Jon Scheyer
Illustration by Brittain Peck
Duke Basketball’s Head Coach Jon Scheyer swiftly led the Blue Devils to an ACC Tournament victory in his debut season. All eyes (and more than a few hearts) are on him as a new season is about to tip off. Our one-on-one interview with Coach Scheyer is below:
How are your “new shoes” fitting so far?
Ha! The new shoes are fitting well! It’s been a crazy journey these last couple of years since being named Head Coach. I’m really grateful to Coach K for the way the succession has gone. It’s not an easy thing to do on either end, whether you’re retiring or stepping in. What’s made it special and unique for me is the relationship I have with Coach. I’m also thankful for the administration. President Price and Nina King have been very supportive. I’m lucky to coach great players every day.
What’s the strangest dream you’ve had about work?
I have a lot of strange dreams about work! Sometimes they project things I hope will happen. Other times I might wake up thinking about plays I should run, or how to connect with a player. Rarely am I able to turn my mind off, where I’m not thinking about the team in some way. So, I don’t have a specific dream for you, but it happens all the time.
You are taking Duke Basketball into the future. What do you miss about the past?
I don’t really look back much. I don’t dwell on previous accomplishments, for example, because it can make you soft. I do look back on experiences that I can draw from, that can be useful to us now. Generally, the energy I spend is on stuff I can control.
Are you open to using an A.I. assistant coach?
Haha! Not now. Not yet. Maybe I’ll change my tune one day, but not yet.
What does basketball mean to you?
Outside of family and really close friends, basketball is the biggest love of my life. Ever since I was 2 or 3 years old, I’ve loved the game. I was probably better at other sports, notably baseball. But my passion was always basketball. I’m thankful that this love matched with a bit of skill. And I’m thankful my job is doing something that I love.
We’ve heard you also love to cook. What ingredient is underrated?
Ooh, now we’re talking, now we’re getting into the good stuff. I tend to keep it simple. We love grilled onions in our house! We put grilled onions on everything. A secret ingredient I love is Soy Vay, a kind of teriyaki sauce. We do a ton of Soy Vay marinated grilled meats and fish. I do really love cooking. It takes my mind off things. I also love watching cooking shows, especially with my daughter.
What’s one thing you’ve never done but hope to do someday?
That’s a good question. I’ve always been a risk taker in basketball. I play to win. Off the court I’m more cautious. I’m not going bungee jumping or anything like that. That said, I never get to go skiing or snowboarding because it coincides with the season. So, in the distant future I hope to hit the slopes with my kids.
Do you sing in the shower?
Of course! (Laughing) Absolutely!
What is the best ice cream flavor?
Mint chocolate chip.
On your summer break have you binged any TV shows? Which ones?
My wife and I enjoyed Yellowstone!
When and where were you happiest?
Two places consistently. With my kids, doing whatever, it could be anything. And on the court. Sometimes practices can be more fun than games because you really feel the team getting better. And walking out on the floor in Cameron…there’s nothing like it!
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I wouldn’t change anything. That doesn’t mean I’m perfect. We all have our imperfections and that’s what makes us who we are. There are things I try to improve all the time. I want to grow as a person, a husband, a father, a coach… Actually, I take that all back. If I could do it over again, I’d be 6’-10”! If I were 6-10, I might be still playing!
A song you love at the moment.
On Your Face by Earth, Wind & Fire. I’m a big oldies guy! You can’t not feel happy listening to this one.
How long will Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift date?
(Laughing) I will say I’m not one of those people that just heard of Travis Kelce for the first time this week. I’ve got them making it! I’ll take the over on a year. I have faith in them!
Notes from illustrator: "The jerseys hung in the rafters in the upper left make diagonal lines that point to Coach, which alludes to his time as a player. He is facing to the right, towards the basket, scoreboard and the 5 national championship banners. The national championship banners extend out of the image, intended to imply that more will continue in that line following Coach Scheyer’s leadership."- Brittain Peck
Having fun reading our interviews? Please consider a contribution of any size here. Your funds will be spent on commissioning local creatives.
