Through 30 years of being a fan of Syracuse University basketball I have watched, listened and defended the team’s hall of fame coach, Jim Boeheim.

Many have maligned the permanent fixture on the Syracuse sidelines for the last 33 years as a mediocre coach.

Well after last night’s win against the Albany Great Danes another bullet was added to the list of reasons why Boeheim deserves to be included among the elite in college coaching and why he is a hall of famer.

Consider this:

• 800-288 coaching record (.735) – all at one school. Only three other coaches can make that claim – Dean Smith, Adolph Rupp and Jim Phelan.
• 8th all time in career wins
• 3rd among active coaches
• 356 Big East wins – #1 all time
• 7 Big East regular season champions
• 5 – Big East Tournament Champions
• 31 – 20 win seasons, an NCAA record. And he has never had a losing season. Ever!
• 2003 NCAA National Champions (4 Final Fours)

All this from a gangly walk-on to the Syracuse basketball program in 1963 who by his senior year had been promoted to team captain, and teamed with Dave Bing to lead Syracuse to the second NCAA berth in school history.

Not bad for a “mediocre” coach.

Jim Boeheim 800 Wins – Music Video