Leonard Hamilton plans to step down at Florida State after 2024-25 season

A seismic shift is happening as it pertains to the Florida State Seminoles and their men’s basketball program, as head coach Leonard Hamilton is stepping down and will not return next season, On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed.

“Leonard Hamilton will resign from his post after 23 years at the school,” Corey Clark of Warchant wrote. “The announcement is expected to come after Hamilton speaks with his team in a 3 p.m. meeting. Hamilton, who was in the final year of his contract, will coach out the rest of the season for the Seminoles before stepping down.

“He also has agreed to help FSU with the transition process to a new head coach and could remain with the program in a yet-to-be-determined capacity.”

Hamilton began his tenure in Tallahassee back in 2002. Since then, he’s led the Seminoles to immense success, like an Elite Eight appearance during the 2017-2018 season. He’s won over 450 games with the program, but the last few seasons have been tough on the program.

They’ve fallen short in many aspects, and even though Hamilton has been able to steady the ship a bit, they haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since a run to the Sweet 16 during the 2020-2021 season. Now, Florida State will move in a different direction, with their leader of over two decades moving on.

Before taking his talents to Florida State, Hamilton spent a decade with the Miami Hurricanes, where he amassed 144 wins and brought them to a Sweet 16. Before that, Hamilton was with the Oklahoma State Cowboys for four seasons, where he won 56 games in Stillwater.

As you can tell, there’s been no shortage of success throughout his coaching career. Hamilton also spent one season in the NBA as the leader of the Washington Wizards. It didn’t go well, as his record ended up being 19-63 with the franchise, and it was his only season on the job. Still, his contributions to college basketball far exceed his record at the professional level.

Moving forward, it’ll be fascinating to see how the Seminoles try and replace the stability the 76-year old coach brought to the program. Ironically enough, Hamilton’s former team and fellow Florida-based school Miami is dealing with a similar situation, after Jim Larranaga retired in December.

Regardless, Leonard Hamilton gave his life to basketball, and it’s easy to see why he’s so revered by the sport’s top athletes and pundits. While his time with Florida State is ending, he leaves an undeniable legacy, entering a new chapter and ending his tenure with the Seminoles.