The Syracuse Orange are currently at risk of missing the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season under Jim Boeheim. With that lack of success and some of his controversial comments lately, some believe that Syracuse should move on from the longtime head coach. But one former player doesn’t necessarily think that should be the case.
In an interview with Sirius XM’s College Sports Radio, former Syracuse basketball player Eric Devendorf acknowledged that some people think Jim Boeheim should retire, but he also pointed out what Boeheim has done for the program.
“Fans love Coach Boeheim,” Devendorf said. “But yeah, I guess they’ve been calling for him to retire for the past few years. You know, I think a lot of people’s mind is, 79 years old. And I think you know, once you get past 75, it’s time to sit down, you know, because you want to see another guy get an opportunity and another guy get a chance to lead.
“But at the same time, I mean, the guy has been there for 50-plus years. He’s been incredible. He’s a Hall of Famer. Has the most wins in NCAA history, and that’s what I’m gonna say despite the 101 wins that they took away.”
Syracuse basketball is at risk of missing the NCAA Tournament and hasn't entered March Madness ranked higher than an 8-seed since 2014.
Is it time for Hall of Fame head coach Jim Boeheim to retire? Former Orange star, @ED23HOOPS, answered that to @dannykanell & @KrisBudden. pic.twitter.com/cvjQlRMLVP
— College Sports on SiriusXM (@SXMCollege) February 22, 2023
According to Devendorf, Boeheim has earned the right to retire on his own terms.
“I think it’s been split. It’s been kind of 50-50,” Devendorf said of the fan opinion on Boeheim. “You know, people calling on radio show(s) and call for him to retire and then other people are saying that you know, it’s, it’s up to him. I believe it is. Obviously you got to sit down and have a talk with the chancellor and the AD but at the end of the day, I believe he’s earned the right to step out when he wants, whenever that is. I guess no one really knows right now.”
