[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 117 (Monday, September 19, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO HALL OF FAME COACH JIM BOEHEIM

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                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 19, 2005

  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Syracuse University's 
Head Coach and my fellow Central New Yorker, Jim Boeheim. On September 
10, 2005, Coach Boeheim was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame 
joining the likes of legendary coaches such as Red Auerbach, Lenny 
Wilkens, and Dean Smith.
  On and off the court, Coach Boeheim has proven to be a great leader 
and a great mentor. Both his colleagues and players admire his coaching 
abilities as well as his personal traits.
  Coach Boeheim became head coach of Syracuse University in 1976 after 
working as an assistant. Since then, his resume shows a remarkable list 
of accomplishments:
  703 career wins;
  74.5 winning percentage;
  1 National Championship--2003;
  10 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances;
  3 Final Four appearances;
  40 NCAA Tournament wins;
  27 20-win seasons;
  Big East All Time Wins Coach;
  Three-time Big East Coach of the Year;
  Eight Big East regular season championships;
  Elected to Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame--1991;
  2000 Recipient of the Claire Bee Award;
  Three-time USBWA choice for Coach of the Year;
  Nine-time NABC District II Coach of the Year;
  Eighth-fastest Division I coach to reach 600 wins.
  Clearly his record alone is worthy of his induction into the 
Basketball Hall of Fame, but as any Syracuse native can attest, his 
efforts do not stop on the hardwood floor. Both he and his wife Juli 
are active community members. They organize and participate in a wide 
variety of community events; all with the goal of giving back to the 
people who have given them so much.
  Topping the Boeheims' list of community endeavors is their creation 
of Coaches vs. Cancer's Basket Ball. Basket Ball, a yearly celebration 
of dinner and dancing aimed at raising funds for local American Cancer 
Society programs and services, has brought in hundreds of thousands of 
dollars and benefited an untold number of cancer victims.
  Mr. Speaker, undoubtedly Coach Boeheim deserves this prestigious 
honor, and it is with great pleasure that I help recognize his 
commitment to Syracuse University, Syracuse basketball, and our 
community as a whole.

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