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Breaking News: Coach Designate Mike Hopkins Bolts Syracuse for Washington

By Josh Peelman

Dec 8, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach designate Mike Hopkins speaks with the press after the Colgate Raiders game at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won 78-51. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach designate Mike Hopkins speaks with the press after the Colgate Raiders game at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won 78-51. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s official: Syracuse Basketball Assistant Coach Mike Hopkins has accepted an offer to become the next Head Coach of the Washington Huskies. Inside the Loud House discusses a few of the impacts, as well as the details involved with his new landing spot.

According to a University of Washington pres release, it has been confirmed that Syracuse Basketball coach designate, or coach-in-waiting if you will, to replace Head Coach Jim Boeheim, has departed and took a job in Washington. The Huskies just fired Lorenzo Romar four days ago after 15 years as Head Coach there, according to ESPN.com. They have now found their new Head Coach in Hopkins to replace him, in what used to be a great program in the Pac-12. The news was broke by Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com.

The original deal for Mike Hopkins to be the next Syracuse Basketball Head Coach was set in June of 2015; right after the whole academic scandal caused the 101 wins to be vacated, according to the Daily Orange. That’s all scrapped now as Goodman says because Hopkins wants to do his own thing:

Hopkins new contract is for 6 years, according to ESPN.com. Therefore, it seems highly unlikely he will be back anytime soon as Syracuse’s next Head Basketball Coach, unless Boeheim decides to stay all that time. It almost seems ironic now that new Syracuse Athletic Director John Wildhack was saying just over a month or so ago that the “nothing had changed” in an interview with ESPN Syracuse’s Brent Axe:

"“Previous to me coming here, the transition was announced by all parties, agreed to by all parties, released by all parties. It’s my job to ensure as smooth a transition in this program as we can. That’s my job and I’m going to do my absolute best to do it. …. We plan on executing that which has been put in place.”What’s Next for Syracuse Basketball?So how does this change things? Will Boeheim leave sooner rather than later? In addition, how will it effect recruiting?  Hopkins has always been the one to bring in the big talents along with assistant coach Gerry McNamara.Honestly, no one knows what’s going to happen quite yet. Is Boeheim not going to retire? As a result of this news will he stay a bit longer until a new plan is in place? That’s all up in the air.For all we know, maybe Gerry McNamara, Boeheim’s other Assistant Coach, might take up the mantle he always dreamed about. Take for instance this statement he made to the Daily Orange when he got hired 6 years ago:‘To me the spotlight is never me. The spotlight is Syracuse. To me the spotlight is Syracuse, and I feel like I am in the spotlight. The reason I love what I’m doing is because I am doing it where I love to be. Because I care so much about this.”As a result of all this, we expect the process will take sometime, so don’t expect a whole lot of quick answers as everyone at Syracuse tries to wrap their head around this shocking, but big news.Hopkins Remarks on DepartureIn a press release from the University of Washington, Mike Hopkins expressed his thanks to Syracuse University and all his fans and how excited he is to start this new phase of his career:The University of Washington is such a unique place, with a world-class University, an exciting basketball history and unbelievable fan support. Together, I believe we can build something very special in Seattle, and I can’t wait to get started.I can’t express enough thanks to Coach Boeheim for so many years of mentorship and guidance. The timing is right for me and my family to make this move.”Next: Jim Boeheim: A Look Back at 999 Syracuse WinsAs a result of this big new, we’ll keep you updated here on Inside the Loud House.Published on 03/19/2017 at 12:37 PM EDTLast updated on 03/19/2017 at 1:53 PM EDT “Previous to me coming here, the transition was announced by all parties, agreed to by all parties, released by all parties. It’s my job to ensure as smooth a transition in this program as we can. That’s my job and I’m going to do my absolute best to do it. …. We plan on executing that which has been put in place.”‘To me the spotlight is never me. The spotlight is Syracuse. To me the spotlight is Syracuse, and I feel like I am in the spotlight. The reason I love what I’m doing is because I am doing it where I love to be. Because I care so much about this.”The University of Washington is such a unique place, with a world-class University, an exciting basketball history and unbelievable fan support. Together, I believe we can build something very special in Seattle, and I can’t wait to get started.I can’t express enough thanks to Coach Boeheim for so many years of mentorship and guidance. The timing is right for me and my family to make this move.”"

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