Updates:
“It’s a happy day to be introducing the new head coach of Syracuse men’s basketball.”
A lot of Syracuse players filing into the Melo Center: Joe Girard, Maliq Brown, Justin Taylor, Mounir Hima, Quadir Copeland. The only players I don’t see yet are Chris Bell, Judah Mintz and Benny Williams.
Chancellor Kent Syverud: “Today the torch is officially being passed.”
SU chancellor Kent Syverud begins the festivities: Jim Boeheim, John Wildhack and I will be working together for the university.
Syverud on Autry: “It is his character, his experience, and his talent for the game that explains why (Autry) is our next head coach.”
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John Wildhack: We're here to celebrate two great men. Two great ambassadors of Syracuse. "Coach Boeheim, congratulations on a remarkable career."
Wildhack: “What you’ve done for the game of basketball and for Syracuse university is remarkable.” He went on to praise Boeheim’s philanthropic contributions to central New York.
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Jim Boeheim receives a standing ovation as he takes the podium.
Boeheim: I'm thankful for the chancellor and John Wildhack's unwavering support. For most of this year I really didn't think about retirement, which his true of most years. I thought about it this year. When we hit the stretch that we did, I felt that this was the time.
Boeheim said it was unfortunate that the press conference Wednesday happened before everything could be ironed out. Said he met with the chancellor and the AD for 45 minutes yesterday and most everything was worked out.
Boeheim chokes up when talking about Juli. "Who is the best wife a coach can ever have." (He really got emotional here.)
Boeheim thanks his four children. Jokes about Sissy’s three state titles. Gets choked up as he thanks Juli.
I’m thrilled to be retired. I’ve felt better in the last two days than I have in the last 47 years.
Boeheim; “Most schools do not have a plan. John Wildhack had a plan, the university had a plan, and that plan is now in place.”
Boeheim going back to when he came to Syracuse at the age of 17. Says he’s happy that he’ll never leave Syracuse or Syracuse University
Boeheim talks about the fans. He complimented them for braving the cold, the weather to come to watch basketball. They came to the games. That's what Syracuse basketball is. It's not me. It won't be Adrian. It's the fans.
Boeheim was funny, emotional and yes, charming in his final official news conference. He heartily endorsed Adrian Autry. Said he needed no older mentor on his bench. He knows basketball. He knows how to coach. The program is in good hands.
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Adrian Autry takes the podium after sharing a hug with Jim Boeheim.
Autry: “I am truly honored and humbled to stand up here as the next head coach of the Syracuse University basketball program.”
Adrian gets choked up when talked about Jim Boeheim. From Day 1, Coach took me under his wing as a player and most recently as a coach. You and Juli have opened your home to our family.
Autry addressing the team: “I’m excited for the future and what we’re gonna do together.”
“I’m a new face, a new voice with new ideas. But the standard will not change,” Autry says.
Adrian has been great in this q and a. He's calm, he's smiled a lot, he's tossed off a few funny lines, he's answered all the questions.
Wildhack: Adrian earned this. He's not here because he's an alum. He's not here because he's the associate head coach. Wildhack has said he's talked to a lot of people about Adrian over the years.
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