Mike Hopkins Replaces Lorenzo Romar as Washington HC, Leaves Syracuse

Syracuse University assistant Mike Hopkins has left his position with the Orange to become the new head basketball coach at the University of Washington, announced the school on March 19.

Christian Caple‏ of the Tacoma News Tribune passed along an initial comment from the new coach.

"The timing is right for me and my family to make this move," Hopkins said.

On Wednesday, Percy Allen of the Seattle Times reported Hopkins signed a six-year deal worth $12.3 million in total. He'll earn $1.8 million this coming season, "and the contract includes an annual $100,000 escalator clause," per Allen. 

The deal lures Hopkins away from Syracuse, where he served on Jim Boeheim's staff since 1996. He'd previously played for the Orange under the program's longtime head coach for four years starting in 1989.

The California native had a clause in his contract to become Cuse's next coach when Boeheim retired, according to ESPN's Jeff Goodman. A source close to the veteran assistant told ESPN he felt the timing was right to accept the Huskies job, though.

"He wants to build a legacy, felt like the opportunity was special at Washington, and also wanted to make sure he did right by his mentor and father figure," the source said.

The Huskies announced the firing of Romar on Wednesday following the conclusion of a season where they went 9-22, including a 2-16 mark in Pac-12 play. Athletic director Jennifer Cohen released a statement about the program's decision:

"

After evaluating our men's basketball program, I have determined that a change in leadership is necessary. Today is particularly difficult because Coach Romar is such a beloved member of our University community. I want to thank Lorenzo and his family for 15 years of dedicated service and sacrifice to our University.

"

Romar told Allen he wasn't shocked about getting let go after having some conversations with Cohen.

"I can't say it was a surprise," he said. "We had been talking and we had discussed some things that I needed to get better at and the program needed to get better at. I wouldn't say I was surprised by it. I knew that there's a chance that could happen."

He won more than 60 percent of his games across his 15-year tenure (298-196 record), but the Huskies had become stagnant in recent years. They haven't qualified for the NCAA tournament since 2011 and failed to reach the 20-win plateau for five straight years.

Hopkins will attempt to reverse that trend after learning the craft from Boeheim for the past two decades. The run included a national championship in 2003.

He had the opportunity to fill in on an interim basis for Boeheim last season while the coach served a nine-game NCAA suspension. He tried to capture the unique feeling when serving as the person in charge as opposed to second in command in an interview with Chris Carlson of Syracuse.com:

"

It's just being the head coach. Someone said, being the head coach, from the top down, it's a reflection of you from the coaching staff to the players. It's just a big responsibility. It's easy to say, 'Hey coach, I think this guy needs to go in, and he's making that decision.' You just feel it differently. I can't really explain it beyond that.

"

Now he'll carry that burden every day at Washington. His first task will likely be trying to replace dynamic freshman guard Markelle Fultz, an expected top pick in the 2017 NBA draft.