Former Miami basketball coach Jim Larrañaga ‘exhausted’ by NIL impact on college sports
Earlier this week, Miami men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga became the latest leader of a major college program to step down. Tony Bennett resigned from Virginia before the start of the regular season.
Despite being the winningest head coach in program history, Larrañaga ended his 14th season at Miami abruptly, at least in part because of the name, image and likeness in college sports (NIL) .
At a press conference announcing his retirement on December 26, the 75-year-old Larrañaga said he was “exhausted” by fighting the transfer portal and the NIL.
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Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga announces his retirement while addressing the media at the Watersco Center on Thursday, December 26, 2024 in Coral Gables, Florida. (DA Varela/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“At this moment, 53 years later, I just feel… that I’m not going to be able to successfully navigate this new world that I’m facing,” Larrañaga told reporters, citing NIL.
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“One thing you have to constantly ask yourself: Are you going to give 100 percent physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually with everything you have and the commitment you deserve?” Larrañaga added. . “And, frankly, I’ve tried to do that my whole life and my entire time here, and I’m exhausted.”
Miami Hurricanes head coach Jim Larrañaga during the Jimmy V Classic game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Madison Square Garden on December 10, 2024 in New York City. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
It had been less than two years since Larrañaga coached the Hurricanes to the Final Four, and Miami was 4-8 when he decided to quit. The Miami Heat finished the 2023-24 season with a 15-17 record.
Assistant Bill Courtney has been named to take over as head coach on an interim basis.
October 30, 2024, Watsco Center on the campus of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
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Under Larrañaga’s leadership, the Miami Heat advanced to the NCAA Tournament six times and the Sweet 16 four times. The Hurricanes also advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in 2022 and the Final Four in 2023.
Miami won the ACC Championship in 2013.
Before taking the Miami job, Larrañaga spent 14 seasons at George Mason University. In 2006, he led the mid-level program to a shocking Final Four appearance.
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