ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale spoke about who he thinks should be the next head coach of Syracuse after it was announced Wednesday that Jim Boeheim plans to retire in three years.

Assistant coach Mike Hopkins has long been rumored to take over for Boeheim when he leaves, and Vitale left no doubt for who he should think should replace Boeheim in 2018.

“Oh, absolutely,” Vitale said, of Hopkins taking over, to The Daily Orange. “He’s dedicated himself to orange, he’s turned down other opportunities. I think there’s no doubt it was all sitting there.”

Former Director of Athletics Daryl Gross — who stepped down Wednesday — previously said that Hopkins will be the next man up. After a season-ending loss to North Carolina State, Hopkins spoke to reporters after the game instead of Boeheim.

“When people ask me, ‘You’ll be the next head coach at Syracuse,’” Hopkins said after the N.C. State game. “… I used to always say ‘I’m going to put an unbelievable fence around it and protect (Boeheim’s) legacy and what he’s created.’

“It’s going to be hard, he’s a legend.”

Hopkins joined the Orange’s coaching staff in 1996 after playing for Boeheim, and has turned down offers from Providence, Charlotte and St. Bonaventure in the past to return to SU.

“I just feel it’d be the continuity of the success they’ve had,” Vitale said. “Mike’s got a great reputation. Well-liked, well-respected, can recruit nationally.”

Published on March 18, 2015 at 1:56 pm

Contact Matt: mcschnei@syr.edu | @matt_schneidman