Syracuse Officially Introduces Adrian Autry as Head Coach
He was recruited to play at Syracuse in 1990, and 33 years later, Adrian Autry is now the eighth head coach in Syracuse men’s basketball’s history.
“Today is an exciting day. I’m going to enjoy this moment with my family, and then tomorrow, we will get to work,” Autry said.
He started in all but five games during his career at Syracuse, ranking fifth all-time in career assists with 631, and sixth in career steals with 217.
"Syracuse basketball is being left in the best of hands," Jim Boeheim said.
He played for former Head Coach Jim Boeheim and has coached alongside him as an assistant coach and as an associate head coach since coming back to his alma mater in 2011.
“He’s learned from one of the best: Coach Boeheim,” Director of Athletics John Wildhack said.
While he is “a new voice, a new face with new ideas,” Autry said he will not change the “Orange standard.” A standard that is about the history of winning, playing hard and competing for championships.
Autry’s vision for the program is to be versatile on both ends of the floor and have the ability to adapt.
Whether they run zone or man-to-man defense in the coming seasons will now be up to Autry, who says they “will do whatever it takes to win the game.”
Autry said he has spoken with the players, and that the young team can have a lot of success next season, especially if the players who all have eligibility to return choose to stay.
He even checked on them mid-press conference to make sure the players went to classes today.
Wildhack said coaches he’s had on a list to take over the program have progressed on to other programs, but Autry has earned this.
“Adrian’s not here because he’s an alum, because he played here, because he was an associate head coach here,” Wildhack said. “He’s here because I believe he’s the best candidate to lead this program and to sustain the success Coach Boeheim has established over 47 years.”
Boeheim’s retirement was announced on Wednesday, March 8 after the team’s 77-74 loss to Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament.
Wildhack said Boeheim met with the team back in the hotel after the game and informed them of his decision then. The press release that came hours later, however, had no statement from Boeheim. Wildhack said that they needed to get the statement out quickly to provide as much clarity as possible.
“We’ve had a plan in place,” Wildhack said. “Coach Boeheim is going to be with us. Coach Autry is head coach. We’ve executed the plan.”
Wildhack said that Boeheim helped build the plan, and that the two will be meeting next week to discuss what Boeheim’s role will be moving forward.
“We’re going to put him to work, I can guarantee that,” Wildhack said.
Autry said he is in no rush and will be taking his time to fill his coaching staff.
In the meantime, Autry is ready for what is to come.
“I’ve been here, I’ve been a part of this, so I’m very comfortable and very familiar and understand what needs to happen going forward,” Autry said.
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