SYRACUSE, N.Y. — After his Syracuse Orange had run away to another victory, men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim turned his focus to a far more important matter.Boeheim said Tuesday that “what happened on my watch” will be revealed once police complete their inquiry into child molestation accusations against his former longtime assistant.
Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim answers questions during a news conference after Syracuse defeated Eastern Michigan 84-48 in an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, in Syracuse, N.Y.“I never worried about my job status in 36 years,” Boeheim said at his first postgame news conference since Bernie Fine was fired Sunday. “I do my job. What happened on my watch, we will see. When the investigation is done, we will find out what happened on my watch.”
Advocates for sex abuse victims said Boeheim should resign or be fired for adamantly defending Fine and verbally disparaging two former Syracuse ball boys, two of the three men who have accused Fine of molesting them.
“Based on what I knew at that time, there were three investigations and nothing was corroborated,” Boeheim said. “That was the basis for me saying what I said. I said what I knew at the time.”
“I’ve been with him for 36 years, known him for 48 years, went to school with him,” Boeheim said. “I think you owe a debt of allegiance and gratitude for what he did for the program. That’s what my reaction was. So be it.”
Boeheim received a standing ovation when he walked onto the court that bears his name for the game against Eastern Michigan that the Orange won, 84-48.
Boeheim said there’s a misconception that he’s bigger than the program because of his long tenure and great success. He has 863 career wins, fifth all-time in Division I.
“If I was gone today, this program would be fine. This program would do great,” he said. “Ten years from now, this program will do great. This is not Jim Boeheim. This is Syracuse University’s basketball program. It is not about me. It never has been about me.”
After initially saying Fine’s first two accusers were lying to make money in the wake of the Penn State University child sex abuse scandal, Boeheim backed off those comments Sunday.
“What is most important is that this matter be fully investigated and that anyone with information be supported to come forward so that the truth can be found,” Boeheim said in a statement. “I deeply regret any statements I made that might have inhibited that from occurring or been insensitive to victims of abuse.”
One of the accusers, Bobby Davis, first contacted Syracuse police in 2002 regarding Fine, but there was no investigation because the statute of limitations had passed. Kevin Quinn, a Syracuse spokesman, said police did not inform the university of Davis’ allegations then.
On Tuesday, Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler said Dennis DuVal, a former SU basketball player who was police chief in 2002, knew of the allegations against Fine.
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