It was time. In fact, it’s been time for a few years now. But today the news is officially official: Jim Boeheim will no longer be the head coach for the Syracuse men’s basketball team.
Instant Reaction
I have a lot of thoughts on this and it’s honestly a mixed bag of emotions. Working at ESPN Radio Syracuse the past two years, I have answered hundreds of phone calls calling for Jim Boeheim’s head on a platter. Boeheim even alluded to these callers in the press conference following the home finale. To be honest, I agreed with the callers. The 2-3 Zone clearly was not working. Sitting back and letting teams jack up wide open threes in this era of basketball was archaic. The refusal to even try man-to-man after having a terrible defense all season (save for when they were down 20+ to Georgia Tech) was infuriating. Boeheim still knows and understands the game of basketball, and I think it’s naive to say the game has passed him by. It was more his stubbornness that led to his ultimate demise.
Boeheim in the media
The refusal to extensively use the transfer portal, followed by calling out fellow ACC teams for using NIL money, saw Boeheim in the news for all the wrong reasons. Another factor in the Boeheim disdain over the past couple seasons locally was the grouchy, unpleasant aura that Boeheim gave off time and time again. He constantly snapped at reporters for simple questions, acted high and mighty when he was put to task, and even led a strange press conference to end his career today.
All in all, the off-court antics overshadowed the mess that was happening on the court. Syracuse has established a very high standard over the Boeheim era. And that is a testament to what he has built. But it can also bite you in the rear when it comes to things like the first ever losing season under Boeheim last season, followed by a disappointing end to this season. The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. At this point, it feels like there wasn’t a way for Boeheim to help the program rise to its previous heights.
Giving Boeheim his flowers
Growing up in Syracuse, the Orange are the only team in town. Syracuse basketball is essentially our pro team. And there is no Syracuse basketball without Jim Boeheim. Boeheim made this program into a notch below a blue blood, a top program located in a small city in Central New York. Since 1976, Boeheim has been the face of the program. 20 years ago, Syracuse captured its first and only national title. I can tell you firsthand the people of this town still cherish that run like it was yesterday.
It wasn’t just the national championship that was special. It was the 2013 Final Four run. The unexpected 2016 Final Four run as a 10-seed, capped off by an incredible comeback over Virginia in the Elite Eight. Even the 2021 run to the Sweet Sixteen was fun. Syracuse has been the team that needs prayers on Selection Sunday, but once they get in, you better watch out. Boeheim knew how to coach a team through a deep run.
It’s important to remember that we are talking about one of the greatest coaches of all-time. Fans are mad, and for the most part rightfully so, that a team went under .500 one season and then missed the tournament again the next year. It’s obviously not that simple, for all the reasons I listed above, but you get the point. We’re talking about a man that won over 70% of his games over a 47 year span. 1,015 career wins (I’m not vacating the wins, sorry NCAA). A true legend in the game of basketball. Even if you’ve called for his job, which I have, you have to respect what he has done for the program. He is the program.
So, now what?
With Jim Boeheim retired, Adrian Autry has officially taken over as head coach. Autry played for the Orange in the 90’s and has been on the staff since 2011. It seemed likely either him or Gerry McNamara would take over should this happen. Autry is known as a good basketball mind and has been huge along the recruiting trail over the past decade or so. There is no reason why the return to the standard should not happen sooner rather than later. With that being said, it is also important to give Autry the chance to establish his own style over the next few years. Give the man time to breathe and hopefully good things will come. Only time will tell.
To conclude, it is almost a surreal feeling. Jim Boeheim is all I have known as a Syracuse fan, native, and current member of the local media scene. While it was time for him to go, seeing someone other than him on the sidelines will be something that will take some getting used to.
Farewell, Coach Boeheim. It’s been one hell of a ride.