Following a 77-74 loss to Wake Forest in the ACC tournament on March 8, 2023, which resulted from a buzzer-beater three-pointer by Wake Forest guard Davien Williamson, Syracuse University's Chancellor Kent Syverud announced head coach Jim Boeheim would be stepping down from his role. Syverud also announced the promotion of Syracuse assistant coach Adrian Autry to the head coaching role. The 78-year-old Boeheim finally ends his career at Syracuse after 47 seasons of success.
According to ESPN, Syverud would state in his announcement: "There is no doubt in my mind that without Jim Boeheim, Syracuse Basketball would not be the powerhouse program it is today," says Syverud. "Jim has invested and dedicated the majority of his life to building this program, cultivating generations of student-athletes and representing his alma mater with pride and distinction. I extend my deep appreciation and gratitude to an alumnus who epitomizes what it means to be 'Forever Orange.'"
In a post-game interview, Boeheim stated his future was "up to the university, " confusing reporters. Boeheim would add, "I gave my retirement speech on the court last Saturday and I gave it to the press conference afterwards. Nobody said... nobody figured it out." The polarizing and confusing post-game interview was finally cleared up by the news of Boeheim's stepping down, which was broken later on in the day.
Boeheim's 47-season tenure as Syracuse head coach was highlighted by a 1,015-441 overall win-loss record, his 1,015 wins sit him as the second-most wins by a head coach in NCAA Division 1 history for basketball. He sits behind Duke's former head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who had 1,202 career wins. However, 101 of Boeheim's wins were vacated by the NCAA due to NCAA rule violations by Syracuse. He coached 35 NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as 5 Final Fours (1987, 1996, 2003, 2013, 2016), and a National Championship victory in 2003. He led Syracuse to 5 Big East Tournament titles as well as 10 Big East regular season championships. 23 of Syracuse players under Boeheim have been selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Boeheim had gone to Syracuse as a student-athlete, playing basketball from 1963 to 1966. He then became an assistant coach for Syracuse in 1969 until being promoted to head coach in 1976. ESPN states "His 47 seasons at Syracuse trailed only Jim Phelan, who coached Mount St. Mary's for 49 seasons between 1955 and 2008, in terms of longevity at a single school." Jim Phillips, the ACC's commissioner, stated, "There is no person more synonymous with Syracuse men's basketball than legendary head coach Jim Boeheim."
"I've been very lucky to be able to coach my college team, to play and then be an assistant coach and then a head coach, never having to leave Syracuse," Boeheim said, speaking about his longevity, as reported by ESPN. "It's a great university. The city has embraced our team. I am amazed that we've been able to draw the fans that we've been able to draw over the years.
Outside of Syracuse, Boeheim was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 2005 and was an assistant coach for the USA National Team at the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics. All three teams had won gold.
Unfortunately, Boeheim's worst seasons at Syracuse came in his final two years, going 17-15 in the 2022-23 season, his second-worst winning percentage of his career, after the 2021-22 team went 16-17 and missed the NCAA Tournament. The 2022-23 team may not make any postseason tournaments as a result of their record.
“Jim Boeheim is synonymous with excellence, grit and determination," Syracuse athletics director John Wildhack stated, as reported by the New York Post. "Jim is a rare breed of coach, building a program that is among the best in college basketball for nearly five decades. I am incredibly grateful for what he has done for Syracuse Basketball, Syracuse Athletics and Syracuse University as a whole.”
As for the future of Syracuse men's basketball, Adrian Autry will be replacing Boeheim as the new head coach. Autry played at Syracuse from 1990 to 1994 under Boeheim and joined the Orange's staff in 2011. ESPN states, "Autry had long been the administrative choice to be Boeheim's successor, but the timing was not finalized until after Syracuse's loss to Wake Forest". ESPN also reports that Autry "has been Syracuse's top recruiter and staff member since returning to his alma mater in 2011."
It will, undoubtedly, be large shoes to fill for Autry, but being a student of Boeheim's both on the court and on the sideline, Syracuse fans may not have to worry. A major question heading into the 2023-24 season will definitely be whether or not the culture Boeheim set forward will be able to be continued or even improved by Autry, and if it will translate into a winning season for the Orange.
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