Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim will retire in three years and athletic director Daryl Gross is out in the wake of harsh NCAA sanctions levied against the university.
Kent Syverud, Syracuse chancellor, issued a statement Wednesday.
“Coach Boeheim has also told me that he intends to retire as head coach in three years,” Syverud said. “His goal in making this decision and announcement now is to bring certainty to the team and program in the coming years, and enable and plan for a successful, longer-term transition in coaching leadership. Coach Boeheim’s commitment to ensuring that the men’s basketball program remains strong even after his tenure is just one more example of his deep loyalty to our university.”
Gross was in his 10th year as Syracuse’s athletic director and will receive a new position at the school.
“As part of my discussions with him, Dr. Gross has asked to conclude his tenure as director of athletics and transition to a new role at the university that can benefit from his background and experience in the areas of marketing and advancement,” Syverud said in the statement. “He believes this transition will allow SU athletics to move forward and position itself for continued future success. Effective today, Dr. Gross will serve as vice president and special assistant to the chancellor, and adjunct professor in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Dr. Gross has embraced this opportunity, and we look forward to his continued contributions.”
Syracuse announced the interim athletic director will be Peter Sala, who is the senior AD of athletics for facilities and the managing director of the Carrier Dome.
On March 6 in a 94-page report, the NCAA suspended Boeheim for nine ACC games next season, took away 12 scholarships — three per year through 2018-19 — and vacated 108 wins for infractions in the school’s athletic programs. The school had already self-imposed a postseason ban for its men’s basketball team this season.
Boeheim is a Hall of Fame coach who had ranked second all-time in Division I career victories.
“Coach Jim Boeheim has been a mainstay at Syracuse University for more than one-third of our entire 144-year history,” Syverud said. “He enrolled as a student here in 1962 and has never left. Among the many roles he has held at Syracuse are student-athlete, graduate assistant, teacher, assistant coach, head coach, community stalwart, philanthropist, U.S. Olympian coach, and Hall of Fame member. In these roles, he has been the embodiment of Orange Pride.”
The NCAA said the infractions involved academic misconduct, extra benefits, failure to follow the drug-testing policy and impermissible booster activity. Syracuse plans to appeal some of the penalties.
“[Syracuse] University does not agree with all of the conclusions reached by the Committee on Infractions and does not agree that the full set of penalties imposed by the committee are appropriate or equitable,” Syverud wrote to members of the university community. “We remain disturbed by the severity of certain penalties and the characterization by the NCAA of certain facts surrounding the case. After a full discussion with the Board of Trustees Athletics Committee, [Syracuse] accepts some of the penalties imposed by the committee, but will appeal the vacation of certain wins for the men’s basketball program and the reduction in men’s basketball scholarships.
“The decision to appeal is not taken lightly. However, based on the facts and a review of previous NCAA infractions decisions, [Syracuse] believes the impact of these specific penalties is excessive and disproportionate. The university also will support coach Boeheim should he choose to appeal penalties that affect him personally.”
Syracuse went to four Final Fours and won the 2003 NCAA championship under Boeheim, who will address the media at a news conference Thursday.