Syracuse women’s basketball: Orange extend Quentin Hillsman through 2024

While he may be at least a few years short of Jim Boeheim’s tenure, Syracuse Orange women’s basketball coach has still become a fixture on the Carrier Dome sidelines over the last 12 years.

And after Thursday’s extension announcement, it appears Hillsman will remain at SU through at least 2024.

We won’t see the financial details until tax filings are revealed in the next couple years (y’know... private school and all). Still, one could assume there’s some sort of bump included given the length of this deal running another six seasons.

Hillsman has amassed a 263-136 record at Syracuse, with seven trips to the NCAA Tournament — including the last six seasons in a row. Though that run has fallen short of the second weekend more frequently than most would hope (thanks, getting tossed in UConn’s bracket), the Orange also made the NCAA Tournament Championship Game in 2016.

Considering Syracuse was 9-20 in Hillsman’s first year, what’s happened since has been one enormous turnaround. SU has won 20 or more games 10 separate times under Coach Q, and he’s already become the program’s top coach of all-time in just 12 seasons.

Beyond the wins, Q’s also revealed himself to be a bit of a character off the court in the form of some (maybe intentional?) memes. Most of Syracuse’s best coaches over the years have had an easily identifiable personality that fans gravitate toward. And I mean, who can say no to this?

Q and Syracuse should be able to add to the collection of wins this coming year with all five starters back, and over 81 percent of its scoring from last year. If the Orange can build on last year’s strong freshman class (and this year’s as well), Syracuse could end up contending for some more banners to add to the ones Hillsman has already been able to accumulate.