Jim Boeheim’s 47-year career as head coach of the Syracuse Orange came to an unceremonious end on Wednesday after he and the school appeared to be in different places about his continued employment.
After Boeheim seemed to imply that he’d like to keep coaching but it was up to the school to decide, Syracuse announced that Boeheim was out as head coach a few hours later without including him in the announcement.
It was a far cry from the way Mike Krzyzewski’s time ended at Duke, with much fanfare and a final season tour.
Coach K spoke on Thursday about how he hopes that the school and the coach can come to some kind of understanding so that he can be celebrated properly.
“The other day was awkward. Syracuse the university and Syracuse athletics and Syracuse basketball, they should all be one in making this announcement,” Krzyzewski said in a statement to ESPN. “The fact that there’s any ambiguity is wrong. It’s not right. I would hope that if that is the case — I’m not saying it is, but I would hope things get right quickly and be celebrated the way it should be.”
The all-time winningest coach says that he hopes Syracuse will honor the second-winningest coach in due time.
“The ending has to be better,” Krzyzewski said. “Maybe we can do this right in a week or in two days. Just where everyone should know what his future is. It should be at Syracuse… so all the fans and everyone knows he’s always going to be a part of that. I can tell you that it’s helped us and our fans. It really has helped the transition. It shows a level of support for the new person. Adrian is a great choice.”
[ESPN]
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.