In due time, the college basketball world will truly appreciate how special of a head coach Jim Larrañaga was throughout his one-of-a-kind career. Having recently hung up the whistle, Larrañaga is not only the greatest head coach in Miami Hurricanes basketball history, but he did extraordinary things on the hardwood at George Mason and Bowling Green previously. The guy is a total legend!
Larrañaga shared this message over social media on how grateful he was for this honor from Miami.
Last week was very special when the University of Miami hung a banner in my honor. My wife and I are forever grateful to the University and the Coral Gables Community for making us a part of their family. pic.twitter.com/oQInnVDGH6
— Jim Larrañaga (@CanesCoachL) February 2, 2026
During his 14 years in Coral Gables, Larrañaga amassed a 274-174 record, going 126-116 in ACC play from 2011 to 2024. He led the Hurricanes to the NCAA Tournament six times. Larrañaga won the ACC regular season twice and the ACC Tournament in 2013. The two-time ACC Coach of the Year led the 2021-22 Canes to the Elite Eight and the 2022-23 Canes to the Final Four, his second as a coach.
Larrañaga will always be remembered for leading George Mason to the Final Four way back in 2006...
Jim Larrañaga is humbled by the Miami Hurricanes banner honoring him
Prior to Larrañaga taking over at Miami in 2011, the Hurricanes had only made the NCAA Tournament six times in their history. Under his watch, Miami doubled its NCAA Tournament bids to 12. Miami had never won a conference tournament before. It had just one Sweet 16 appearance and a conference regular-season title in 2000. To put it simply, Larrañaga became and then redefined Miami basketball.
Any time you have a coach come in and truly change the culture, that speaks volumes. Their legacy takes flight with every passing win and tournament bid. In short, Larrañaga became an institution during his 14 years in Coral Gables, taking the Hurricanes to never before seen heights. Miami playing in a Final Four? Ridiculous. Almost as crazy as him taking George Mason to one over a decade prior...
Now thoroughly enjoying retirement, we should view Larrañaga's 745 career wins at four different schools as not only a point of pride, but more than enough to get him into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Everyone's story is different, but when you are talking about the greatest head coach at two programs of note in George Mason and Miami, how can you overlook the man?
Larrañaga being honored by Miami like this is the first step in that direction to get him into Springfield.