Perry High School boys basketball coach Sam Duane Jr. steps away from coaching and leaves behind a legendary career in Arizona high school basketball. (Photo by Ian Monje/Cronkite News)
GILBERT – Perry High School boys basketball coach Sam Duane Jr. is stepping away from coaching to become the Mesa Public Schools District compliance and character coach. The decision came suddenly – just a week ago, as he was preparing for another season.
However, after another grueling year, he said he felt the toll more than ever and realized it was time to move on. When an unexpected opportunity arose within the district, he saw it as the right next step.
“Finishing every season is exhausting, and this year, it took me longer to recover,” Duane Jr. said. “It’s almost like God’s plan when this opportunity popped up.”
Reflecting on his coaching career, which includes eight state championships – both achieved through historic four-peats – Duane Jr. emphasized that relationships were always at the heart of his coaching philosophy. Duane Jr.’s eight state titles are tied for the most in Arizona history at the highest classification with Gary Ernst, and he’s the only coach in state history to have two 4-peats in the highest classification.
“I didn’t coach for championships; I coached for relationships,” Duane Jr. said. “It was all about winning together, and I consider those relationships more important than trophies.”
Those relationships start with his father and mentor, Sam Duane Sr., a member of the Arizona Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame. Growing up in the gym with his father and brother, he recalls watching practices, going on recruiting trips and being around the other coaches, which shaped his deep understanding of the game.
Playing for his father not only refined his basketball IQ to become a successful coach but also strengthened their bond. The two have left a permanent mark on Arizona high school basketball. Duane Jr. amassed a remarkable 494-204 record with eight state titles over 26 seasons, while his father compiled a 663-261 record with four state championships over a 37-year career.
This past season was particularly meaningful for Duane Jr., as his father’s health issues made attending games difficult. However, he was present for the state championship.
“He’s my father, he loves me, he’s my best friend,” Duane Jr. said, holding back emotion. “At the time, we didn’t know it’d be my last game, and I’m just grateful he was there.
“I think he’s most proud of me giving everything I had in trying to do it the right way with integrity. He’s proud of my work ethic, he’s proud of winning, he’s proud of how we could fight through and win championships, but I think he’s proud of the other things.”
That philosophy was evident throughout his career. Duane Jr.’s father was a frequent presence at practices, earning the nickname “Grandpa” from the team. His emphasis on relationships shaped his approach to coaching, teaching his players that success isn’t just measured in wins but in personal growth and future accomplishments.
Many of his former players have gone on to successful careers in basketball or beyond. While he’s proud to have coached NBA lottery picks Jalen and Cody Williams — Jalen, now an All-Star for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cody, a rookie for the Utah Jazz — and Memphis Grizzlies forward Marvin Bagley III, Duane Jr. finds equal fulfillment in seeing his former players become doctors, teachers and lawyers.
Only four players in Arizona history have won state titles in all four years of high school, and Duane Jr. coached all of them. Cassius Peat played at Corona during its four-peat before pursuing a Division I football career. Three of the four — Koa Peat (Cassius’s younger brother), Dandre Harrison and NoNo Brown — were part of Perry’s recent dominance. Koa, a five-star McDonald’s All-American ranked No. 9 in the country by ESPN, made his decision Thursday to attend Arizona, while Harrison has committed to Missouri-Kansas City and Brown is weighing his options.
“I think Perry is a special place,” Duane Jr. said. “All of our guys are homegrown, they grow together, and it’s been special to win as a true public school with local kids.”
Mesa Public Schools District athletic director Tommy Eubanks saw Duane Jr. as the perfect fit for the new role.
“As you’d expect, he’s very well-versed, obviously great accomplishments, and I think he’s going to bring that to the community education department, the junior highs,” Eubanks said. “His character background, and having someone like him interested in doing something like that is unbelievable.”
This isn’t the first time Duane Jr. has stepped away during a dynasty. After his first four-peat at Corona del Sol, he took a year off in 2015 to earn an administrative certificate, a decision that, in hindsight, prepared him for this new role.
Duane Jr. sees his new position as a mentorship role, where he’ll guide coaches on integrity and leadership. While he’s leaving the court, his influence on young athletes and the game of basketball is far from over.
“Coach Duane is the hardest-working guy on the team,” Perry senior guard NoNo Brown said. “He loves basketball more than anyone I know. It’s easy to play for someone like that—it’s like having a teacher who loves teaching.”
