Earlier this week, Miami men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga became the latest leader of a major college program to resign. Tony Bennett resigned from his position at Virginia before the regular season ended.
Despite being the winningest head coach in program history. But Larrañaga abruptly ended his 14th season at Miami, at least in part, because of his name, image and likeness (NIL) in college sports.
At the Dec. 11 press conference announcing his retirement, Larrañaga, 75, at 26, said struggling with the transfer portal and NIL had left him “exhausted.”
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Jim Larranaga, Miami head coach Give an interview to the media and announced his retirement at the Vatsco Center on Thursday, December 1, September 26, 2024 in Coral Gables, Florida. (DA Varela/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“At this point After 53 years, I just don’t feel… I was able to successfully explore the new world I was facing,” Larranaga told reporters. with reference to NIL
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“There’s one thing you have to ask yourself all the time: You will give everything you have. A commitment that deserves 100% of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually?” Larranaga added. “And to be honest, I’ve been trying to do that all my life and all my time here. But I’m tired.”
Head coach Jim Larrañaga of the Miami Hurricanes during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden December 10, 2024 in New York City. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Although less than two years had passed since Larrañaga coached the Hurricanes to the Final Four, Miami had a 4-8 record when he decided to retire from the sport. Miami finishes the 2023-24 season with a 15-17 record.
Assistant Bill Courtney has been tapped to take over as head coach on an interim basis.
Watsco Center on the University of Miami campus on Oct. 1, Sept. 30, 2024 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
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Under Larrañaga, Miami qualified for the NCAA Tournament six times and advanced to the Sweet 16 four times. The Hurricanes also advanced to the program’s first Elite Eight in 2022 and the Final Four in 2023.
Miami won the ACC tournament championship in 2013.
Before coming to Miami, Larrañaga spent 14 seasons at George Mason, where he led the program in the middle of the majors with a shocking performance in the Final Four in 2006.
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