The Associated Press

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim has always hinted he planned to retire on his own terms.

In an hour-long press conference on Thursday, Boeheim said that 2018 is the “right time” to retire, but acknowledged that next season could be his last as he and the university appeal punishments for academic and benefits violations.

Boeheim said his plan discussed with the university’s chancellor is to retire after three more seasons, but that he will take things year by year.

“I love coaching, and you can coach as long as you can be effective. I thought I was effective this year. I don’t think I was as good as I would have liked to have been, but I think I was effective,” said Boeheim, head coach at his alma mater since 1976. “If I’m not effective at the end of next year, I won’t coach after next year. The three-year thing is the outside.”

Boeheim said retiring after his team reached the Final Four in 2012 would have been ideal, but the timing wasn’t right. He said he has told recruits he will be here next season but has no firm plans beyond that.

Boeheim built his reputation over more than five decades as a player and coach, revered for wins and delivering a national title to a struggling city in 2003.

“Given all these developments, it’s right for the program (for me to stay),” Boeheim said. “I’ve told every recruit I’m going to coach next year. If anybody’s concerned about recruiting, I don’t think that’s an issue.”

Longtime assistant coach Mike Hopkins, a former Orange star player, is in line to succeed Boeheim, but the final decision will be made by the chancellor.