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Boeheim Reflects on Career - Looks Toward the Future
3/10/2023 12:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Jim Boeheim has been at Syracuse for all of his adult life.
And that's not changing.
The hall of fame head coach, who transformed Syracuse into a perennial power on the court, excited a fanbase that has come out in record-setting numbers, and propelled the program to the pinnacle of college basketball is just transitioning to a different, to be determined capacity with the University.
"When I was 17 years old, I came to Syracuse, with a dirt floor practice floor for football that we played on. They had lost 29-straight games. I never left this school. I'm now 78-years-old and I'm probably most happy that I will never leave here. I'll never leave Syracuse and I'll never leave Syracuse University."
In Friday's press conference that saw the transition from 47 years of Jim Boeheim '66, G'73, to his predecessor, Adrian Autry, to be the eighth head coach in Syracuse basketball history, Athletics Director John Wildhack '80 said that Boeheim will continue to be involved at the University and work to benefit the experience of all 600 student-athletes.
"I wouldn't know what else to do anyway," quipped Boeheim in his remarks.
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The continuation is fitting for a coach who has spent over six decades at Syracuse University. While the legendary coach has plenty of off-the-court endeavors, including his philanthropy work with the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation throughout Central New York, the 60-year constant in his life has always been working for the University he attended.
The Lyons, New York native arrived at Syracuse in the fall of 1963, and aside from a brief stint playing professionally for the Scranton Minors, he never left. After a four-year career as a player, he became the assistant coach under Roy Danforth in 1969, also coaching the golf team and junior varsity squad at points in his career as well.
In the spring of 1976, Danforth left the University, leaving a vacancy. The hiring committee selected Boeheim in a split decision to fill the role he's occupied since.
"There were five people on the committee," Boeheim said. "Two didn't want me, two did. Luckily Cliff Winters was the deciding vote. I told him I was going to Rochester and he said no you're not, you're going to coach here – and I said yes I am.
"He told me I had three years. I told him I needed four. I just wanted to make sure I got four. I never thought about 47."
Those 47 years coincided with Syracuse's rise to be one of the winningest programs in college basketball history. Boeheim led the Orange to the 2003 NCAA Championship, five final fours across four decades, and enough victories to make him conclude his career with the second-most wins in NCAA men's basketball history on the sidelines.
He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2005, coached USA Basketball to Olympic gold three times, 20 Sweet Sixteens, 5 BIG EAST Championships and 35 NCAA Tournament appearances.
He is one of the greatest coaches in the history of sports.
"Perhaps your greatest accomplishment is the hundreds of young men you led and mentored, and the reverence they have for you," Wildhack said during the press conference. "We saw it on full display last weekend when we celebrated the 2003 National Championship Team, and the tributes pouring in from former players over the last 48 hours. What you've done for the game of basketball and Syracuse University is remarkable, but even more impressive is what you've done for Central New York. You're a philanthropist, advocate and ambassador for this community."
Boeheim now hands the reigns of the program he helped build to a capable mentee. Adrian Autry '94, who Boeheim recruited as a 16-year-old from Harlem, played under him and then served on his staff for more than a decade.
"He scored 30 in New York City against Kenny Anderson, and I said we have to get that guy to Syracuse," Boeheim said. "A few years ago, we needed to get him to come back, and he's a great coach. Adrian Autry can coach. He's not here as a recruiter or a player. He can coach. He knows how to coach and he's got two assistants who could both be head coaches. There will be no problem going forward. None."
As the Orange embark on a new chapter under Autry and he takes over to lead the program in his own way, Boeheim's mark on the program will never be forgotten and he now has the opportunity to continue to assist his alma mater in a new way. One that will continue to serve the University that he has devoted his life to and will continue to positively impact generations of Orange student-athletes.
Â
And that's not changing.
The hall of fame head coach, who transformed Syracuse into a perennial power on the court, excited a fanbase that has come out in record-setting numbers, and propelled the program to the pinnacle of college basketball is just transitioning to a different, to be determined capacity with the University.
"When I was 17 years old, I came to Syracuse, with a dirt floor practice floor for football that we played on. They had lost 29-straight games. I never left this school. I'm now 78-years-old and I'm probably most happy that I will never leave here. I'll never leave Syracuse and I'll never leave Syracuse University."
In Friday's press conference that saw the transition from 47 years of Jim Boeheim '66, G'73, to his predecessor, Adrian Autry, to be the eighth head coach in Syracuse basketball history, Athletics Director John Wildhack '80 said that Boeheim will continue to be involved at the University and work to benefit the experience of all 600 student-athletes.
"I wouldn't know what else to do anyway," quipped Boeheim in his remarks.
Â
Thank you, Syracuse. pic.twitter.com/l1hoQT5JE1
— Jim Boeheim (@therealboeheim) March 10, 2023
The continuation is fitting for a coach who has spent over six decades at Syracuse University. While the legendary coach has plenty of off-the-court endeavors, including his philanthropy work with the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation throughout Central New York, the 60-year constant in his life has always been working for the University he attended.
The Lyons, New York native arrived at Syracuse in the fall of 1963, and aside from a brief stint playing professionally for the Scranton Minors, he never left. After a four-year career as a player, he became the assistant coach under Roy Danforth in 1969, also coaching the golf team and junior varsity squad at points in his career as well.
In the spring of 1976, Danforth left the University, leaving a vacancy. The hiring committee selected Boeheim in a split decision to fill the role he's occupied since.
"There were five people on the committee," Boeheim said. "Two didn't want me, two did. Luckily Cliff Winters was the deciding vote. I told him I was going to Rochester and he said no you're not, you're going to coach here – and I said yes I am.
"He told me I had three years. I told him I needed four. I just wanted to make sure I got four. I never thought about 47."
Those 47 years coincided with Syracuse's rise to be one of the winningest programs in college basketball history. Boeheim led the Orange to the 2003 NCAA Championship, five final fours across four decades, and enough victories to make him conclude his career with the second-most wins in NCAA men's basketball history on the sidelines.
He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2005, coached USA Basketball to Olympic gold three times, 20 Sweet Sixteens, 5 BIG EAST Championships and 35 NCAA Tournament appearances.
He is one of the greatest coaches in the history of sports.
"Perhaps your greatest accomplishment is the hundreds of young men you led and mentored, and the reverence they have for you," Wildhack said during the press conference. "We saw it on full display last weekend when we celebrated the 2003 National Championship Team, and the tributes pouring in from former players over the last 48 hours. What you've done for the game of basketball and Syracuse University is remarkable, but even more impressive is what you've done for Central New York. You're a philanthropist, advocate and ambassador for this community."
Boeheim now hands the reigns of the program he helped build to a capable mentee. Adrian Autry '94, who Boeheim recruited as a 16-year-old from Harlem, played under him and then served on his staff for more than a decade.
"He scored 30 in New York City against Kenny Anderson, and I said we have to get that guy to Syracuse," Boeheim said. "A few years ago, we needed to get him to come back, and he's a great coach. Adrian Autry can coach. He's not here as a recruiter or a player. He can coach. He knows how to coach and he's got two assistants who could both be head coaches. There will be no problem going forward. None."
As the Orange embark on a new chapter under Autry and he takes over to lead the program in his own way, Boeheim's mark on the program will never be forgotten and he now has the opportunity to continue to assist his alma mater in a new way. One that will continue to serve the University that he has devoted his life to and will continue to positively impact generations of Orange student-athletes.
Â
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