ACC Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

By Joey Loose | May 29, 2020

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers and head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels shake hands before North Carolina's game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 27, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images) /

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LOUISVILLE, KY – FEBRUARY 19: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

5. Jim Boeheim – Syracuse (2013-2020)

It’s plain to see that Boeheim’s legend was established long before Syracuse joined the ACC in 2013. The longtime Big East powers had already made four Final Fours and won the title in 2003 on Boeheim’s watch. The move to the ACC was seen as something that would boost the conference even further and Boeheim wasted no time proving them right.

In their first year in the ACC, Syracuse won 28 games, 14 in conference play, and seemed to be adapting well to their new surroundings. While Boeheim dealt with the fallout of the university’s athletics scandals, even greater success was on the horizon. As a 10 seed, the 2016 squad made it all the way to the Final Four, an incredible accomplishment for a team many thought shouldn’t have even made the NCAA Tournament.

It’s very fair to say that Syracuse could have accomplished more these last few seasons, finishing between 6th and 10th in the last six years. However, it was Boeheim himself who put the program in this elite position, and perhaps he has a few more tricks up his sleeve before his retirement. Syracuse could have struggled in their new league, but Boeheim yearly puts together NCAA Tournament teams and the next deep tournament run could come before you know it.