Boeheim speaks on retiring

SYRACUSE, N.Y.

- Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim has always hinted he planned to retire on his own terms. That moment is at hand and his plan remains intact despite NCAA sanctions marring the end of his career.

In an hour-long press conference yesterday ahead of top teams starting in the NCAA Tournament, Boeheim said that 2018 is the "right time" to retire, but acknowledged that next season could be his last as he and the university appeal punishments for academic and benefits violations.

Boeheim said his plan discussed with the university's chancellor is to retire after three more seasons, but that he will take things year by year.

"I love coaching, and you can coach as long as you can be effective,'' said Boeheim, head coach at his alma mater since 1976. "If I'm not effective at the end of next year, I won't coach after next year. The 3-year thing is the outside."

Boeheim said retiring after his team reached the Final Four in 2012 would have been ideal, but the timing wasn't right. He said he has told recruits he will be here next season but has no firm plans beyond that. He said some of the NCAA's allegations laid out in a scathing, 94-page report earlier this month are inaccurate. He called the penalties "unduly harsh" and said the reason he planned to stay on as coach was to make sure the program was in good shape.

"There was no way I would ever run away from an investigation in progress," Boeheim said. "I had no plans to coach this long. This investigation has made it imperative."

The NCAA punished Boeheim and Syracuse for academic, benefits and other violations.