Andrew Roberts, the head coach of the Syracuse track and field team, announced Wednesday that he will leave the program after 21 years at SU.

Roberts made the announcement at the team’s annual awards banquet, held at the Genesee Grande Hotel.

Near the conclusion of the ceremony, Roberts thanked the track and field class of 2005 and then announced that this would be his last year at SU. The surprise announcement shocked nearly everyone in the room, as players, coaches and team supporters began to cry. Roberts came to Syracuse in 1984 after stints as an assistant at Tennessee and UCLA. He was the sprints and hurdles coach before taking over for former SU head coach Dick Coleman in 1997. Roberts continued to coach the sprints and hurdles in addition to running the entire track and field program. He coached 20 All-Americans during his tenure.