After a 4-8 start in their 2024 portion of this season’s schedule, 75-year-old Miami basketball head coach, Jim Larrañaga, announced he is stepping away from the program on Thursday morning.
Coach Larrañaga was hired in 2011 from George Mason University, where he famously had one of the most miraculous Final Four runs in the history of the NCAA Tournament.
That time Jim Larranaga led 11-seed George Mason over 1-seed UConn to reach the 2006 Final Four… pic.twitter.com/wJoNaOZiVa
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) December 26, 2024
In 13 seasons with the program, Coach Larrañaga won two ACC regular-season titles, one ACC tournament, won Naismith Coach of the Year with six NCAA Tournament appearances – reaching the Sweet 16 each time, the Elite Eight twice and the Final Four in 2023.
With an accumulated record of 274-174, Larrañaga is the program’s all-time winningest head coach, despite a subpar final season and a tumultuous beginning to 2024-25, he leaves the program with an unmatched legacy in the history of Canes basketball.
Leader. Teacher. Mentor. Friend.
Thank you, Coach L 🙌🏀 pic.twitter.com/hO8SZzSNEx— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) December 26, 2024
Veteran assistant, Bill Courtney, will serve as the interim coach for the team for the remainder of the 2024-25 season before the program conducts their search for a replacement. Courtney is in his fourth season at Miami, and was highly praised in Larrañaga’s exit press conference yesterday afternoon.
“I wouldn’t be able to stay coaching if I hadn’t met him 28 years ago.” He said in on Thursday.
Coach Larrañaga spoke about the reason for his untimely departure, citing the stress of the current landscape of college basketball with the NIL and transfer portal taking an extra toll on his quality of life as a program leader.
Jim Larrañaga explaining why he’s stepping away from UM basketball program. Makes it clear he loves Miami and the school, but the new landscape of college basketball with the portal has become too much:
“I’m exhausted.”
(🎥 @MiamiHurricanes) pic.twitter.com/QAAXho5F1r
— Will Manso (@WillManso) December 26, 2024
Beyond what it means for Miami Basketball, Larrañaga’s comments will make headlines, as it adds to the modern dilemma in college sports with the lack of structure that exists and constant negotiation and recruiting a program has to do with its own players as well as potential new ones.
Regardless, Larrañaga is forever a Miami basketball legend, and his legacy will be remembered and honored for his achievements with the program.
No games scheduled on December 27th.
No games played on December 26th.
New Miami Cornerback Charles Brantley in 2024:
🙌 256 Coverage Snaps
🙌 Zero TDs Allowed
🙌 3 INTs | 5 PBUs
🙌 16.2 Passer Rating Allowed pic.twitter.com/1GuteeDBb6— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 26, 2024
Wishing you a joyous holiday season!! pic.twitter.com/8C0POcjK2r
— Miami Hurricanes (@MiamiHurricanes) December 25, 2024
