Syracuse Basketball: Jim Boeheim will stay on with SU Athletics – love that

Jim Boeheim is no longer the head coach of Syracuse basketball, but he is staying on with SU Athletics, and I totally love that.

As first reported by Mike Waters of Syracuse.com, Boeheim has a new position as special assistant to the Syracuse Orange athletic director, who at present is John Wildhack.

On cuse.com, Boeheim does have the title of “Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics” under his bio. I’ll be curious to see what Boeheim’s new role will ultimately entail.

When SU Athletics held a press conference this past Friday to introduce former ‘Cuse player and associate head coach Adrian Autry as the new head coach of Syracuse basketball, Boeheim noted in his remarks that he expected to continue working for Syracuse University in some capacity.

Jim Boeheim is done as Syracuse basketball head coach but will continue to work for SU Athletics.

More than a week ago, after the Orange lost on a buzzer-beater to Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament’s second round, Boeheim made some odd comments regarding his future with Syracuse basketball.

And a few hours later, SU Athletics put out a press release where it said that after 47 seasons at the helm on the Hill, Boeheim was out as the ‘Cuse head coach, with Autry his replacement.

I’m a proud Syracuse University alumnus. I’ve loved Syracuse basketball for decades. I’m a huge fan of Jim Boeheim. That being said, after the past two stanzas, in which the team went 33-32 overall and didn’t make the post-season, I did feel that it was time for Boeheim to call it quits.

However, I figured he would stick around SU in some capacity, and he is. And that’s the way it should be. Jim Boeheim is synonymous with Syracuse basketball and Syracuse University; and vice versa.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Jim Boeheim, in his new role with SU Athletics, is involved with fund-raising to some extent. And Waters alluded to that as well in his recent article.

In his 47 terms as the head coach of the Orange, Boeheim won the second-most games in the history of Division I men’s basketball. He captured the 2003 national title and went to five Final Fours.

Jim Boeheim also advanced to 20 Sweet 16s and made the Big Dance on 35 occasions in 47 campaigns. Regardless of the last two seasons, Boeheim’s career accomplishments speak for themselves.

He won’t be roaming the sidelines at the JMA Wireless Dome any longer. But Jim Boeheim will still be associated with Syracuse University and SU Athletics.

I wouldn’t want it any other way.