After 47 seasons, Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim will not be returning as the men's basketball coach at Syracuse, it was announced Wednesday.
Just hours after the Orange lost 77-74 to Wake Forest on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the ACC tournament, Syracuse announced that associate head coach Adrian Autry, who has been on the staff since 2011, would be promoted to replace the 78-year-old Boeheim. «There is no doubt in my mind that without Jim Boeheim, Syracuse basketball would not be the powerhouse program it is today,» Chancellor Kent Syverud said in a statement. «Jim has invested and dedicated the majority of his life to building this program, cultivating generations of student-athletes and representing his alma mater with pride and distinction.
I extend my deep appreciation and gratitude to an alumnus who epitomizes what it means to be 'Forever Orange.'» After Wednesday's loss, Boeheim hinted that he would be retiring, but he said it was up to the university to decide his future. «As I've said from day one when I started working here, the university hired me, and it's their choice what they want to do,» Boeheim said. «I always have the choice of retirement, but it's their decision as to whether I coach or not.
It always has been. »… I've just been lucky to be able to coach this long." Added Boeheim later: «I gave my retirement speech last week, and nobody picked up on it.» The timing of Syracuse announcing that Autry, a former player under Boeheim, would be taking over the program wasn't set until Wednesday, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel.