Report: Mike Krzyzewski pushed out potential replacement

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski talked former player and assistant Tommy Amaker, who currently coaches at Harvard, out of becoming his successor, according to a new book by New York Post columnist Ian O’Conner. The move reportedly cleared the way for chosen heir Jon Scheyer to receive the promotion.

According to O’Conner, who wrote “Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski,” says in his book that Duke went as far as to offer the position to Tommy Amaker before the intervention.

Krzyzewski held a zoom call with Amaker last spring, having a “difficult conversation.” According to sources close to the Harvard head coach, he left the call “heartbroken.”

“Mike had to explain to Tommy why he couldn’t be the guy,” said one Duke source told O’Conner. “He can be Don Corleone when he needs to be.”

According to the report, one key reason for Krzyzewski’s decision to choose Scheyer over Amaker centered on continued control and influence within the program after his departure at the end of this season. The 34-year old current Duke assistant offered that pathway in a much more clear way.

During the zoom call, Krzyzewski told him that the hire would force him to demote an assistant, as Amaker served as head coach in waiting like Scheyer has, causing an awkward situation. He also worried about created a strained relationship with his young assistant who ultimately proved to be his successor.

Mike Krzyzewski, Tommy Amaker and the senior Duke official who oversaw the coaching search each declined to comment in the book.

More on Mike Krzyzewski

The book also follows the decision-making process from Mike Krzyzewski as he prepared for retirement. In the end, every detail of Duke’s future was considered from the timing to the coaching search before an announcement was made.

By announcing his retirement in advance, more than creating a farewell tour, Krzyzewski assured that he would hold a say naming his replacement. Although the school reportedly offered the position to another candidate, even then he was able to wield his power to install Jon Scheyer.

“Mike is the ultimate orchestrator,” said one source in the book. “He wakes up in the morning trying to figure out ways to stay ahead of you. Sometimes Coach K has to eat his young, and Tommy Amaker just got eaten.”

While his decision to turn away Amaker will create controversy, the story will not be fully told until the young assistant named Duke’s new head coach has run through his career and the resume can be evaluated.