Jim will be honored next season as I had hoped. For those of you who have already read this or know that this will happen, my apologies, and thank you Jim.
Former Syracuse Orange head coach Jim Boeheim Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Legendary Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim 'thrilled to be retired'
By
Zac Wassink | Last updated 3/10/23
It took a little longer than some would've liked, but legendary coach Jim Boeheim was finally able to offer a proper farewell to the Syracuse Orange faithful.
Per Hank Domin of Syracuse.com and Pete Thamel of ESPN, Boeheim got emotional on Friday while addressing his contributions to Syracuse basketball and the university after spending 47 seasons as coach of the men's team.
"I’m thrilled to be retired," Boeheim insisted during the news conference that was also about introducing Adrian Autry as the program's new coach. "I’ve felt better in the last two days than I have in the last 47 years."
Much of the college basketball community was left stunned when Syracuse abruptly mentioned without much fanfare on Wednesday that Boeheim would not return after 47 seasons in charge. As noted by Boeheim hinted following his team's 77-74 loss to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the ACC Tournament earlier that day that a possible retirement may not be his "choice."
Former Duke Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski and longtime ESPN personality Dick Vitale were among the those who publicly said Boeheim deserved a better sendoff than what occurred on Wednesday. Per Domin, Boeheim met with chancellor Kent Syverud and athletic director John Wildhack on Thursday and worked "most everything" out.
"I’m 78 years old, and I will never leave Syracuse," Boeheim added. "I will never leave Syracuse University."
As for Autry, he'd been part of Boeheim's staff since 2011 and played for the coach from 1990 to 1994.
"He knows basketball. He knows how to coach," Boeheim said of his successor. "The program is in good hands."
Meanwhile, Autry told reporters that the program and university will eventually celebrate Boeheim "in a big way," presumably ahead of a men's basketball game next season.
"He might not like it, but I’ll call (Boeheim's wife) Juli and make sure he’s there," Autry said of that upcoming event.