Did Jim Boeheim leave the court as Syracuse basketball coach for the last time on Wednesday? (` Photo/Chris Carlson)
Jim Boeheim played his final game as Syracuse head coach on Wednesday.
Hours after a 77-74 loss to Wake Forest in the ACC tournament, Syracuse announced that Boeheim would be replaced by associate head coach Adrian Autry. Chancellor Kent Syverud addressed the transition in a statement.
“There is no doubt in my mind that without Jim Boeheim, Syracuse Basketball would not be the powerhouse it is today,” said Chancellor Kent Syverud. “Jim has invested and dedicated most of his life in building this program, producing generations of student athletes and representing his alma mater with pride and distinction. Forever orange.'”
Boeheim was not quoted in the new Syracuse publication announcing the move. He was asked about his possible retirement after Wednesday’s game, repeatedly telling reporters that the decision rested with Syracuse.
“It’s up to the university,” Boeheim said when asked if he was retiring.
He was then asked if that meant he wanted to come back.
“I didn’t say that,” Boeheim replied.
“You don’t say you’re retiring?” asked a reporter.
“I just said it, I don’t know,” Boeheim replied. “…I said it’s up to the university.”
That didn’t exactly clear things up. When pressed again at the end of the press conference, Boeheim had the following to say:
“I said it was up to the university,” Boeheim continued. “They have to make their decision and it’s up to them. I hope I can come to a good agreement. That remains to be seen.”
Boeheim is a Syracuse icon, having coached the men’s basketball team for 47 years. It’s a span that has seen the Orange play their entire Big East existence from 1979 to 2013 and 10 seasons since their landmark move to the ACC. It’s a span that includes 35 NCAA tournament appearances, five Final Fours and the 2003 national championship with Carmelo Anthony.
The story goes on
Boeheim’s coaching rivals and titans of the game in John Thompson, Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski survived. He is 78 years old and coming off his second straight season without an NCAA tournament offer and his third of the last four. He was understandably asked to retire for much of the season.
Boeheim went out dramatically. The Orange rebounded from a 13-point deficit in the second half, only to see senior Wake Forest guard Daivien Williamson win the game for the Demon Deacons with a last-second 3-pointer.
The loss ensured Syracuse would unsurprisingly rise to an ACC tournament title, his only trek to the NCAA tournament that year.
Who is Adrian Autry?
Autry, 51, played four seasons at Syracuse from 1990 to 1994. After a pro career abroad as a player and a brief stint on the sidelines at Virginia Tech, Autry returned to Syracuse in 2011 as an assistant coach. In 2017, he was promoted to associate head coach, becoming only the second head coach at his alma mater since 1976.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that Autry has long been the pick at Syracuse to succeed Boeheim and that the decision to promote him was only finalized on Wednesday.
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