Jim Larrañaga Honored with Banner Ceremony at Miami: A Legacy That Hangs in the Rafters
CORAL GABLES - On a night that was meant to celebrate a coaching legend, the University of Miami paid tribute to Jim Larrañaga in a way that will stand the test of time - by raising his name into the rafters.
Just before tipoff against Florida State, the Hurricanes honored their former head coach with a pregame ceremony that unveiled a banner commemorating his 14-year tenure at Miami, from 2011 to 2024. The moment was emotional, powerful, and well-deserved. While the game itself ended in a narrow 65-63 loss to the Seminoles, the spotlight rightfully belonged to the man who helped redefine Miami basketball.
Larrañaga’s sudden retirement in December 2024 brought an end to a remarkable 41-year run as a college head coach. Across four programs - American International, Bowling Green, George Mason, and Miami - he racked up 744 wins and left a distinct mark on each stop. But it was at Miami where his impact felt especially transformative.
In Coral Gables, Larrañaga didn’t just win - he built. He took the program to six NCAA tournaments, including four Sweet 16s, two Elite Eights, and a historic Final Four run in 2023.
Along the way, he claimed two regular-season ACC titles and notched 274 wins, the most in program history. His teams played with discipline, energy, and a belief that they could hang with anyone - and often did.
Of course, Larrañaga’s legacy stretches beyond the wins and tournament runs. He was a builder of culture, a mentor, and a coach who connected with his players and staff on a personal level. That connection was evident during Monday’s ceremony, which also included a moment of silence for Bill Courtney, Larrañaga’s longtime assistant and close friend.
Courtney stepped in as interim head coach following Larrañaga’s retirement and led the team through the remainder of the 2024-25 season before joining Temple’s staff under Adam Fisher, another former Miami assistant. His sudden passing last week added a somber note to the evening, but also underscored the deep bonds that Larrañaga forged throughout his career.
To see Larrañaga’s name now hanging above the court is to recognize not just a coach, but a program architect. He took Miami from a team fighting for relevance in the ACC to one that consistently earned national respect.
That Final Four run in 2023? It wasn’t a fluke - it was the culmination of years of vision, development, and belief.
The banner now serves as a permanent reminder of what Jim Larrañaga meant to Miami basketball. And while the wins and accolades are easy to count, it’s the culture he built - the relationships, the mentorship, the belief - that truly defined his tenure.
For Miami fans, Tuesday night was more than just a tribute. It was a thank you to the coach who changed the game in Coral Gables - and left it in a better place than he found it.