The Athletic Department at SU has completely changed since Hopkins was made Coach in waiting years ago.

Hopkins had a contract and it would've been honored, but he was not the new AD's guy and I think 1) he knew and felt that, 2) He got tired of waiting, 3) He can carve out his own head coaching career without the pressure and unfair expectations of following a legend, 4) Washington gave him 6 years.

Just what I've pieced together from following the situation.

The previous AD had a "succession plan" that had Boeheim retiring after next year. I think Boeheim knows that was done to placate the NCAA and is not legally binding and he's going out on his own terms and not the NCAA's.