Syracuse, N.Y. -- Syracuse University assistant coach Mike Hopkins is taking over as the head coach at the University of Washington.

The University of Washington made the announcement on Sunday.

"I can't express enough thanks to Coach Boeheim for so many years of mentorship and guidance," Hopkins said in the announcement. "The timing is right for me and my family to make this move."

Hopkins, a former Syracuse player and longtime assistant to SU coach Jim Boeheim, had been expected to succeed Boeheim after the 2017-18 season.

Hopkins will replace Lorenzo Romar, the former Washington head coach who was fired last week. Washington had failed to make it to the NCAA tournament in Romar's last six seasons.

Hopkins' decision to leave Syracuse throws the school's succession plan into disarray.

Updated Twitter bio for Mike Hopkins

Boeheim, who turns 73 in November, just finished his 41st year as the head coach at Syracuse.

In a March 2015 press conference, Boeheim had said he intended to coach for three more years. That summer, SU chancellor Kent Syverud publicly stated that Hopkins would succeed Boeheim after the 2017-18 season.

Hopkins had been a candidate for several head coaching jobs in the past. Most recently, he was a finalist for the University of Southern California job in 2013. USC officials instead hired Andy Enfield of Florida Gulf Coast University.

Hopkins had also been involved in openings at Oregon State, Boston College, Charlotte and St. Bonaventure.

Washington athletic director Jen Cohen had been expected to conduct a national search for the school's next head coach.

ESPN's Jeff Goodman broke the news on Twitter and reports that Hopkins' deal with Washington is for six years.

Hopkins, a native of San Mateo, Calif., came to Syracuse in 1988 after playing at Mater Dei High School. He redshirted his freshman season. He played from 1989 to 1993 when he was a senior captain.

After playing in Europe and the Continental Basketball Association, Hopkins joined Boeheim's coaching staff in 1996. In 2000, Hopkins was promoted to a recruiting role.

In that role, Hopkins brought a host of talented players to Syracuse. He recruited the likes of Hakim Warrick, Gerry McNamara, Jonny Flynn, Scoop Jardine, Dion Waiters, Michael Carter-Williams and Rakeem Christmas.

In 2015, Hopkins was named Head Coach Designate as SU chancellor Kent Syverud officially acknowledged Hopkins as Boeheim's eventual successor. When Boeheim served a 9-game suspension during the 2015-16 season, Hopkins took over as the interim head coach.

Syracuse recruit Oshae Brissett, a forward from Mississauga, Ontario, who plays for Athlete Institute in Mono, said he'd heard the news today from SU assistant coach Adrian Autry. Brissett, in a brief conversation, said he was happy for Hopkins and that the news would not change his decision to attend Syracuse.

"Not at all," he said.

He said Autry did not tell him anything about the status of current SU coach Jim Boeheim or give any indication about who might be SU's next head coach.

"I'm not concerned about it, to be honest," Brissett said.

Donna Ditota contributed to this report