It’s the end of a long chapter in Syracuse. Jim Boeheim, legendary Orange coach in the NCAA, bows out after 47 seasons on the university benches. This retirement announcement comes after the defeat of his team in the second round of the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference).
It’s the end of an era in the NCAA. After Roy Williams, Mike Krzyzewski, Jay Wright have retired for the past two years, the latest member of a quartet of legendary coaches on the university circuit is following the same path. Jim Boeheim is retiring after 47 (!) long seasons with the Syracuse Orange. It’s simple, this great gentleman took over the team at 32 for the 1976-1977 season and is only letting it go now at 78. Suffice to say that he has seen the world pass, even his sons, generations come and go and at least four major developments in the game over six decades. This announcement does not come without any reason. The Orange have just been eliminated in the second round of the ACC conference. The management of the university franchise decided that it was time to launch a new cycle. For his last press conference, Boeheim expressed his gratitude.
“I’ve been so lucky to coach for so long. I think everyone missed my retirement speech last week. No one understood.”
[Sur le fait qu’il prend ou non sa retraite, ndlr] “It’s up to the university to decide.”
Jim Boeheim: “I’ve been very lucky to coach this long. I think everyone missed my retirement speech last week. Nobody picked up on it… it’s up to the University” pic.twitter.com/XbnTV1Zsuj
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 8, 2023
During his long career, Jim Boeheim has necessarily experienced ups and downs. His greatest achievement is undoubtedly this title in 2003 against the Kansas Jayhawks. The leader of the team at the time? A certain Carmelo Anthony, a little guy who will have a little career in the NBA afterwards. Melo will even finish MOP (Most Outstanding Player), equivalent of the MVP of the finals, after this victory. Jim Boeheim in numbers is also 1116 career wins for 440 losses. Only the mythical Mike Krzyzewski aka Coach K did better (1202). JB will have taken his beloved franchise 35 times to the NCAA tournament, for five Final Four (1987, 1996, 2003, 2013 and 2016).
Next season, Syracuse players will also not be out of place because Adrian Autry takes over. He was Boeheim’s current assistant while having already played for him in the early 2000s. Jim Boeheim, meanwhile, will be able to rest after all these years of work. He can now wait for his name to be inscribed alongside all the legends at the top of the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.