I don't think Boeheim was upset with Mike shopping around. That's not how I remember it in regards to the USC job, anyway. After all, nobody is more in ture with a man doing whatever the hell he wants to than JAB is.
He hired Mike as an assistant because he thought he would perform well in that role and he's kept him employed because Hop has met and exceeded the expectations of the job. No favors were done, Jim has no reason to be upset if Hop goes somewhere else (I don't think he is or would be) and Hop doesn't owe any favors to Jim.
We have a strong program. I'd love it if Mike stays or goes somewhere and comes back. I would also be completely 100% fine if he took a job in Cali and stayed out there. We will be just fine no matter what. The only thing that would bother me would be if Hop isn't #1 on the list of candidates after Jim retires.
Here's the article from when the story first broke in March:
March 05, 2013 at 5:41 PM, updated March 05, 2013 at 8:32 PM
Syracuse men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim confirmed that assistant coach Mike Hopkins interviewed for the head coaching job last week at the University of Southern California.
"I know he interviewed for that job," Boeheim said after practice Monday. "It's a good job. He's from Southern California. He's interested in the job. It's up to him, it's his decision."
Boeheim also spoke about the possibility of losing his top assistant on the
“Upon Further Review” radio show on Tuesday night with Chris McManus and Steve Infanti.
“He did that last week,” Boeheim said on the show. “He’s a tremendous young coach and he’s interested in going back to Southern California.”
When asked if he’d like Hopkins to succeed him:
“We’d like that to happen, it’s just a question of what he wants,” Boeheim said. “What I want is not important. It’s what coach Hopkins wants to do is that’s important.”
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Once Mike didn't get the job in April, JB came out in effusive praise of Mike, but he was silent and/or annoyed by questions on the subject for the month in between:
"... Hopkins declined to comment on USC’s decision to hire Enfield, but Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim let his opinion be known on Tuesday.
“Well, I knew they were going to hire a head coach,’’ Boeheim said. “Mike was, by far, the best candidate they had. Far and away, the best candidate they had. People in those situations, they try to take a guy who is a head coach so they can say they hired a head coach, that’s all.’’
Enfield, 43, was in just his second year as Florida Gulf Coast’s head coach. He led the Eagles to upset wins over No. 2 seed Georgetown and No. 7 seed San Diego State before FGCU lost to Florida in the Sweet 16.
Hopkins has been an assistant at Syracuse since 1996. He’s been in the role of full-time recruiter since 2001. He has been acknowledged as Boeheim’s eventual successor.
“Mike is 10 times better than anyone they could have hired,’’ Boeheim added. “I’m not disappointed because he’ll be coaching here soon, so I’m not that disappointed.’’
And, no, Boeheim wasn’t dropping a retirement hint.
“Not that soon,’’ he said. “Soon could be anything.’’ "
To me, it's a lot easier to be gracious about it AFTER the opportunity has passed. Read the 2 articles and tell me if you don't think there was a different tone from JB in one and the other.
