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Shortly after Syracuse’s loss to Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament on March 8, Jim Boeheim gathered his players and staff at the team hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary — the Orange regularly met after games. The season-ending defeat was no exception.

But then came the news that reverberated around the college basketball world. Boeheim told everyone that, after 47 years, he was retiring as SU’s head coach, passing the torch to Adrian Autry. Boeheim thanked the players, assistants and support staff, explaining that “it was just time.” Though there was understanding of Boeheim’s decision, there was also a sad, emotional response from those in the room, assistant Allen Griffin said. 

Then, at 5 p.m. that afternoon, came SU’s press release, with prepared statements from Autry, Director of Athletics John Wildhack and Chancellor Kent Syverud. Notably missing were any quotes from Boeheim, or any clear mention that he was retiring. Just two hours earlier, Boeheim had given a bizarre and ambiguous press conference that made it unclear whether he retired or was forced out.

SU still managed to pull out a clean finish to the succession on March 10, when Autry’s introductory press conference confirmed Boeheim had retired as coach but would work for the university moving forward. The press conference concluded a chaotic 48-hour stretch that ended not only the career of college basketball’s longest-tenured head coach but also launched a succession plan that had been in place for months and discussed for years. 

“There are twists and turns ultimately to where you get to, but we got to the right ending,” Wildhack said March 10. “Coach Boeheim is going to be with us. Coach Autry is our head coach. We’ve executed the plan. What’s most important is the outcome. We have the right outcome.” 

Wildhack said the succession plan had been in place for “a while,” with conversations with Boeheim spanning multiple years. Wildhack said Boeheim helped build his succession plan, noting that he’d be “crazy” not to value Boeheim’s input. But Boeheim said his decision to retire was much more recent. 

In any case, he sounded content with how everything ended. 

“I’m thrilled to be retired,” Boeheim said. “I felt better the last two days than I’ve felt in 47 years.” 

Since becoming SU’s director of athletics in 2016, Wildhack has kept a list of potential future head coaches. He spoke with dozens of coaches and former players around the industry, finding that there was “unanimous” support for Autry. Wildhack was patient and diligent in finding the right successor, Griffin said, adding that the trust in Autry is “huge” for a first-time head coach. Wildhack was most impressed with Autry’s diverse resume, which includes coaching stops at the AAU and high school levels, plus a three-year stint as a Virginia Tech assistant. 

Boeheim relied heavily on his assistants over recent years, sources close to the program said. Autry, in particular, had a large role in recruiting, game preparation and in-game decisions, Griffin said. 

“He’s been preparing for this moment, and I think he’s going to do a good job,” Griffin said. 

Wildhack had a vision for the transition but understood the delicacy of the situation, and wanted to keep it “under wraps” because Boeheim deserved to go out the way he wanted, Griffin said, though he was transparent with the coaching staff during the process.

Once Boeheim retired, it was decided that Autry could keep everyone together, Griffin said, noting that Boeheim had input on that decision, too. Gerry McNamara was promoted to associate head coach and Griffin will stay on staff. 

Over recent months, former Syracuse forward Ryan Blackwell — now the head coach at Liverpool High School — heard rumors around town that Autry would be the next head coach. SU, though, still kept the plan from leaking, as Wildhack hoped. Mike Hopkins, who played with Autry at Syracuse and later served as an assistant from 1995 to 2017, said he was “completely surprised” and heard no indication it would happen. 

But even near the end of this season, it appeared the succession wouldn’t happen for at least another year. In early February, Boeheim told ESPN he would “probably” return for the 2023-24 campaign. Boeheim said he had full autonomy over his future, pointing to how he coached past the plan for him to retire in 2018. He later met with Wildhack and clarified those remarks. 

Syverud had announced in 2015 that Boeheim would coach for three more years before Hopkins would take over. Then, Hopkins left Syracuse in 2017 and Boeheim received a contract extension for an unspecified number of years. Autry got bumped up to associate head coach, and Boeheim led the Orange to several mediocre regular seasons and two surprise Sweet 16 appearances. Boeheim said he appreciated Wildhack and Syverud’s support during the turbulent seasons.

Boeheim committed to coaching this year’s six-member freshman class for at least one season. During the late-February slide when Syracuse lost four straight games by at least 17 points, Boeheim said he didn’t coach well and felt it was time to retire. 

So, the day before Syracuse’s regular-season finale against Wake Forest on March 4, Boeheim told Wildhack that he planned to retire. Boeheim said the four-minute speech he gave on the court the next day, and another during his ensuing press conference, was his retirement speech. Nobody but team chaplain William Payne noticed it, Boeheim said. The speeches mainly thanked the 2003 team and Syracuse’s fans. Griffin said Boeheim was “very up in the air” about the retirement decision and still feels great health-wise.

