Jim Boeheim loses appeal, suspension upheld by NCAA

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim lost his suspension appeal on Thursday, and his nine game ban was upheld by the NCAA.

It was slightly modified, however. Originally banned for the team’s first nine ACC games, the penalty was amended, and Boeheim may begin his suspension immediately and not miss the bulk of the conference schedule.

According to ESPN’s Dana O’Neil, the terms of the suspension dictate that Boeheim can have no contact with his team. He can’t even set foot in his office until the ban is lifted.

The suspension stems from the multiple violations committed by Syracuse athletics between 2001 and 2009, which included academic misconduct and impermissible booster activity, as well as not following the NCAA drug policy. The school has already had twelve scholarships revoked over the scandal, and the basketball program was stripped of 108 wins over a period of five seasons.

The amendment of the suspension means that Boeheim will only miss three ACC games as opposed to the original nine. It will cost him the game against rival Georgetown, but most of the remainder of Syracuse’s non-conference slate is rather straightforward.