At 75, Larranaga wants to spend more time with his family.
Highlights
- Jim Larrañaga announced his immediate resignation as the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, citing a diminishing passion for the game and a desire to spend more time with his family.
- His decision to step down was influenced by the evolving landscape of college athletics, particularly the challenges associated with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations.
- Jim and his wife, Liz, plan to enjoy a well-deserved retirement, focusing on family and personal pursuits, marking the end of an era for Miami basketball.
Jim Larrañaga, the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball team, has announced his immediate resignation, marking the end of a coaching career that has spanned several decades.
Larrañaga cited a diminishing passion for the game and a desire to spend more time with his family as primary reasons for his departure.
The evolving landscape of college athletics, particularly challenges associated with the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations, also influenced his decision.
He expressed concerns over the impact of these changes on team dynamics and the overall state of college basketball.
Miami MBB HC Jim Larrañaga resigns due to NIL
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 26, 2024
More here: https://t.co/CFQDjdrqel pic.twitter.com/OzoDVpDTvk
The 75-year-old quoted,
After more than fifty years in college coaching, it is simply time. 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 and I owe it to Liz, Jay, Jon, and my grandchildren to be a greater part of their lives.
Reuters
He added,
The university needs a new leader of the program, one who is both adept at and embracing of the new world of intercollegiate athletics. It has been the honor of a lifetime to be a part of the Hurricane family and to represent this world-class institution.
Reuters
Standing by him during this significant transition is his wife of 53 years, Liz Larrañaga.
Liz Is Jim’s Number One Supporter
Liz Larrañaga, born Elizabeth Lynch, grew up in a close-knit family in New Jersey.
Not much is known about Liz, but she has steadfastly supported her husband’s career, often cheering for Jim’s team from the sidelines, befriending the players, and attending high-profile events with Jim.
Notably, Liz was alongside Jim when he received the Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year award in 2013 for leading Miami to the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season and tournament titles and a No. 2 ranking.
Jim And Liz Have Two Sons
It is unclear how the pair met, but they married in 1971 and have two sons, Jay and Jon, who have pursued basketball careers.
Jay Larrañaga, born in 1975, played collegiate basketball under his father’s coaching at Bowling Green.
He later transitioned into coaching and is currently an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Jon Larrañaga, born in 1980, played for his father at George Mason University from 1999 to 2003, earning first-team Academic All-America honors for NCAA Division I-AAA schools.
The couple also has four grandchildren, with whom they look forward to spending more time following Jim’s retirement.
#Clippers top assistant coach Jay Larranaga and player development coach Amir Johnson not taking it easy on @ivicazubac pic.twitter.com/o0gzcgVsyv
— Darko Dželetović (@DarkoBasketball) November 24, 2024
Jim Began Coaching At Davidson College In 1971
Jim began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Davidson College from 1971 to 1976.
He got his first head coaching job at American International College from 1977 to 1979.
Jim served as the head coach at Bowling Green State University for 11 years.
During his tenure, he led the team to a Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular-season title in 1997 and was named MAC Coach of the Year.
Jim Larrañaga is a treasure. The Miami Hurricanes disbanded men’s hoops from 1971-1985. Leonard Hamilton got them to respectability & deserves a ton of credit.
— Jorge Sedano 🐺 (@Sedano) March 26, 2023
Larrañaga has taken them to contenders and the schools 1st Final Four. Crazy!
pic.twitter.com/aD74jGBxj4
He then took the helm at George Mason University, leading the Patriots to an unexpected Final Four appearance in 2006, a feat often regarded as one of NCAA history’s most remarkable Cinderella stories.
In 2011, Larrañaga accepted the head coaching position at the University of Miami.
During his time with the Hurricanes, he became the winningest coach in the program’s history, securing multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, including the school’s first Final Four berth in 2023.
Jim Larrañaga shares a moment with his family after leading @CanesHoops to their first Final Four pic.twitter.com/ehK30nRkFn
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 26, 2023
In the wake of Larrañaga’s resignation, assistant coach Bill Courtney has been appointed interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
The University of Miami will commence a national search for a permanent replacement.
As for Jim and Liz, they plan to enjoy a well-deserved retirement, focusing on family and personal pursuits.
Their departure marks the end of an era for Miami basketball, leaving behind a legacy of excellence and dedication.
Additional Information
- Jim’s grandfather was born in Cuba to Basque parents and was part of Cuba’s Por Larrañaga cigar company.
- He was inducted into the Providence College Hall of Fame in 1991 for his outstanding college basketball career.
- Jim was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the sixth round of the 1971 NBA Draft but never played because he was informed during the Pistons’ rookie camp that his chances of making the team were slim.
