Duke men’s basketball head coach Jon Scheyer announced Tyler Thornton, a four-year letterwinner and former team captain with the Blue Devils, as an assistant coach on Friday.
Thornton returns to Duke after spending the past six seasons (2019-25) as an assistant coach and director of player development at Howard University, helping head coach and fellow Duke men’s basketball alumnus Kenneth Blakeney lead the Bison to consecutive MEAC tournament championships and NCAA tournament appearances in 2023 and 2024. Prior to his time at Howard, Thornton was a graduate assistant at Marquette University under head coach and Duke basketball alum Steve Wojciechowski.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Tyler back to Duke,” said Scheyer. “Having coached him during his playing career, I saw firsthand his exceptional basketball IQ, relentless competitiveness and natural leadership. He’s a winner in every sense – someone who brings out the best in those around him. We’re fortunate to have him home.”
During his four-year Duke career from 2010 to 2014, Thornton appeared in 139 games with 53 starts, while compiling 433 points, 264 assists, 231 rebounds and 139 steals. He played in all 36 games with six starts during the Blue Devils’ 2013 NCAA Elite Eight run, where he shot .392 (31-of-79) from three-point range and ranked second on the team with 79 assists. That season, he was also named one of 10 finalists for Sports Illustrated’s College Athlete of the Year, recognizing excellence in athletics, academics and community service. Thornton served as team captain in 2013-14 – Scheyer’s first season on Duke’s coaching staff – guiding the team to a 26-9 record, while starting 25 of 35 games. A 2014 Duke graduate, he earned his degree in psychology.
“As a former Duke player, it’s incredibly humbling to return to the program as a member of the coaching staff. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help the next generation of players achieve their dreams,” Thornton said. “My passion for the game has always been rooted in doing whatever it takes to win. I’m ready to support Coach Scheyer and contribute in any way that helps our program continue to compete at a championship level.”
A Washington, D.C., native, Thornton led Gonzaga College High School to four consecutive 20-win seasons and became the program’s all-time leader in career victories. He was a two-time team MVP and earned Washington D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 2010. In recognition of his outstanding high school career, Thornton was inducted into the Gonzaga College High School Hall of Fame in 2024.
