Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins has been named head coach-designate for the men’s basketball program by Chancellor Kent Syverud, the university announced in a release Thursday.
The announcement comes after the university announced in March that head coach Jim Boeheim intends to retire in three seasons. If that plan is seen through, Hopkins is now officially pegged to replace Boeheim after the 2017-18 season.
Hopkins played in Syracuse’s backcourt from 1989 to 1993, and joined Boeheim’s staff as an assistant coach in 1995. It has long been assumed that Hopkins would take over for Boeheim once the long-tenured coach retired, with public endorsements from Boeheim and former SU Director of Athletics Daryl Gross, among others.