Larra'aga Thanks Staff for Support of Hoops
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami coach Jim Larrañaga held a luncheon on the Coral Gables campus to thank staff, donors and community members for their support of the men’s basketball program on Thursday at the Watsco Center.
After the meal, Rudy Fernandez, the chief of staff to Miami president Julio Frenk, gave opening remarks and thanked the basketball staff for the change they have made on the UM campus and in the Coral Gables area.
Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez then talked about meeting Coach L for the first time, and spoke high praises for the basketball team in Larrañaga’s first five years at The U.
“Coach L, with your energy and passion, you’ve made all of us in this community believe in the program,” said Suarez.
Larrañaga then took to the mic, thanking the Miami tickets staff for their relentless pursuit of selling out the Watsco Center for the second straight season. He also was gracious for the donors and season ticket holders who have helped build the program to what it is today. Then he thanked the hard work of his coaching staff and their families.
“I want to recognize the work that all those have done to help us sell out these past two years,” Larrañaga said. “The support we have been given from the community, from the city of Miami and from Coral Gables has been absolutely awesome. The culture has changed, including the support for our program.”
Larrañaga then presented Frank Quesada, the vice mayor of Coral Gables, and the Coral Gables Community Foundation with a pair of tickets to each Miami basketball game, which will be given to underprivileged children in the community.
The event was closed with a highlight film from the 2015-16 Sweet 16 basketball team, as well as an urge to attend Miami’s season opener on Friday at 7 p.m. when the Canes face Western Carolina.