Who is Adrian Autry? What to know about Syracuse’s new coach tasked with replacing Jim Boeheim

A new era in men’s basketball began in Syracuse on Wednesday. The university announced that Jim Boeheim, its longtime men’s basketball coach who led the Orange to a national championship in 2003, has retired effective immediately.

Boeheim’s stock had gone sour in its last few years; Syracuse will in all likelihood miss its second straight NCAA tournament, a previously unfathomable thought. Still, the 78-year-old is among the greatest minds in the history of the sport, a tenacious leader who, year after year, has found a way to build competitive teams even in the hyper-intense Big East.

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The Orange wasted little time naming Boeheim’s replacement and promoting associate coach Adrian Autry to the big seat. Autry’s name may sound familiar to some college hoop fans, particularly those who grew up in central New York. And although ‘Cuse marks his first appearance as head coach, the 51-year-old has had plenty of time to learn from his predecessor.

Here’s everything you need to know about Adrian Autry, the man tasked with taking on a legend.

Who is Adrian Autry?

One of Boeheim’s greatest contributions to the Oranges, along with all the wins and accolades, was his development of a coaching tree with branches spanning the entire college game. One of his most trusted assistants was Autry, a Boeheim protégé and one of the greatest point guards in program history.

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After a fruitful four-year career (1990-94) as the team’s head coach, he brought his talents to Europe.

Autry’s return to US shores coincided with an increased interest in a coaching career. He would soon get his chance and join the staffs of high school powerhouses Bishop Ireton and Paul VI. connect from Virginia. He earned a spot in the heyday as Virginia Tech’s director of basketball operations. In 2010, he was promoted to the Hokies coaching staff.

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How long has Adrian Autry been training at Syracuse?

He would leave Blacksburg a year later when he joined his former coach in Central New York.

Autry developed into one of Boeheim’s best assistants and soon made a splash as an assistant coach. He made it clear that he wanted the opportunity to be in charge of a program.

Now Syracuse is committed and has handed the reins to Autry, among others, to his assistant Gerry McNamara.

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Turning the Orange back into a blue-chip program will be a difficult task, but Autry had one of the best mentors in the sport’s history.

“There have been very few forces more influential in my life than Syracuse University and Jim Boeheim,” Autry said in a statement released by Syracuse on Wednesday. “It’s hard to imagine a world without him on the bench, but together with our coaches, student-athletes and fans, we will build on decades of success as a successful program.”