Duke Blue Devils Suffer Major Coaching Loss on Saturday
A seismic shift has struck the heart of Duke Basketball. In a program built on tradition, excellence, and sustained dominance, one of its most enduring figures—Will Stephens, the Executive Director of Sports Performance—has officially stepped away after 27 historic seasons. More than a coach, Stephens was the silent architect behind Duke’s physical and mental edge, helping sculpt championship-caliber teams that brought home three national titles and seven Final Four appearances. With his retirement announced Saturday, the Blue Devils now face a massive void—one not just of expertise, but of legacy I will
The Duke Blue Devils have been consistently competing for national titles and are known as one of the best college basketball programs in the country.
Last season, Duke boasted of one of the best teams in the nation, starring freshmen Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach. The trio led Duke to the Final Four, where they eventually lost to Houston and finished the season with a 35-4 record.
After a tremendous year for the Blue Devils, head coach Jon Scheyer is back at the whiteboard, working to find a way to return to the promise land. He will be working with a brand new team next season, given the departure of those three freshmen and other stars such as Tyrese Proctor and Sion James.
Scheyer and the Blue Devils will also be looking for a replacement for Will Stephens, the team’s Executive Director of Sports Performance.
On Saturday, Stephens retired from the Duke Blue Devils.
According to the Duke Blue Devils’ official retirement announcement, Will Stephens spent 27 seasons at Duke. He helped lead the program to three national titles and seven Final Four appearances.
In the Duke Blue Devils’ new post on Will Stephens, Flagg and Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum commented on his impact.
“Coach Will is incredibly impactful for our program and everything that he did for us all year long,” Flagg said. “He always brought the energy, always got us better, and always had us ready and excited to come into the gym every day.”
“Coach Will had a big impact on my career,” Tatum said. “He really helped my mindset. He really helped me transform my body. He got our whole team ready mentally and physically at the highest level.”
