The Florida State Seminoles began their search for a new head coach in early February after Leonard Hamilton announced he would not be returning next season. Moving quickly, the program hired former player Luke Loucks last week to take the reins.
Florida State had a decent season, finishing 11th in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 17-14 overall record. Their first-round game on Tuesday was against the Syracuse Orange, a team they had defeated by 16 points earlier in the season. Expecting a similar outcome, the Seminoles instead fell short in a 66-62 loss.
This defeat marked the end of Hamilton’s coaching career. The close loss to Syracuse was disappointing for the team, which had hoped to make a deep tournament run in his honor. Hamilton, who spent 23 years in Tallahassee, helped elevate the program and ranks fourth in ACC history for conference wins. After the game, he reflected on his career in his final interview.
“I’ve been blessed, I enjoyed the ride, and it’s time to move on to the next chapter,” Hamilton said.
What mattered most to him was the success of his players.
“I’m most grateful that in the last 23 years, we’ve only had one or two players not graduate if they stayed with us for four years,” he added. “To me, that’s probably the most important thing we do as coaches.”
As one era ends in Tallahassee, another begins with Loucks stepping into his new role. Hamilton’s impact on the university and basketball program was immense, but the Seminoles have chosen someone who understands the team’s culture and can continue building on that foundation, bringing hope for the future of Florida State basketball.