George Mason men’s basketball coach Jim Larranaga through the years

After turning George Mason into a perennial postseason contender and leading the team on its improbable run to the 2006 Final Four, 61-year-old Jim Larranaga is leaving Fairfax to take the head coaching job at the University of Miami

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Jim Larranaga, pictured the day he was introduced as George Mason's men's basketball coach in 1997, has accepted the head coaching job at the University of Miami.

ROBERT A. REEDER / TWP

In 14 seasons, Larranaga (pictured during a 1997 practice) led the Patriots to three Colonial Athletic Association championships, five NCAA tournament berths and a 273-164 overall record.

ROBERT A. REEDER / TWP

George Mason coach Jim Larranaga celebrates his team's victory over N.C.-Wilmington in the 2001 Colonial Athletic Association final in Richmond. The Patriots won the game 35-33.

MARK GORMUS / AP

Larranaga throws a shirt into the crowd following a win in Jan. 2006.

John McDonnell/TWP / TWP

George Mason's Lamar Butler celebrates with head coach Jim Larranaga for a brief moment late in the Patriots' 65-60 victory over North Carolina during the second round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament.

John McDonnell / THE WASHINGTON POST

Coach Jim Larranaga gets physical with center Folarin Campbell during a practice at the Patriot Center before the Patriots' 2006 Sweet 16 game.

JOEL RICHARDSON/TWP / TWP

Jim Larranaga and the George Mason bench celebrate their 86-84 victory over Connecticut at Verizon Center to win the D.C. regional and advance to the 2006 Final Four.

Preston Keres / TWP

George Mason fans welcome head coach Jim Larranaga and the Patriots back home after they clinched a berth in the 2006 Final Four.

John McDonnell / THE WASHINGTON POST

George Mason Head Coach Jim Larranaga gets a hug from School President Alan G. Merten after the Patriots defeated Connecticut 86-84 to reach the school's first and only Final Four in 2006.

Jonathan Newton / TWP

George Mason head coach Jim Larranaga shouts instructions to his players during the Patriots' 2006 Final Four game against Florida in Indianapolis.

John McDonnell / THE WASHINGTON POST

George Mason Head Coach Jim Larranaga watches his team as they practice at the RCA Dome in advance of the Patriots' 2006 Final Four matchup with Florida.

Jonathan Newton / THE WASHINGTON POST

Jim Larranaga salutes the crowd after cutting down the net following the Patriots' region title victory during the 2006 tournament.

Preston Keres / TWP

Jim Larranaga - shown in between satellite interviews in 2006 - brought national attention to George Mason during the Patriots' Final Four run.

Bill O'Leary / TWP

Larranaga talks with a crush of reporters in his office before a team meeting during the 2006 tournament.

Bill O'Leary / TWP

Patriots coach Jim Larranaga greets the pep rally crowd at the Johnson Center on the campus of George Mason University before the team's departure for the 2006 Final Four in Indianapolis.

Gerald Martineau / TWP

Coach Jim Larranaga high fives students participating in the Youth Leadership Foundation camp in July, 2006.

Preston Keres / TWP

Jim Larranaga high-fives fans prior to start of a game in No. 2006. In 14 years in Fairfax, Larranaga led the George Mason men’s basketball program to national prominence after its stirring run to the Final Four in 2006.

Rich Lipski / TWP

Jim Larranaga reacts along with player Will Thomas as George Mason gets word of its NCAA tournament selection on Selection Sunday, 2008.

Richard A. Lipski / THE WASHINGTON POST

Larranaga reacts to a call during a game in Dec., 2009.

Richard A. Lipski / WASHINGTON POST

George Mason forward Mike Morrison (22), left, and guard Vertrail Vaughns (11), listen to head coach Jim Larranaga during a time out in George Mason's 67-61 win over Northeastern on Feb. 24.

John McDonnell / THE WASHINGTON POST

Jim Larranaga leads the Patriots off the court following its 98-66 loss to Ohio State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in March. Larranaga compiled a 273-164 record during his 14-year tenure with George Mason.

John McDonnell / THE WASHINGTON POST

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