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Jim Boeheim on Syracuse’s future: ‘It’s the end of the university’
Jim Boeheim speaks to the media after Syracuse’s 77-74 loss to Wake Forest.
After 47 seasons, Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim will not return as the men’s basketball coach. Syracuse, announced Wednesday.
Hours after the Orange lost 77-74 to Wake Forest on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the ACC Tournament, Syracuse announced Adrian Audrey, a hire since 2011, would replace 78. — Age Boeheim.
“There is no doubt in my mind that without Jim Boeheim, Syracuse basketball would not be the dynamic program it is today,” president Kent Syverud said in a statement. “Jim has dedicated most of his life to building this program. Always Orange.”
After Wednesday’s loss, Boeheim indicated he would retire, but said his future will be up to the university to decide.
“As I’ve said since the day I started working here, the university hired me and it’s their choice to do what they want to do,” Boeheim said. “I’ve always had the option of retirement, but it’s their decision whether I want to coach or not. It always has been.
“… I’m lucky to have coached this long.”
Boeheim later added: “I gave my retirement speech last week and nobody picked it up.”
ESPN’s Pete Thamel told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that Syracuse is not set to announce until Wednesday that Autry, a former player under Boeheim, will take over the program.
Boeheim has an official coaching record of 1,015-441 between 2004-07 and 2010-12, with 101 wins vacated due to NCAA rules violations and sanctions. Retired Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski holds the Division I career record with 1,202 wins, second only to Boeheim’s total.
He led Syracuse to the NCAA Tournament 35 times and advanced to the Final Four in five of those trips — winning the national title in 2003. He has 58 official NCAA tournament wins, which ranks fourth all-time.
“I was very fortunate to coach my college team, play, then assistant coach, then head coach, and never have to leave Syracuse,” Boeheim said Wednesday. “It’s a great university and the city has embraced our team. I’m amazed we’ve been able to draw the fans we’ve been able to draw over the years.
“… I’m incredibly lucky to keep this job. Mike Bray is happy to be at Notre Dame for 23 years; he’s a dog. I’ve been there for 47 years. I’ve coached my sons. Two years ago, we were in the Sweet 16. Last year, I To train my sons. … I wanted to come back and train these guys, and that’s what I was able to do. The university didn’t offer me anything, it was their choice whether to work at the university or do something.”
His 47 seasons at Syracuse trail only Jim Phelan, who coached Mount St. Mary’s for 49 seasons between 1955 and 2008.
Boeheim was selected 23rd in the first round of the NBA draft and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005. He also coached three USA Basketball teams that won Olympic gold medals.
Syracuse awaits a possible postseason bid with a 17-15 record. It’s the second-worst winning percentage for a single season of his coaching career, excluding the winning seasons due to suspensions — trailing the 2021-22 team, which went 16-17.
Sources said Audrey had long been the management’s choice to succeed Boeheim, but the timing was not finalized after Syracuse’s loss to Wake Forest.
Autry, a 1994 graduate, has been Syracuse’s top recruiter and staff member since returning to his alma mater in 2011. He brings strong ties to New York City and the Washington DC area, and is a connection to the show’s storyline.
Boeheim has been synonymous with Syracuse for more than six decades. He was born in Lyon, a central New York city not far from Syracuse. He joined the school as a walk-on in 1962 and eventually became captain of the then Orangemen alongside Dave Pink.
In 1969, Boeheim was hired as a graduate assistant at Syracuse. In 1976, he took over as the program’s head coach. Since then he has been its face.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
