In his first public comments Friday since Syracuse University announced his departure, Jim Boeheim said he “felt this was the time” to retire from coaching.
“Most schools don’t have a plan,” Boeheim said at a press conference that served as both a send-off to him and an introduction of Adrian Autry, the program’s new coach. “Ninety-nine out of a hundred don’t have a plan. [Athletic director] John Wildhack had a plan. The university had a plan and I was a part of that plan.”
Boeheim led the Orange to 1,116 wins over 47 seasons on the bench, although the NCAA vacated 101 of those wins.
The now-former coach became emotional twice during the roughly 15 minutes he spoke — first when thanking his wife Juli for her support and second when describing the first day he stepped on campus in 1962.
“I can’t tell you the love I have for Syracuse University, and Syracuse. I picked Syracuse as the place I wanted to live a long time ago,” he said.
A roller-coaster day on Wednesday started with the Orange losing what would be Boeheim’s last game against Wake Forest in the ACC tournament quarterfinals. That led to a postgame press conference, where Boeheim kept the talk of his future vague, only saying it was up to the university and he hoped they could come to an agreement.
“Last Friiday, I talked to John about this. It was unfortunate that the press conference had to be in the middle of that, and we hadn’t had a chance to meet, John, the [university] chancellor and I, so we really didn’t have a solution,” Boeheim said.
Boeheim said there was no merit to claims that the university hadn’t treated him right, and Wildhack added there was “no friction” between he and the legend.
The agreement, according to Boeheim, took “45 minutes” after the press conference to hammer out the basics. Wildhack said he met with Boeheim before the 5 p.m. release, which didn’t quote Boeheim or call the move a retirement, and showed him the release. According to Wildhack, Boeheim met with the team before the university’s announcement.
“[Boeheim] helped build this plan,” Wildhack said Friday. “I would be crazy not to ask for his input and take his input seriously.”
The decision to step down stemmed from a stretch of four games where Boeheim said he “didn’t coach very good and we didn’t play very good.” The Orange lost four of their last five regular season contests — each one by 17 or more points.
“I felt like this was the time,” he said.
As part of Boeheim stepping down as coach, he will stay on with the university “for the good of the program and this university,” said SU Chancellor Kent Syverud.
“That plan is now in place,” Boeheim said. “And I’m thrilled. I’m thrilled to be retired. I’ve felt better the last two days than I’ve felt in 47 years.”
