Behind every successful man, there’s usually a woman who’s quietly cheering him on from the sidelines.
Meet Marcelle Provencial. She’s a Florida-born nurse practitioner who captured the heart of Duke’s basketball golden boy, Jon Scheyer. Their love story is something straight out of a sports romance novel.
But here’s the thing about Marcelle: she’s not just another coach’s wife sitting pretty in the stands. This woman has her own impressive career, her own passions, and her own way of making the world a better place.
Early Life and Education
When I picture Marcelle, I imagine a young girl growing up under the Florida sun, completely oblivious to the fact that sports would one day dominate her life.
She was born on June 5, 1987, in the Sunshine State. Unlike the typical coach’s wife narrative, Marcelle didn’t grow up breathing basketball or cheering from the bleachers every Friday night.
Image source: Instagram
“The whole sports world was new to me,” she once confessed, and honestly? That makes her story even more impressive. Here’s someone who went from having zero sports knowledge to becoming the ultimate Duke Blue Devils insider. What a plot twist!
Her academic journey led her north to North Carolina, where fate (and Duke University) would completely change her trajectory.
Career
While most people know Marcelle as “the coach’s wife,” her professional identity runs much deeper than that. She’s a registered nurse and family nurse practitioner. Basically, she’s out here saving lives while her husband’s busy perfecting jump shots.
Marcelle earned her master’s degree in nursing from Duke in 2016, which explains how this Florida girl ended up in North Carolina in the first place. “I’ve always been interested in health care and clinical research,” she shared, and it shows in everything she does.
Working as a family nurse practitioner in Durham, North Carolina, Marcelle has built a career that’s entirely hers. She’s the kind of woman who can handle a medical emergency during the day and then show up courtside to support her husband by evening.
Her healthcare background is also how she and Jon give back to their community. More on that later, because their charitable work will seriously warm your heart.
Love, Family, and Marriage
So, how did a sports-naive Florida nurse end up marrying Duke’s basketball prince?
Their love story began in 2010 when both were students at Duke. Jon was wrapping up his legendary playing career (he helped win Duke’s 2010 national championship, no big deal), while Marcelle was focused on her nursing studies.
They kept things low-key for years, so low-key that Jon didn’t even make their relationship Instagram official until 2014. When he finally did, it was with a sweet post after his first Duke game as special assistant coach. Smooth move, Jon.
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The proposal came in 2015, and Marcelle was reportedly speechless. “She said YES!!! We are engaged! Thanks to all the love from our family and friends,” Jon gushed on social media. They tied the knot on May 6, 2017, in a private Chicago ceremony near Jon’s hometown.
But the real magic happened when they started their family. Their daughter, Noa Marie, arrived in January 2018, followed by their son, Jett James, in August 2019. Fun fact: the son shares a birthday with his dad. Cute, right? Finally, baby James Russell joined the crew in May 2022.
Image source: Instagram
Jon constantly raves about Marcelle’s parenting skills on social media, saying he’s “amazed every day by the love, care [and] attention” she shows their kids. Plus, Marcelle doesn’t just mother her own children; she’s adopted the entire Duke basketball team as her boys, too.
“I just want to wrap them [up] and keep them safe,” she says about the players.
Philanthropic Endeavors
The couple launched the Scheyer Family Kid Captain Program during the 2022-23 season. They partnered with Duke Children’s Hospital to give young patients and their families special game day experiences.
Kids get to attend practice, play on the famous Cameron Court, and sit behind the bench during games.
Image source: Instagram
“I definitely get teary-eyed and choked up,” Marcelle admits about the program. “What these parents and families are going through it’s just unthinkable.” If you think about it, her nursing background and motherly heart make her the perfect person to lead this initiative.
Watching Jon coach at Duke has been “a dream come true” for Marcelle, who hopes he stays “forever” like legendary Coach K did for 42 seasons. She’s gone from knowing nothing about sports to becoming one of college basketball’s most supportive partners.
FAQs
How many children do Marcelle and Jon have?
They have three children: daughter Noa Marie (born January 2018) and sons Jett James (August 2019) and James Russell (May 2022).
Image source: Instagram
What does Marcelle do for work?
She’s a registered nurse and family nurse practitioner in Durham, North Carolina.
When did Marcelle and Jon get married?
They married on May 6, 2017, in a private ceremony in Chicago, after meeting at Duke in 2010 and getting engaged in 2015.
Final Thoughts
Marcelle Provencial proves that behind every great coach is a woman who’s pretty great herself.
Whether she’s caring for patients, cheering from the sidelines, or bringing joy to sick children through their Kid Captain program, Marcelle has found her own way to shine.
Featured image source: Instagram
