Former Duke Star Player Joins Blue Devils as Assistant Coach

Duke University has made an exciting announcement that has everyone buzzing in the world of college basketball. They have brought on board former star player Will Avery, aka William Avery, as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2023-24 season. Avery had a fantastic college career with the Blue Devils from 1997 to 1999, and now he’s returning to his alma mater to join the coaching staff under head coach Jon Scheyer.

Coach Scheyer couldn’t contain his excitement about the hiring and praised Avery’s deep understanding of the program and his impressive achievements on and off the court.

He said, “The opportunity to have Will Avery here is incredible for us. He understands our program at its highest level. As an NBA Lottery pick in 1999, he knows the goals of our current players and achieved many himself. He has been a tremendous asset for our staff over the last several years after returning to Duke to complete his undergraduate degree – and what a testament to return 20 years later and achieve that. I’m thrilled for Will and his family and excited to have him as an assistant coach.”

During Avery’s time at Duke, he made a big impact as a guard, especially in his final season. He averaged an impressive 14.9 points and 5.0 assists per game, shooting an impressive 49.5% from the field. His skills and basketball knowledge were truly outstanding.

After his sophomore year, Avery decided to enter the NBA Draft, where he was chosen as the No. 14 overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Following his professional playing career, Avery returned to Duke to complete his undergraduate degree in African American studies. Over the past four years, he has been a valuable asset to the program, lending a hand to the coaching staff and sharing his expertise.

The recent NCAA rule change allowing two additional full-time on-court coaching positions in men’s basketball opened up an opportunity for Duke to bring back one of their own. 

Avery expressed his gratitude and excitement about joining Coach Scheyer’s staff, saying, “I’m extremely honored and excited to be a part of Coach Scheyer’s staff. Duke, our fans, and the city of Durham has held a special place in my heart since I was a teenager. Duke is family, and I feel at home. I want to thank Coach K for giving me a role in the basketball program four years ago and I’m very grateful for Coach Scheyer giving me the opportunity to begin my coaching career at Duke.”

With Will Avery joining as an assistant coach, Duke’s upcoming season is filled with anticipation from fans and players. 

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