The big news out of college basketball was that two names long-time associated with the old Big East, Jim Boeheim and Patrick Ewing, were let go as head coaches of Syracuse and Georgetown, respectively.
Ewing’s release was expected as he compiled a 75-109 record in his six seasons as the Hoyas’ head basketball coach.
But Jim Boeheim’s name was a bigger shock, mostly because he was Syracuse basketball.
Boeheim built Syracuse, his Alma mater, into a national powerhouse by attracting star players like Dwayne “The Pearl” Washington, Rony Seikaly, Derrick Coleman and Carmelo Anthony to the program.
Through those future NBA stars and many other players, the Orange became a destination for basketball star power, particularly while the program played in the Big East.
Over 47 years, Boeheim amassed an extremely impressive 1,116-441 record (.717 winning percentage). He finished his career second in all-time wins behind former Duke coach, Mike Krzyewski. Perhaps most impressive is the fact that in a career that spanned over five decades, Boeheim only had one losing season, coming in last season when Syracuse finished 16-17.
But the time had come for the program to begin a new era, which meant the university had to part ways with coach Boeheim.
“There is no doubt in my mind that without Jim Boeheim, Syracuse Basketball would not be the powerhouse program it is today,” said Chancellor Kent Syverud. “Jim has invested and dedicated the majority of his life to building this program, cultivating generations of student-athletes and representing his alma mater with pride and distinction. I extend my deep appreciation and gratitude to an alumnus who epitomizes what it means to be ‘Forever Orange.'”
So the post-Boeheim era has begun. Helming the voyage is new head coach and former Orange player, Adrian Autry.
Autry, an assistant coach under Boeheim who graduated from Syracuse in 1994, was named the program’s new head coach after the Orange lost to Wake Forest in the first round of the ACC Tournament earlier this week.
Later today, Autry will officially be introduced as the team’s head coach. He will then become the eighth head basketball coach in Syracuse history.
He also becomes the first Black head basketball coach in program history.
Autry starred for St. Nicholas of Tolentine in the Bronx and was a McDonald’s All-American in 1990. The All-City guard won a city and state title in 1988 and eventually took his talents to Syracuse.
During his four years with the team, Syracuse made the NCAA tournament three times and he still ranks fifth in career assists (631) and sixth in career steals (217) at Syracuse.
After graduating with a Speech Communication degree in 1994, he played mostly overseas before entering the coaching ranks at the high school and AAU levels.
In 2008, he made the jump to the college level as director of basketball operations at Virginia Tech under former head coach, Seth Greenburg. He was later promoted to an assistant coaching position.
Autry then returned to his alma mater in 2011 as an assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach in 2017.
