FSU’s Hamilton stepping down at end of season

• Jeff BorzelloFeb 3, 2025, 03:25 PM ET

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  • Basketball recruiting expert.
  • Signed up with ESPN in 2014.
  • Graduate of University of Delaware.Florida State head

coach Leonard Hamilton revealed Monday he’s stepping down at the end of the season, ending a 23-year profession in Tallahassee.Hamilton, 76, will end his Florida State period as the

winningest coach in school history and in the leading five in wins in the history of the ACC. During his time with the Seminoles, Hamilton assisted the program to the 2020 ACC regular-season title and 8 NCAA tournament appearances. He also advanced to the 2nd weekend of the NCAA tournament on four celebrations.

“I am deeply happy for the incredible support of our fans, alumni, and everyone related to Florida State throughout my time here,” Hamilton said. “I take pride in the quality of the boys that it was my advantage to lead, for their faith in this program and in their belief in the viewpoint that we attempted to instill in them throughout the years. I have been blessed beyond words for the opportunity and the experience we have actually had here.

“My family and I really love this location, this institution, and its individuals. I’m really lucky to be able to have given this job my all without any regrets. Every head coach inherits a legacy and is obliged to leave the task much better than they acquired it. I’m very proud of what we have had the ability to achieve here over the last 23 seasons. We were a consistent contender, and we developed success for our players during their time here. So many of them have gone on to be successful in life. I hope that it will be kept in mind as my tradition. I look forward to working with our administration throughout this transition and being as helpful as possible through this process.”

Hamilton is being sued by six previous players basketball players from the 2023-24 team, declaring he stopped working to make good on a pledge to get each of them $250,000 in name, image and likeness compensation.The plaintiffs– Darin

Green Jr., De’Ante Green, Web Cam’Ron Fletcher, Josh Nickelberry, Primo Spears and Jalen Warley– filed fit in Leon County circuit court, and their attorney, Fort Lauderdale-based Darren Heitner, shared the 20-page complaint.The former players allege Hamilton promised them the cash from his”company partners. “The claim states they left of a practice in the past season over the missed out on payments and planned to boycott a Feb. 17 game against Duke. They wound up playing– the Seminoles lost– amid an assurance from Hamilton that they would be paid but they never were, according to the suit.Hamilton’s best stretch in charge of Florida State originated from 2017-21, guiding the Seminoles to three Sugary food 16 looks and an Elite Eight run in 2018. That five-year period included 3 top-four NCAA tournament seeds and the ACC regular-season champion in 2020. Florida State won at least one game in 4 consecutive NCAA tournaments. “Coach Hamilton’s individual character and stability, and his leadership, set a significant

standard for all of FSU Athletics,”athletic director Michael Alford stated.”Few individuals have been as important in developing the positive track record of Seminole Sports. FSU’s stature as one of the leading brands in college sports has actually been possible, in part, to his leadership of our guys’s basketball program. He gradually established a culture of quality that shows his personal worths: dedication to academic success, competitive success, social work, management and ongoing individual quality. The success of the males who have actually been part of our basketball program is proof of that legacy.” Florida State has struggled in recent years, as this will be its 4th consecutive season without an NCAA competition look. The Seminoles haven’t finished above.500 in ACC play since 2021, going 10-10 on two celebrations. They began favorably this season, winning seven of their first 8 games, however they have actually lost their previous four games and presently sit at 13-9 overall, 4-7 in the ACC.”Leonard Hamilton is a beacon of class and stability whose management functions as an indelible example that competitive quality, academic achievement and community service are attainable at a leading public institution,” university president Dr. Richard McCullough said.” Coach Hamilton’s legacy extends far beyond Tallahassee and college basketball. He is among the most respected and precious ambassadors of FSU across the nation and in his occupation.”Prior to taking control of at Florida State in 2002, Hamilton was the head coach of the Washington Wizards for one season after investing 10 seasons at Miami– going to 3 NCAA tournament appearances– and four seasons

at Oklahoma State. He was also an assistant coach at Kentucky and Austin Peay.Alford said Florida State will instantly start a nationwide look for Hamilton’s successor.Hamilton is the 3rd ACC coach to reveal his resignation in the previous four months, following Virginia’s Tony Bennett in October and Miami’s Jim Larrañaga in late December.