Beyond that, the city of Miami has a rich culture and energy that makes this an incredibly special place. The history, diversity, and passion for sports here are second to none.”
Lucas was an assistant coach for the No. 1 team in college basketball, the Duke Blue Devils. He started with Duke in 2022 and became the first assistant coach who had never played for Duke in the past 30 years.
Lucas spoke about how hard it was to leave Duke and why Miami was an easy decision for him.
“It was extremely hard to leave (Duke) just because of the relationships you built there,” Lucas said. “This year, we finally had a team that could win it all. You recruited those kids, and we have returning players that have been there three years, and you build that bond.
