Legendary Miami basketball coach Jim Larrañaga steps down from Hurricanes job mid-season

This story was updated with new information.

Jim Larrañaga has stepped down as the University of Miami basketball coach following a slow start to the 2024-25 season for the Hurricanes, two years after leading the program to its first-ever Final Four.

Miami held a press conference Thursday, during which Larrañaga, 75, announced his retirement. The school also announced that Associate Head Coach Bill Courtney was named interim head coach for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

“After more than fifty years in college coaching, it is simply time,” Larrañaga said. “There is never a great moment to step away, but I owe it to our student-athletes, our staff and the University of Miami to make this move now when my heart is simply no longer in the game. ... The University needs a new leader of the program, one who is both adept at and embracing of the new world of intercollegiate athletics.

"I have been so blessed to have coached the hundreds of young men who chose to wear the UM jersey and who have gone on to flourish in their respective journeys. I will always be a Cane.”

Miami is off to a 4-8 start to the season following a 78-74 overtime loss to Mount St. Mary’s on Dec. 21. The Hurricanes have lost eight of their previous nine games following a 3-0 start to the season and have lost 18 of their last 22 games dating back to last season.

In 14 seasons with the Hurricanes, Larrañaga has accumultaed a 274-174 record, becoming the winningest coach in program history. Miami has made six NCAA Tournament appearances under Larrañaga, including four Sweet 16 trips. The program reached its first Elite Eight in 2022 and first Final Four in 2023.

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Miami defeated No. 1 seed Houston in the Sweet 16 in 2023 and No. 2 seed Texas in the Elite Eight. However, the Hurricanes were eliminated from the tournament by eventual champion UConn 72-59 in the Final Four.

During the Elite Eight run during the 2021-22 season, Miami knocked out No. 2 seed Auburn in the second round and defeated No. 11 seed Iowa State in the Sweet 16 before being knocked out by No. 1 seed Kansas in the regional semifinals.

Following their run to the Final Four two seasons ago, the Hurricanes ended the 2023-24 season on a 10-game losing streak and finished 15-17. This was the team's first losing season under Larrañaga since the 2020-21 season.

Miami returns to action on Jan. 1 on the road against Boston College. The game will be the second ACC matchup of the season for the Hurricanes, who lost 65-55 to Clemson on Dec. 7.

Jim Larrañaga career record

Larrañaga has a career record of 716- 483, with stops at Bowling Green State, George Mason, and Miami during his 39-year coaching career.

Here's a look at his coaching career:

• 1986-87 (Bowling Green State): 15-14

• 1987-88: 12-16

• 1988-89: 12-16

• 1989-90: 18-11

• 1990-91: 17-13

• 1991-92: 14-15

• 1992-93: 11-16

• 1993-94: 18-10

• 1994-95: 16-11

• 1995-96: 14-13

• 1996-97: 22-10

• 1997-98 (George Mason): 9-18

• 1998-99: 19-11

• 1999-00: 19-11

• 2000-01: 18-12

• 2001-02: 19-10

• 2002-03: 16-12

• 2003-04: 23-10

• 2004-05: 16-13

• 2005-06: 27-8

• 2006-07: 18-15

• 2007-08: 23-11

• 2008-09: 22-11

• 2009-10: 17-15

• 2010-11: 27-7

• 2011-12 (Miami): 20-13

• 2012-13: 29-7

• 2013-14: 17-16

• 2014-15: 25-13

• 2015-16: 27-8

• 2016-17: 21-12

• 2017-18: 22-10

• 2018-19: 14-18

• 2019-20: 15-16

• 2020-21: 10-17

• 2021-22: 26-11

• 2022-23: 29-8

• 2023-24: 15-17

• 2024-25: 4-8

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miami basketball coach Jim Larrañaga steps down