NCAA Basketball: Retrospective look at 2011 offseason coaching hires

By Joey Loose | Jun 19, 2021

COLLEGE PARK, MD - JANUARY 11: (L to R) Head coachs Mark Turgeon of the Maryland Terrapins and Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers shake hands before a college basketball game at the XFinity Center on January 11, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

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NCAA Basketball Miami Hurricanes head coach Jim Larranaga Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Jim Larranaga (Miami FL)

Miami isn’t exactly a basketball school; football has always been the crowned jewel for the Hurricanes, even if that well has been a bit dry in recent years. They had some success several decades ago in basketball, but since joining the ACC in 2004 they weren’t exactly making waves. It was time for a new coach in 2011 as Frank Haith wound up at Missouri.

Jim Larranaga was already a very experienced coach long before Miami came calling. He picked up experience as an assistant at Davidson and Virginia before starting his head coaching career with Bowling Green in 1986. After eleven seasons, he moved to George Mason, where the highlight of his career came in 2006, leading the 11-seeded Patriots to the Final Four. With five total NCAA Tournaments on his resume, he was snatched up by the Hurricanes.

In an ACC with plenty of talented programs, Larranaga quickly made his mark. He led the Hurricanes to the ACC regular-season title in just his second season, making the first of two Sweet Sixteens with the school. Miami isn’t exactly a perennial national contender, but four NCAA Tournaments and some consistency are nothing to be disappointed with, especially at a football school.

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