There’s a new piece of public art in Syracuse, N.Y., something that pays tributes to one of the most successful eras in the city.

The Jim Boeheim era.

A three-story mural representing Boeheim’s 47 years (1976-2023) as men’s basketball coach of the Orange was dedicated Saturday. It takes up three stories on one side of the building at 215 W. Fayette St. in downtown Syracuse, about two miles from the JMA Wireless Dome – better known as the Carrier Dome in Boeheim’s time.

Chris Murray, who painted the mural, was on hand. A New York native,  Murray told Syracuse.com recently that he dreamed of playing basketball for Syracuse and Boeheim but that dream didn’t materialize.  

“Basketball and making art were my escapes as a kid … and still are my two favorite passions,” he told the publication.

“This is a way I can still play a small part,” the artist said. “I want this to be a destination spot for students, the community and for people who appreciated everything he did for the city.”

The mural depicts the many faces of Boeheim through the years, including the national championship season of 2002-03.

A proud Boeheim was at the dedication on Saturday and chatted with Sean Dorcellus, a digital media fellow in the university’s athletics department, about just what the honor meant to him.

Boeheim, who was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, credited the fans for his success and that of his program.

“I think it's more a tribute to the fans of Syracuse who came out in unbelievable numbers for a number of -- 50 years -- to watch us play basketball. And the fans made the experience good so that recruits would come here, and if you didn't have 20,000, 25,000 people in the dome that never would have happened. None of this would have happened so I think I’m really more thankful for our fans than anything else because they made it all possible.”

The Jim Boeheim File

Boeheim played at Syracuse and was a co-captain as a senior alongside program legend Dave Bing. He graduated in 1966, returned three years later as an assistant coach and later was promoted to head coach. Now 80, Boeheim led the Orange to the NCAA Tournament 35 times and to five Final Fours to go with the championship.

He was named Big East Coach of the Year four times and the Associated Press and Naismith Coach of the Year in 2010 following a 30-5 season.

Boeheim also was an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic teams that won gold medals in 2008, 2012 and 2016, and the World Cup in 2010 and 2014.

According to the NCAA, Boeheim and Mike Krzyzewski are the only Division I men's basketball coaches with more than 1,000 career wins.

Krzyzewski had a 1,202-368 record with Army and Duke. Boeheim’s record is 1,015-441.