Syracuse names Mike Hopkins as Jim Boeheim's eventual successor
Three months after Jim Boeheim revealed his intent to retire in three years, Syracuse also clarified its succession plan.
Chancellor Kent Syverud announced Thursday that assistant coach Mike Hopkins has been formally named Syracuse's head coach-designate and will replace Boeheim following the 2017-18 men's basketball season.
"For more than 25 years, Mike Hopkins has demonstrated the true meaning of Orange pride and loyalty," Syverud said in a statement. "He has contributed so much to the success of the Syracuse basketball program. I know Mike is ready to lead the program into the future and carry forward the success that has occurred under Coach Boeheim."
The timing of the decision is significant because Syracuse just introduced a new athletic director on Monday. Even though the announcement technically came from Svyerud, it's safe to assume Hopkins also has Mark Croyle's support as the right choice to oversee the transition into the post-Boeheim era.
The revelation of Syracuse's succession plan provides some stability to a proud program rocked by NCAA sanctions earlier this year. In addition to last season's postseason ban, the NCAA vacated more than 100 of Boeheim's victories, suspended him for nine games next season and handed down crippling scholarship and recruiting restrictions.
Setting the succession plan in stone is a smart move by Syracuse because it eases uncertainty among both fans and prospective recruits. Hopkins had been unofficially acknowledged as Boeheim's eventual successor for years, but he also interviewed for the USC job and several others during that period, raising the question of whether he would remain long enough to inherit the job.
Now that there's a finite time table in place and he has the public support of his administration, Hopkins has less incentive to look elsewhere. That's crucial for a Syracuse program that would not be in an ideal position to hire from the outside while still dealing with scholarship restrictions in 2018.
A prominent candidate from outside the program might not want to step into that mess. Hopkins, however, apparently has no such fear.
"I'm honored, humbled and grateful for this special opportunity," Hopkins said in a statement. "Very few people are afforded the privilege to coach at their alma mater. I want to thank Chancellor Syverud, the Board of Trustees and Jim Boeheim for entrusting me with this great program."
- - - - - - -
Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
