Former Duke star Tommy Amaker will return to Durham, N.C., on Dec. 4 when his Harvard squad visits the Blue Devils.
Amaker was an All-American point guard and four-year starter under former coach Mike Krzyzewski (1983-87). He averaged 8.5 points, 5.1 assists and 1.9 steals in 138 games from 1983-87.
Amaker, 61, has coached at Harvard since 2007, compiling a 321-206 record with seven Ivy League regular-season titles and four trips to the NCAA Tournament.
The game continues a “Brotherhood Run” series of former Blue Devils players returning to Cameron Indoor Stadium as opposing coaches. Bobby Hurley (Arizona State) and Johnny Dawkins (UCF) are among those who already have brought their teams to Duke.
“We’re excited to have Tommy and Harvard here,” Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said. “Tommy is one of the people who helped shape Duke Basketball into what it is today, first as an incredible player and then as a coach. I have so much respect for the way he’s led throughout his career and for everything he’s built at Harvard. The opportunity to compete against someone who embodies The Brotherhood is unbelievable for our players. It’s part of the history and tradition that makes this program so special.”
Amaker, who previously coached at Seton Hall (1997-2001) and Michigan (2001-07), was inducted into the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001. His first coaching opportunity came on Krzyzewski’s staff as a graduate assistant, and he later worked as a full-time assistant coach until moving on to Seton Hall.
“Our entire program is grateful to Duke Basketball for making this opportunity possible through the Brotherhood Run series,” Amaker said. “It will certainly be a meaningful moment for me to return to Cameron Indoor Stadium — a place that is filled with so many special memories for me as a player and coach. I know our team will embrace competing in such a high-level environment against such a storied program.”
This will be the 11th meeting between Harvard and Duke and the first since Nov. 30, 1991. The Blue Devils won all 10 previous matchups.