Jim Boeheim’s 47-year tenure as head coach of Syracuse basketball has come to an end.
The program announced that Boeheim is out and will be replaced by assistant Adrian Autry, who was a former player and current assistant coach under Boeheim. The school’s release did not phrase the end of Boeheim’s career as a retirement, and Boeheim, 78, was not quoted in the release.
Boeheim seemingly telegraphed this news after Syracuse lost a heartbreaker, 77-74, to Wake Forest and got bounced out of the ACC Tournament earlier Wednesday.
“I gave my retirement speech last week and nobody picked up on it,” Boeheim said.
“I’ve been unbelievably fortunate to keep this job. Mike Brey’s thrilled to have his job for 23 years. He’s a puppy.”
Asked if that meant he was retiring, Boeheim said that was “up to the university.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that without Jim Boeheim, Syracuse Basketball would not be the powerhouse program it is today,” Syracuse 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.'”
Boeheim won 1,015 games and the 2003 national championship. His teams made the NCAA Tournament 35 times. He played at Syracuse and was an assistant coach before becoming head coach in 1969.
“I have spent my entire career surrounded by the biggest and best names in professional and intercollegiate athletics. Few people are on the same playing field as Coach Boeheim,” Syracuse athletics director John Wildhack said.
“Jim Boeheim is synonymous with excellence, grit and determination. Jim is a rare breed of coach, building a program that is among the best in college basketball for nearly five decades. I am incredibly grateful for what he has done for Syracuse Basketball, Syracuse Athletics and Syracuse University as a whole.”
Autry also paid homage to his mentor.
“There have been very few stronger influential forces in my life than Syracuse University and Jim Boeheim. They have both played such important roles and without either of them, I am certain I would not have this incredible opportunity before me,” the new coach said.
“I have spent much of my time in the game of basketball learning from Jim and am so grateful to him for preparing me to carry on the winning tradition that is Orange Basketball. It’s hard to imagine a world without him on the bench, but together with our coaches, student-athletes and fans, we will build on decades of success as a winning program.”