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Duke Coach Jon Scheyer Mourns Grandmother's Passing Before UNC Rivalry Game
Scheyer shared emotional personal news just days before the big matchup against North Carolina.
Published on Mar. 5, 2026
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Duke head coach Jon Scheyer revealed that his 95-year-old grandmother, who was a devoted fan and statistician for his teams, passed away the night before the Blue Devils' recent win over NC State. Scheyer honored his grandmother's memory and the team's seniors ahead of the highly anticipated rivalry game against North Carolina this weekend.
Why it matters
Scheyer's personal loss comes at a pivotal time for the top-ranked Duke Blue Devils, who are looking to avenge their earlier loss to North Carolina and clinch the ACC regular season title. The emotional news adds extra meaning and motivation for the team as they prepare for the big game.
The details
Scheyer first wanted to celebrate Duke's three seniors who will be honored in their final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. He then shared the news that his 95-year-old grandmother, who he affectionately called "Nana," had passed away the night before the team's win over NC State. Scheyer recalled how his grandmother would meticulously track stats and "hustle points" for him when he was younger, and he said her dedication and support was very meaningful to him and his family.
- Scheyer's grandmother passed away the night before Duke's win over NC State on March 2, 2026.
- Duke will host North Carolina on March 8, 2026 in their final regular season game.
The players
Jon Scheyer
The head coach of the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team.
Seth Trimble
A guard for the North Carolina Tar Heels who hit the game-winning shot against Duke on February 7, 2026.
What they’re saying
“If I could just talk about two things real quick... You don't get seniors very much and we have three that we are honoring [Saturday]. Then just me personally to follow up on the NC State game. I lost my grandmother the night before the NC State game. My grandmother — she was Nana to us — was 95 years old and lived an amazing life. She would stat every game when I was younger. She had this little notepad and she'd track points, assists, and there would be the normal box score, but I would always go by her stats. She also tracked hustle points.”
— Jon Scheyer, Head Coach, Duke Blue Devils
What’s next
Duke will host North Carolina on March 8, 2026 in their final regular season game, with the Blue Devils looking to avenge their earlier loss to the Tar Heels and clinch the ACC regular season title.
The takeaway
Scheyer's emotional personal loss serves as a poignant reminder that even the most successful coaches and teams face real-life challenges off the court. The Duke players will undoubtedly be motivated to honor Scheyer's grandmother with a strong performance in the rivalry game against North Carolina.
