Syracuse men’s basketball head coach designate Mike Hopkins will become the next head coach at the University of Washington. Reports [8] indicate Hopkins contract with the Huskies is for six years.
Following Hopkins’ departure, Syracuse University and head men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim [9] agreed to a contract extension for an unannounced number of years. Boeheim was expected to retire following the 2017-18 season.
“Mike received a great opportunity and we thank him and wish him the best,” Boeheim said in a statement. “I’m happy to stay on to help the program and to continue the staff’s devotion to success.”
Hopkins [10] played for the Orange from 1989-93 and began his career as an assistant for Boeheim in 1996.
Hopkins served as Syracuse’s interim head coach for nine games in 2015-16 during Boeheim’s suspension for NCAA violations [11]. He registered a 4-5 record. Hopkins was expected to become SU’s permanent head coach following Boeheim’s retirement.
Hopkins takes over a Washington team that tallied just a 9-22 record last season. The Huskies missed the last six NCAA Tournaments under former head coach Lorenzo Romar, who was fired on Wednesday.
"I'm extremely excited to welcome Mike and his family to Seattle," Washington Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen said in a statement to gohuskies.com. [12] "His resume and reputation within the basketball community made him stand out to us, but ultimately it was his vision for Washington, his passion for teaching and developing student-athletes and his close alignment with the core values of our institution and department that made it more than clear that he was the right fit for us."
Syracuse also announced that Adrian Autry [13] has been promoted to associate head coach. Current Orange assistant coach Gerry McNamara [14] is also expected to remain on Boeheim’s staff. Both have been on the SU bench since 2011-12.
"The Syracuse basketball program was built on the concept of family and that remains intact with Coach Boeheim agreeing to this contract extension," said Syracuse Director of Athletics John Wildhack in a statement [15]. “Having experienced assistant coaches like Adrian Autry and Gerry McNamara on the staff helps us maintain the elite standing the program has earned.”
