It’s long been rumored that Mike Hopkins would be the man to succeed Jim Boeheim as head coach of the Syracuse Orange, but today the school will make it official. Syracuse will name Hopkins “head coach designate,” and he will take over for Boeheim in the 2018-19 season, according to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.
Mike Hopkins named Jim Boeheim’s successor at Syracuse, will take over in 2018
The longtime Syracuse assistant will officially take over as the Orange’s head coach in three seasons.
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
This signifies a concrete end to Boeheim’s legendary career. He’s been in charge in Syracuse since 1976 and has won 966 games, although the NCAA only recognizes 858. Now we know that he’ll coach three more seasons.
Hopkins has spent a long time waiting to be Syracuse’s head coach. A four-year player for the Orange from 1989-93, he’s been on Boeheim’s staff since 1996, helping as the Orange won several conference titles and the national title in 2003. His name had often come up in connection to head coaching jobs -- in 2003, St. Bonaventure; in 2010, Charlotte; in 2013, USC; in 2014, Oregon State -- but he’s stayed on Boeheim’s staff through it all. And now he will be rewarded with the job he’s surely dreamed about for years.
Hopkins will get some experience as head coach next season -- Boeheim is suspended for the first nine ACC games due to NCAA restrictions. Hopkins will take over in the final year of those restrictions, which take three scholarships away from the Orange, but he’ll be able to recruit to an unsanctioned school.
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