George Mason head coach Tony Skinn ('06) starred for former Patriots bench boss Jim Larrañaga for three seasons from 2003-06, culminating in the program's trip to the 2006 Final Four. The program averaged 22 victories/season over those three campaigns.
Larrañaga announced his retirement from the head coaching position at the University of Miami on Thursday.
At George Mason, Larrañaga registered 273 victories over his 14 seasons (1998-2011) as the head coach of the program and guided the Green & Gold to nine postseason appearances. That included five NCAA Tournament berths (1999, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2011) and three NIT appearances (2002, 2004, 2009). The Patriots won three CAA Championships (1999, 2001, 2008) during his tenure. In addition to the 2006 NCAA Final Four run, Larrañaga also guided the Patriots to the NCAA Round of 32 in 2011.
Skinn reflected Thursday on Larrañaga's coaching legacy and his impact on the George Mason program:
"Coach L is one of the true legends of this business. At George Mason, he changed this school's trajectory and completely transformed what was possible. He led the program to a Final Four and multiple NCAA Tournament appearances from a mid-major league.
On a personal level, Coach L saved my life. After playing at two junior colleges, George Mason was my last shot. He believed in me and gave me a Division I scholarship. His influence has played a major part in my growth as a player and as a coach.
Over the course of his career, he's been a consistent winner across the levels of this game while maneuvering through an ever-changing landscape. What made him so successful was his ability to connect and relate to anyone. He's a true New Yorker who possesses the gift of storytelling. He utilized lessons from his time as a player and coach to motivate and push his players to perform at a championship level."
