The latest reports have Lawson as the leading candidate for the job. The Raleigh News & Observer first reported that Duke had zeroed in on Lawson to be its next coach. Lawson would be the first Black head coach in program history. The former University of Tennessee star, who played under Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt, is on the board of trustees at her alma mater. Lawson, however, recently criticized the lack of diversity in Tennessee's coaching ranks during a June board meeting. "It's not just striking," Lawson said of the lack of diversity at Tennessee, "there isn't any."
The sources requested anonymity because the negotiations are still ongoing. While the job has yet to be offered to Lawson, she emerged as the choice of the school’s administration this week.
Lawson, the former Tennessee and WNBA star player, is currently a Boston Celtics assistant coach. She is with the team in Orlando, isolated per NBA protocols and is set to help run practice this weekend. Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca, who also is a Duke Board of Trustees member, supports Lawson’s hiring at the school, sources said.
It's late in the recruiting game for the 2020 class. Every player in the top 100 of the
2020 ESPN Hoopgurlz class has committed. Duke has one player in the top 100 from the 2020 class coming in. #37 Vanessa DeJesus, 5-8 PG from Sierra Canyon HS (CA).
Other posters have said that the roster is pretty thin. They lose 2 seniors, return 5 freshmen along with one incoming freshman for a total of 11 players. Her staff may want to find a player or two to fill out the roster this year. If she takes the job, she should not have any problems finding experienced coaches that would love to work with her and be more than willing to accept the challenge of rebuilding the WBB program, and return it to prominence. Duke finished 3rd in the ACC going 18-12 this past season.
[Roster]