Florida State Coach Leonard Hamilton to Retire After 23 Seasons

Hamilton, 76, announces his departure following a lawsuit by former players and struggles adapting to college basketball's NIL era.

Leonard Hamilton, Florida State's head basketball coach for 23 years, will step down at the end of the 2024-25 season, citing no regrets about his tenure.
Hamilton's decision follows a lawsuit by six former players alleging unfulfilled promises of $250,000 each in NIL compensation, which he reportedly made verbally.
Under Hamilton, Florida State achieved eight NCAA tournament appearances, including four Sweet 16 runs and an Elite Eight finish in 2018, but has struggled in recent years with four consecutive seasons missing the NCAA tournament.
The coach faced challenges adapting to the evolving college basketball landscape, including the transfer portal and NIL regulations, which have reshaped recruiting and team-building efforts.
Florida State will immediately begin a national search for Hamilton's successor as the program continues its current season with a 13-9 record.