Boeheim honored with name on entry to the Melo Center

Also received scholarship, banner                

SYRACUSE — Syracuse University plans a new scholarship and hoisted a new banner in the JMA Wireless Dome to honor long-time former men’s basketball head coach Jim Boeheim during a post-game ceremony on Feb. 24. The university also plans to name the entrance to the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center after Boeheim, who concluded his 47-year coaching career following the 2022-23 season.  Those announcements, along with local and state-government proclamations declaring Feb. 24 as Jim Boeheim Day, were part of the ceremony inside the Dome after Syracuse held off Notre Dame, to win 88-85. Mike Tirico, an SU graduate who handles play-by-play for NBC’s Sunday Night Football, served as the ceremony’s emcee on the Jim Boeheim court. CNYBJ monitored the event online at ACC Network Extra.  Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud and his wife, SU professor Ruth Chen, presented Boeheim a plaque signifying the creation of a new, endowed scholarship in his name.  “The Jim Boeheim ‘66 Central New York scholarship … will be awarded to undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need with a preference to students who are residents of the Central New York and Finger Lakes region,” Tirico said in addressing the crowd. Head coach Adrian Autry and current members of the Syracuse men’s basketball team presented the former coach with a painting they had commissioned that represents “some of the most iconic moments through [Boeheim’s] career,” as Tirico described it.  The ceremony also included a video showing new renderings from the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center, and as Tirico announced, “As a permanent feature, the entry way to the Melo Center will pay homage to Coach Boeheim and forever be known as the Jim Boeheim Entrance to the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center. That means that every recruit and student-athlete who walks through those doors will know the rich history and the expectation of playing basketball at Syracuse.”  John Wildhack, SU’s director of athletics, was then introduced and shook Boeheim’s hand as the university raised a banner above section 309, acknowledging Boeheim’s Hall of Fame basketball-coaching accomplishments between 1976 and 2023, including the 2003 NCAA Championship, five NCAA Final Fours, and 35 NCAA Tournaments.

Government recognition

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon presented Boeheim with a proclamation declaring Feb. 24, 2024 as Jim Boeheim Day throughout the city of Syracuse and Onondaga County.  New York State Assemblyman William Magnarelli and New York State Senator John Mannion also presented Boeheim with a resolution from the New York State Legislature that also declared the day as Jim Boeheim Day. A representative for Gov. Kathy Hochul also presented Boeheim with a proclamation declaring the day as Jim Boeheim day throughout the state of New York. The ceremony also included a greeting from Gov. Kathy Hochul, a 1980 graduate of Syracuse University. 

Boeheim remarks

In his remarks, Boeheim acknowledged his wife Juli; children Elizabeth, Jimmy, Buddy, and Jamie; the current Orange basketball team; and Coach Autry, the coaching staff, and former players who attended the event.  Those players included Boeheim’s former teammate, Dave Bing, who Boeheim called “the greatest player to ever play at Syracuse University who started this all,” which was greeted with applause from the crowd in the JMA Wireless Dome.  He also thanked the fans who Boeheim said come to the games “no matter what.” “I’ve been forever grateful for that,” he added. Boeheim then went on to say, “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving me a life nobody could’ve asked for.”