But on March 8, Boeheim’s reign came to an end. Syracuse and Wake Forest’s second round game ended at 2:08 p.m., and Boeheim’s postgame press conference began minutes later. He was asked if he had given thought to returning, and gave a long, winding answer that included reflection on fan support, being able to coach his alma mater and his sons. Boeheim noted that he hadn’t had any conversations with SU about a post-coaching position, similar to Mike Krzyzewski at Duke and Roy Williams at North Carolina. But he didn’t formally announce his retirement. 

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Before walking out, Boeheim concluded by saying he hoped he came to an agreement with the school, a decision that was up to the university. He hadn’t met yet with Syverud — who was out of town before the team left for North Carolina — which caused a “communications problem.” 

Boeheim told Dan Patrick Tuesday that he had another year left on his contract that had to be worked out. It’s unclear if Boeheim could’ve coached next season if he wanted to. Speaking with the media in the locker room minutes after the press conference, Syracuse players weren’t aware of what Boeheim had said, and weren’t familiar with his future.

Shortly after, Boeheim met with the team in the hotel. Wildhack showed Boeheim the press release SU planned to send out, and they talked again after it was sent out at 5 p.m., implying that Boeheim was okay with not being included and the lack of clear “retirement” phrasing. Wildhack said there’s no friction with Boeheim, who added that reports of Syracuse not treating him well were false. 

With the program and athletic department knowing Boeheim’s plans, Wildhack felt it was important to provide clarity on SU’s future, necessitating the press release to be sent out quickly rather than word spread through rumors. The transfer portal also opened Monday, another reason SU timed the announcement, so recruits, current players and their families know what the future will look like. Syracuse landed Notre Dame guard JJ Starling in the transfer portal on Tuesday, and Symir Torrence entered it. 

Around 8 p.m. the day of the game, Syracuse boarded its flight home. Boeheim sat in the first row on the right side of the aisle, next to the window. Shortly after 11 p.m., he and Autry arrived in the parking lot outside of the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center, met with family members and found their cars. 

 

More Coverage 

• Syracuse announces head coach Jim Boeheim’s tenure is done after 47th season

• ‘RED’S READY’: To Adrian Autry’s colleagues, he is prepared to be SU’s next head coach

• Jim Boeheim departs, Adrian Autry introduced in press conference

• Smith: The ending was bizarre, and Jim Boeheim deserved better

• The Daily Orange’s top stories on Jim Boeheim 

Then on Thursday, March 9, at least publicly, came mostly silence. Syracuse flooded its social media accounts with pictures and retweets honoring Boeheim, and the university announced Friday’s press conference. Boeheim, meanwhile, met for 45 minutes that afternoon with Wildhack and Syverud, and worked out the “basics” of a role with the university that will be ironed out in a separate meeting with Wildhack this week. 

“I’m so thrilled to be at this university, and continue to,” Boeheim said. “I wouldn’t know what else to do, anyway.” 

Wildhack said Boeheim will have an office in the athletics building, and expects him to focus on fundraising and recruiting efforts. SU Athletics has an ongoing $150 million fundraising campaign, and Wildhack said Boeheim can help Syracuse grow its donor base. Wildhack added that Boeheim can help with recruiting outside of basketball. 

Whether Boeheim remains involved with the basketball program is up to Autry, Wildhack said. Boeheim, Wildhack explained, is sensitive and doesn’t want to meddle with the program. 

Autry said he received over 1,400 messages between Wednesday and Friday, including many from former Syracuse players. Hopkins sent him a text in bold that read: “Congratulations, Red. Go on an orange crush. Make us all proud.”

Autry only spoke briefly with Griffin, who told him Thursday night to find a quiet room with his wife and take in everything that had just happened. The new head coach also met with the players. Autry said he spent Friday enjoying time with his family, but got to work over the weekend — which included a visit to watch 2024 commit Elijah Moore play in New York City. 

Before Autry was introduced at the press conference, Boeheim recalled his hiring in 1976, when he met with Cliff Winters, SU’s then-vice chancellor, and told him he was going to the University of Rochester to be its head coach. “No, you’re not,” Winters told Boeheim. “You’re going to coach here.” 

Winters told Boeheim he would get a three-year contract. Boeheim replied that he needed four years. 

“I just wanted to make sure I could get four,” Boeheim said. “I didn’t think anything about 47.”

Published on March 20, 2023 at 1:05 am

Contact Connor: csmith49@syr.edu | @csmith17_