Boeheim 'thrilled' for retirement as Autry vows to maintain standards at SU
Mar. 10, 2023; Syracuse, NY; Jim Boeheim following his retirement press conference. Mandatory Photo Credit: Kicia Sears, The Juice Online. (Kicia Sears, The Juice Online.)
Kicia Sears
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The Juice Online
Staff Writer
Syracuse formally introduced Adrian Autry as its new head basketball coach at a Friday press conference and clarified some of the events that transpired around Jim Boeheim's retirement.
The University announced in a press release on Wednesday that Boeheim would not return after a 47-year run as the team's head basketball coach. That came several hours after Boeheim said it was up to the University following Syracuse's 77-74 loss to Wake Forest in the second round of the ACC Tournament, which turned out to be Boeheim's final game.
Notably, the press release contained quotes from athletics director John Wildhack, Autry and Chancellor Kent Syverud, but didn't use the word "retire" as it related to Boeheim, nor was Boeheim quoted in the release.
On Friday, Boeheim confirmed he was retiring, saying he was 'thrilled,' while Wildhack stated the plan had been in place for some time. Wildhack added that Boeheim informed the team he wouldn't be returning following the loss to Wake Forest.
Boeheim was at times sentimental and sarcastic at others in his remarks, where he stated he would continue in some capacity at Syracuse, where he was a player, assistant coach and head coach for over half a century.
"I wouldn't know what else to do anyway," Boeheim said.
He added that he felt better in the past two days than he had in the last 47 years, drawing some chuckles from the crowd.
Boeheim said he didn't think about retirement heading into the year, but during a four-game losing streak in the last part of the season, he began to believe that "this is the time" to retire. That culminated in a 45 minute meeting with the administration on Thursday to iron out a plan for what his role would be with SU in his post-coaching career.
Boeheim choked up at times, especially when speaking about his wife, Juli.
“You’ve been the best wife a coach could ever have," Boeheim said. "None of these last 26 years would have been possible without Juli."
Boeheim lavished praise on his replacement Autry, who has been an assistant coach since 2011, while adding that other coaches on his staff were also deserving of a head coaching role.
"(Autry) can coach," Boeheim said. "He’s not here as a recruiter or player, he’s here as a coach, and he knows how to coach… There will be no problem coaching going forward. None.”
Boeheim quipped that Juli had asked him not to put that in his speech, drawing more laughs from those in attendance.
For his part, Autry became emotional when speaking about Boeheim, who coached him in the early 90s and was his boss for the last decade.
Autry said he had spoken with the team since he was promoted, and jokingly asked the players in attendance if they had attended class that day.
"I am a new voice, a new face with new ideas," Autry said. "But the standards of this program will not change."
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