Following a rough start to the college basketball season, reports say that University of Miami head coach Jim Larranaga will step down effective immediately. Pete Thamel first reported the news on X (Twitter).
Miami and basketball coach Jim Larranaga are in talks about him stepping down immediately, an ESPN source confirms. Clarity is expected later today. This confirms Miami Herald report from earlier. pic.twitter.com/ZpgJmNNOzL
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 26, 2024
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Report: Miami Coach Jim Larranaga in Talks to Step Down
Why Now?
Miami made a run to the Final Four in 2023, ending a strong campaign under then-star Isaiah Wong. The Hurricanes appeared to be on a consistent road to success, but that quickly turned. Last season, Miami struggled to make any noise in the ACC, finishing at 15-17. They had high hopes this season, even being labeled a sleeper team to win the conference. They even worked their way up to number three in the ACC Power Rankings before a catastrophic falloff.
The Hurricanes have now lost eight of their last nine games, dropping them near the bottom of the power rankings and at #159 in the NET rankings. At 4-8, there is little hope of salvaging a .500 season, let alone making a run for the NCAA Tournament. They have lost home games to Charleston Southern and Mount St. Mary’s. Whatever the reason may be, Jim Larranaga has been unable to get the Hurricanes in a position to compete in the ACC this season.
Past Success
Over 39 years of coaching, Larranaga coached three teams: Bowling Green, George Mason, and Miami.
Bowling Green (1986-1997)
Following his playing career, Larranaga began his coaching career at Bowling Green State University. Although he never led the Falcons to the NCAA Tournament, he was able to lead them to a regular season MAC championship in his final season, leading them to a 22-10 record. They finished seven of 11 seasons with a winning record before he left the university, finishing with a record of 169-145.
George Mason (1997-2010)
Jim Larranaga will likely be remembered most for his stop at George Mason. He won three conference championships and made five NCAA Tournaments while leading the Patriots. During his time there, he went on one of the most historic NCAA Tournament runs of all time. As an 11-seed, George Mason made an improbable run to the Final Four in 2006, beating top-15 teams North Carolina and Connecticut. They were only the second 11-seed to make the Final Four at the time.
Following a 9-18 start to his George Mason career, Larranaga never finished below .500 again as the Patriots’ coach. He finished his time at George Mason with a program record of 273 wins, a feat that stands to this day.
Miami (FL) (2010-present)
The potentially final stop for Larranaga came in South Florida at the University of Miami. During his time with Miami, he made another six NCAA Tournament bids, including another Final Four. The move to a power conference didn’t diminish his overall success. He finished four seasons inside the AP top 25 and won 274 games as head coach, a mark that makes him the winningest coach in Miami history.
The Last Word
While he has had marked success for Miami, it appears that his ability to get the best from each player has dwindled. Don’t let the recent struggles fool you: Jim Larranaga is an elite basketball coach and will be remembered forever. His 716 wins only tell part of the story.
If we have seen the last of Jim Larranaga on the sideline, college basketball will have lost another legendary coach.
The post Report: Miami Coach Jim Larranaga in Talks to Step Down appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.