Syracuse Basketball: ‘Coach Jim Boeheim Day’ will be beautiful, touching

SU Athletics announced earlier this week that, come next February, it will honor former long-time Syracuse basketball head coach Jim Boeheim on the Hill, and I couldn’t feel happier about that.

I’ve rooted on Orange hoops for decades. Decades. I’m an ardent fan of Boeheim, a Hall of Famer who retired this past March after leading the ‘Cuse program for 47 years.

Like many fans, I’m excited for the start of the Adrian Autry era, as the team’s first-year head coach kicks off his tenure in Central New York at the helm of Syracuse basketball in early November.

However, my enthusiasm for Autry is bittersweet and comes with mixed emotions. I’m an old-school ‘Cuse fanatic. I attended Syracuse University from 1996 to 2000, and I will always want the Orange to reside in the Big East Conference, although I have nothing against the Atlantic Coast Conference.

When word broke – somewhat awkwardly – this spring that Jim Boeheim was retiring, I felt it was time. He had led his alma mater for nearly five decades, and the ‘Cuse had struggled in recent seasons, going 33-32 over the past two terms and missing the NCAA Tournament in both stanzas.

SU Athletics is honoring legendary Syracuse basketball head coach Jim Boeheim.

Even with the palpable buzz surrounding the upcoming 2023-24 season and the beginning of the Autry era, it was still a little weird, personally speaking, to see him giving a press conference last Friday on the Orange’s annual media day, rather than Boeheim.

Come Monday, Nov. 6, at the JMA Wireless Dome, beginning at 7 pm, the ‘Cuse will host New Hampshire in Autry’s first official game as the Orange’s head coach. Much like the recent media day, seeing Autry roam the sidelines that night, rather than Jim Boeheim, will likely produce mixed emotions for me, but I’m ready to move forward.

Still, I find it appropriate, beautiful and touching that on Saturday, Feb. 24, when Notre Dame comes to town for an Atlantic Coast Conference clash with the ‘Cuse, SU Athletics will honor Boeheim’s unparalleled accomplishments on what it calls “Coach Jim Boeheim Day.”

In a press release unveiling this event, SU Athletics provided a lengthly list of Boeheim’s achievements over the decades as the Syracuse basketball head coach. I won’t recite that list here, but Boeheim retired at No. 2 in Division I men’s basketball history in terms of career triumphs as a head coach.

He won the national championship in 2003. He advanced to five Final Fours and two more Elite Eights. Boeheim guided the Orange to 35 appearances in the Big Dance, including 20 trips to the Sweet 16.

Additionally, in his 47 terms as the Syracuse basketball boss, Jim Boeheim was remarkably consistent, only tallying one losing season. What Boeheim did for the Orange program, Syracuse University, the old Big East and the entire sport of collegiate hoops is simply phenomenal.

"“Coach Boeheim is an iconic figure in Central New York and to all Orange fans and alumni around the world,” said John Wildhack, SU’s director of athletics, in the cuse.com press statement. “His remarkable career and commitment to Syracuse University and our community will never be replicated. February 24th will provide our fans the opportunity to celebrate and thank Coach Boeheim.”"

In a recent chat with iconic sportscaster Bob Costas, who attended SU, Boeheim said he’s “just thrilled to leave the program where it is,” with Autry taking the reins. Boeheim said it “was the right time” for him to retire, and he’s keeping busy.

These days, Jim Boeheim is the special assistant to the director of athletics at Syracuse University, where he’s focused on fund-raising. He and his wife lead the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation, and Boeheim said he may get into broadcasting at some point, which I would love.

I believe in my heart that Adrian Autry will do an excellent job in the upcoming season and beyond. I’m happy for him. I will passionately miss Jim Boeheim on the sidelines. Kudos to SU Athletics for its decision to hold “Coach Jim Boeheim Day” in a few months.