Jim Boeheim Dispels Notion of Turmoil, Friction in His Retirement
Former Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim spoke to the media on Friday as part of Adrian Autry's introductory press conference. During that time, he detailed how his retirement was set in motion and refuted the narrative that he was forced out or treated poorly during this transition.
"For most of this year, I really didn't think about retirement which is true of every year," Boeheim said. "I think some people have had me retired about 10 different times. I thought about it this year and obviously when we hit the stretch that we did where I didn't coach very good and we didn't play very good, we lost those four games, I felt that this was the time. Last Friday I talked to John (Wildhack) about this. It was unfortunate that the press conference had to be in the middle of that. We hadn't had a chance to meet, John, the Chancellor and I. He's got a lot harder job than I've got.
"We really didn't have a solution, so what I said was all I could say. People took that, as they always do, as me not talking or the university not... we had nothing to say other than things had to be worked out. We met (Wednesday) afternoon for 45 minutes and everything was worked out. Not everything but most everything, the basics. I will work with John, I will work with the Chancellor. I'm so thrilled so to be at this university and continue."
Boeheim further noted that he is "thrilled" to be retired.
"Most schools don't have a plan," Boeheim said. "Ninety-nine out of one hundred do not have a plan. John Wildhack had a plan. The university had a plan and I was a part of that plan. That plan is now in place. I'm thrilled. I'm thrilled to be retired. I felt better the last two days than I've felt in 47 years."
While he has retired from coaching, Boeheim will still remain an employee of Syracuse University and says he was not treated poorly through his retirement announcement.
"When I was 17 years old I came to Syracuse, right next door," Boeheim said. "The dirt floor practice field for football. Syracuse had lost 29 straight games, in basketball not football. 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. There's been a lot said that they haven't treated me right. That's not true. None of that is true."
Many people associated Syracuse basketball with Jim Boeheim. That he is Syracuse basketball. He says, however, it is not him that made the program what it was over nearly 50 years.
"Our fans, I didn't think it would happen, they fooled me," Boeheim said. "They came in the weather, they came in the winter, they walked across campus. It didn't matter if it was zero. Now if it's zero, the media tells you not to go to the grocery store. They came to the games. Thirty-one thousand people, zero (degrees), minus ten windchill, six feet of snow on the ground. They came to the games. That's what Syracuse basketball is, it's not me. It won't be Adrian. It's the fans. They made our program."
Lastly, Boeheim expressed his love for the school and the city.
"Syracuse basketball is being left in the best of hands," Boeheim said. "They won't need me. I'll be here everyday in my little office some place. Sixty-one years ago I was going to go home. My mother said no. I said, 'these guys are too good for me. Dave Bing just scored 30 straight points against me.' She said, 'what about the other guys?' I said, 'well maybe.' She said, 'then you'll be alright.' 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 with Rick Pitino and our wives. They picked Paris, Bermuda and California. I picked Syracuse. They all walked away. Guess what? I'm still here. Thank you."
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