Per Duke Comms:
Duke men’s basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and the program’s general manager Rachel Baker have each been named to The Athletic‘s 40 Under 40 in college sports. The inaugural list recognizes the top young coaches, players, executive and influencers changing the college landscape.
Scheyer, entering his first year as Duke’s head coach in 2023-23, took the reins of the University’s historic program in April following the retirement of Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski. The Chicago native, who turns 35 on August 24, is the youngest men’s basketball head coach among power conference programs.
“In prior years, Scheyer would have made this list even before he was named coach-in-waiting under Mike Krzyzewski,” said The Athletic article. “The former Blue Devils guard has been highly regarded ever since he started his career as an assistant at Duke in 2014. Now, he’s an obvious selection, after officially taking the reins of the program this spring.”
One of Scheyer’s first moves in June was the hiring of Baker, 32, as the program’s GM. In this exclusive position, the former Nike and NBA executive will specialize in helping players enhance their personal and professional skill sets, capitalize on strategic partnerships, including NIL opportunities, and work to support players in navigating the opportunities and challenges that come with being a student-athlete at the highest level.
“We’ve had a friendship for some time, so there was a level of trust and a relationship that was there,” Scheyer told The Athletic. “She’s incredibly talented, smart and innovative. And in college basketball in 2022, there’s so much more that goes into running a program. There’s nobody else like her.”
The college head coaches named to the 40 Under 40 list included Scheyer, Notre Dame football’s Marcus Freeman (36), Florida men’s basketball’s Todd Golden (37), Oregon football’s Dan Lanning (36), Ole Miss women’s basketball Yolett McPhee-McCuin (40) and USC football’s Lincoln Riley (38).
