Duke's Jon Scheyer Emerges as National Coach of the Year Contender

Analyst makes case for Scheyer's obvious candidacy after Blue Devils' blowout win over Virginia

Mar. 2, 2026 at 11:39pm

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After Duke's blowout win over Virginia, college basketball analyst Michael Caterina argues that it's time to start taking Jon Scheyer's candidacy as National Coach of the Year seriously. Scheyer, in his second season as the Blue Devils' head coach, has led the team to impressive success despite the high expectations that come with the job.

Why it matters

Winning National Coach of the Year would be a significant accomplishment for Scheyer, who is following in the footsteps of legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. While Krzyzewski was only named National Coach of the Year three times in his career, Scheyer has a chance to earn the honor in just his second season, showcasing his ability to maintain Duke's excellence.

The details

Caterina points out that despite the pressure to succeed at Duke, Scheyer has guided the Blue Devils to a standout season, including a blowout victory over Virginia. This performance has led Caterina to believe Scheyer deserves serious consideration for the National Coach of the Year award, which would be a testament to his coaching acumen in the early stages of his tenure.

  • Duke defeated Virginia on March 1, 2026.

The players

Jon Scheyer

The current head coach of the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team, taking over the program from legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Mike Krzyzewski

The former head coach of the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team, who led the program to five national championships and was named National Coach of the Year three times during his tenure.

Michael Caterina

A college basketball analyst who has made the case for Jon Scheyer's candidacy as National Coach of the Year.

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What they’re saying

“It would be far from a surprise to Jon Scheyer that he might never get the awards recognition he deserves as the Duke head coach. Grand success in Durham is the expectation, both inside and outside the program. So even when you accomplish something remarkable, as Scheyer has done with this Blue Devils squad, it might fly under the radar.”

— Michael Caterina, College Basketball Analyst

The takeaway

Jon Scheyer's impressive start as the new head coach of the Duke Blue Devils has positioned him as a strong contender for the National Coach of the Year award, despite the high expectations that come with leading one of college basketball's premier programs. Scheyer's ability to maintain Duke's excellence in his second season could earn him recognition that has eluded even the legendary Mike Krzyzewski.