Leonard Hamilton reflects on final game as Florida State coach: ‘I’ve been blessed’

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An era of Florida State men’s basketball came to an end on Tuesday night at the men’s ACC tournament.

With a 66-62 loss to No. 14 seed Syracuse in the first round, Leonard Hamilton has coached his last game with the Seminoles. Though it wasn’t the way he intended for his 23-year run in Tallahassee to end, Hamilton told ESPN’s Angel Gray that he feels “blessed” for the opportunity of leading several college basketball programs like he did in his career.

REQUIRED READING: FSU basketball one-and-done in ACC tournament after 66-62 loss to Syracuse in 1st round

“I’ve been blessed to have an opportunity that not very many people ever have, to work with young people when they’re at their most vulnerable time when they’re 17, 18 years old and be a part of helping them grow and trying to give them some direction on how they’re going to progress in their lives,” Hamilton told Gray.

“I’m going to find another way to contribute and work with youngsters. And I have some things that matter what I do, but I’ve been blessed and I’ve enjoyed the ride. And then it’s time to move on to the next chapter.”

“I’ve been blessed, I enjoyed the ride and it’s time to move on to the next chapter.”

After his final game, Leonard Hamilton reflects on his legendary coaching career. pic.twitter.com/OzlCkdXuDN

— ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 12, 2025

Hamilton, who announced in early February that he would step down after the season, ends his time at FSU with an overall record of 460-296. He arrived in Tallahassee in 2003, and led the Seminoles to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2009 under his guidance.

The 76-year-old head coach, who was honored by the ACC pregame, has an overall coaching record of 660-506, which also includes stints at Oklahoma State and Miami.

He now officially becomes the seventh ACC coach to depart from the conference since 2020, joining North Carolina’s Roy Williams; Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski; Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim; Notre Dame’s Mike Brey; Virginia’s Tony Bennett and Miami’s Jim…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/leonard-hamilton-reflects-final-game-032531994.html

Author : Tallahassee Democrat

Publish date : 2025-03-12 03:25:00

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