SU passes torch to Adrian Autry as new head basketball coach
SU passes torch to Adrian Autry as new head basketball coach
The Syracuse University men’s basketball coaching mantle was officially passed to Adrian Autry on Friday morning.
At the team’s practice court at the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center, a roomful of SU dignitaries witnessed the formal transfer of power from the longtime head coach Jim Boeheim to his associate coach and former player.
“I am a new voice, a new face with new ideas,” Autry said. “But the standards that have helped build this program will not change.”
Autry, who played for Boeheim from 1990-94 and returned to SU as an assistant coach in 2011, said the many years learning from Boeheim had prepared him for this moment.
“(Autry) can coach. He’s not here as a recruiter or a player. He’s here as a coach,” Boeheim said. “He knows how to coach, and he’s got a couple of assistants that both are good enough to be head coaches. There will be no problem coaching going forward. None.”
Autry addressed his players when saying he’s excited for the future and what the team will accomplish together.
“Syracuse is a family and we take care of our own,” Autry said. “Today is a testament of that.”
In terms of next season’s plans, Autry said he looks to recruit players out of high school, but also utilize the transfer portal when needed.
Thank you, Syracuse. pic.twitter.com/l1hoQT5JE1
— Jim Boeheim (@therealboeheim) March 10, 2023
Boeheim was relieved of his coaching duties on Wednesday following SU’s second-round loss to Wake Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, finishing the season with a 17-15 record.
Boeheim tried to dispel talk that his unceremonious departure that never was publicly deemed a retirement could have been done differently by crediting SU athletic director John Wildhack for formulating the transition to Autry.
“Most schools don’t have a plan,” Boeheim said. “Wildhack had a plan, the university had a plan and I was a part of that plan.”
“That plan is now in place.”
Wildhack said the plan has come into place after a couple of months discussing and listening to input from Boeheim.
“Today’s a really good day,” Wildhack said. “We honored Coach Boeheim, and he’s going to be with us. He’s going to be with the university, with this program. And we also introduced Coach Autry as we start the next era of Syracuse basketball, so today is a really good day.”
Boeheim thanked his family for coming along for the long ride: his oldest daughter Elizabeth, sons Buddy and Jimmy who he coached during the 2021-22 season and his daughter Jamie, who’s the only one in the family to win three basketball championships (state titles at Jamesville-DeWitt High School).
He was emotional when speaking about his children, but even more so when he thanked his wife Juli Boeheim.
“None of these past 26 years would have been possible without Juli, who’s been the best wife a coach could ever have,” Boeheim said.
Having first played at SU in 1962 as a walk-on and then working up through the coaching ranks to become head coach in 1976, Boeheim said Friday he was not planning to ever be far from the program.
“I’m probably most happy that I’ll never leave here,” Boeheim said. “I’ll never leave Syracuse, and I’ll never leave Syracuse University.”
Adrian Autry and Jim Boeheim embrace after Autrey's introduction as SU's new coach on Friday.
Syracuse University sports and school officials gathered Friday to hear from new men's head coach Adrian Autry.
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