Jim Boeheim laments coaching carousel but doesn’t blame coaches for making moves
Jan 6, 2013, 5:50 PM EDT
AP Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim is the epitome of longevity in college basketball, as every one of his 904 victories have come as head coach of the central New York school.
Add in the four seasons as a player and six as an assistant on Roy Danforth’s staff and Boeheim has been a part of the Syracuse program for five decades.
This would make him a good person to talk to when it comes to coaches switching jobs, and Boeheim certainly didn’t mince words on the topic when asked following Syracuse’s 55-44 win at South Florida on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s sad where we are, but you can’t fault a football coach or a basketball coach who sees an opportunity that he feels is good for him. If he loses two years in a row, he’s going to be fired,” Boeheim said. “We know that. So how can you be loyal, what’s loyalty, when they’re going to fire you if you don’t win. I don’t fault coaches for looking and seeing if there’s a situation that is better for them.”
Boeheim said that contracts do not guarantee that coaches will not be fired.
“A contract doesn’t mean anything to the school,” he said. “Everybody says coaches – the contract doesn’t mean anything to them. Well, why should it? You don’t do something well, they don’t like you – you’re fired. You’re out. Just like that. That’s the business. That’s the way it is. That’s the fact of it.”
The reason for the questioning revolves around Syracuse head football coach Doug Marrone, who according to multiple reports will leave the school to become the new head coach of the Buffalo Bills.
Of course situations like this open the door for conversation on how freely the players are allowed to move, and that’s something to be addressed when the NCAA takes steps toward modifying the transfer process in the coming months.
Boeheim also commented on Syracuse’s move to the ACC, stating that had the Big East not undergone its massive shift and the Syracuse were still leaving the conference he would retire.
Boeheim on leaving Big East: "It's not the same. If it was the same and we were leaving, I wouldn't leave. I would just retire."
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Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 06, 2013Boeheim on leaving Big East: "The ACC is a very stable league. I think ... knock on wood. Knock on some president's head."
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Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 06, 2013Never a dull day when Jim Boeheim is at the microphone, and that’s one reason why the he’ll be missed in Big East circles when this season ends.
Raphielle also writes for the NBE Basketball Report and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.
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