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Syracuse announces Jim Boeheim is retiring in 3 years

By Cameron La Fontaine

Mar 7, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Jim Boeheim directs his team during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at PNC Arena. The Wolfpack won 71-57. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Jim Boeheim directs his team during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at PNC Arena. The Wolfpack won 71-57. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Legendary Syracuse Orange basketball coach Jim Boeheim will retire in three years.

Syracuse Orangemen head coach Jim Boeheim will retire in three years, the school announced Wednesday. Boeheim is 70 years old and has been the head coach of the Syracuse Orange since 1976.

Jim Boeheim has coached Syracuse to a 966-333 record (.744 winning percentage) and in his time of coaching, Boeheim and Syracuse have won one national championship, in 2003 and Boeheim has led the Orange to three national championship games and four Final Four appearances.

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Jim Boeheim started at Syracuse coaching as an assistant from 1970-1976 and took over as head coach when he was 32 years old.

Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud released a statement on the decision Wednesday:

"“Coach Boeheim has also told me that he intends to retire as Head Coach in three years. His goal in making this decision and announcement now is to bring certainty to the team and program in the coming years, and enable and plan for a successful, longer-term transition in coaching leadership. Coach Boeheim’s commitment to ensuring that the men’s basketball program remains strong even after his tenure is just one more example of his deep loyalty to our University.”"

Jim Boeheim has led Syracuse to 31 NCAA Tournament appearances in 39 years coaching at the school and Syracuse has been in the NIT six times.

Syracuse has been ineligible for postseason play twice in Boeheim’s career, including this season when Syracuse was penalized for NCAA violations with a one year postseason ban and Boeheim will be suspended for the first nine games of the 2015-2016 ACC season.

Jim Boeheim has coached some great teams and great players in his time at Syracuse. Most notably, the Syracuse 2003 national championship team led by Carmelo Anthony. Boeheim also coached notable NBA players Dave Bing, Michael Carter-Williams, Derrick Coleman, Sherman Douglas, Jonny Flynn, Tyler Ennis and Wesley Johnson.

Prior to the punishment by the NCAA, Jim Boeheim ranked second among active coaches in career wins with 966 behind Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski who got his 1,000th win this season. However, as part of the punishment handed down by the NCAA, Syracuse and Boeheim were forced to vacate 108 wins, accumulated in various seasons where ineligible players were suited up for the Orangemen. The loss of victories drops his win total to 858 and moves Boeheim down to 6th on the all-time wins list.

Pretty weird that we’re talking retirement three years from now. It appears that Syracuse wants Boeheim out in three years regardless of whether he’s ready to retire or not. But, at 73 you can expect that it’ll reasonably be time for Boeheim to stop.

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