Jim Boeheim Tested Positive for COVID-19

Jim Boeheim recently tested positive for COVID-19. Boeheim in his statement said that he is asymptomatic. On November 15, in a statement, the 75-year coach said, “As part of our routine COVID-19 health and safety protocols, I, along with my team and staff, are tested for COVID-19 multiple times each week. Following our most recent testing, I was informed that I had tested positive for COVID-19. I immediately began my isolation period at home. I am not experiencing any symptoms at this time and will continue to monitor my health closely as advised by the medical staff. Thank you for your good wishes. I look forward to getting back on the court with my team.”

Since 1976 Jim Boeheim had served as the head coach for Syracuse. Throughout his career, he had made five Final Fours. In 2003, Boeheim led Syracuse to the national championship victory. In 2005, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. 

Positive COVID-19 tests in recent weeks:

It is expected that Syracuse is going to open the season on November 27 against Bryant. This has been a pretty unusual situation when almost 20 programs nationally have temporarily shut down as a result of the increasing positive coronavirus cases. 

Talking about the current scenario the athletic director John Wildhack in a statement said, "Our top priority is the health and well-being of our student-athletes, Coach Boeheim and all members of the basketball program. Per our COVID safety protocols, following Coach's positive test we conducted an additional round of testing for all members of the basketball program. From that testing, we learned that one other member of the program has tested positive. As such, we made the decision to pause all basketball-related activities. We are following all CDC guidelines and ACC protocols, and working closely with the Onondaga County Department of Health, to mitigate further transmission of the virus. All members of the basketball program will be tested again, multiple times, over the next week."

Ivy League canceled all winter sports:

Due to the increasing number of coronavirus cases and how it has affected teams, the Ivy League canceled all winter sports for the 2020-21 season. In March when the pandemic outbreak took place, the Ivy League was the first to have canceled sports activities. In March, it canceled all its men’s & women’s conference basketball tournaments. The Ivy League has already canceled all sorts of sports activities throughout the year. 

After head coach Jim Boeheim tested positive for COVID-19, he was sent to remain in isolation as per the COVID-19 protocols. Before the season is all set to start, Jim was the third important coach to have been tested positive for COVID-19. The other two coaches who have tested positive are coach Kermit Davis & coach Tom Izzo of & Michigan State respectively. 

As of the latest reports, the United States has reported more than 11.4 million coronavirus positive cases. The reports suggest 248,000 deaths due to coronavirus infection. As of November 16, the United States reported 166,000 new cases with the average number of new cases reported as 155,000.