7 hours Ago By Hunter Cookston
The Florida State Seminoles realized they needed to find a new head coach at the beginning of February when Leonard Hamilton announced he would not return as the program’s head coach next year. The Seminoles acted quickly, hiring former player Luke Loucks as their new leader last week. Florida State had an okay season, finishing 11th in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 17-14 overall record.
Their first-round matchup on Tuesday was against the Syracuse Orange. The two teams had met earlier in the year, with the Seminoles winning by 16 points. Florida State expected a similar result, but they suffered a 66-62 loss.
This marked the final game of Hamilton’s career. Losing to Syracuse by four points was heartbreaking for his team. The Seminoles had hoped to make a special run in honor of Hamilton, but things didn’t go their way.
Hamilton spent 23 years in Tallahassee, elevating the program and finishing fourth in the ACC for most conference wins. After the game, Hamilton participated in his final interview. “I've been blessed, I enjoyed the ride and it's time to move on to the next chapter,” Hamilton said.
What made him happiest was the success of his players. “I’m most grateful for the fact that the last 23 years, we’ve only had one or two kids not graduate at Florida State that’s with us for four years,” Hamilton added. “To me, that’s probably the most important thing we do as coaches.
” The end of an era has arrived in Tallahassee, but a new one begins with Loucks stepping into his role very soon. Hamilton accomplished so much for the university and the basketball program. The Seminoles have found someone who understands the culture and can carry it forward, so there is still hope for the future of Florida State basketball.
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