Adrian Autry ’94 Ready to Make His Mark as Next Men’s Basketball Coach (Podcast)
Family.
It’s a term that’s often used to describe the culture found in a sports locker room, but in the case of the Syracuse University men’s basketball program, the student-athletes and coaches who make up the team truly feel like a family.
And beginning tonight when the Orange tip off the 2023-24 season at home against the University of New Hampshire, there will be a new yet very familiar face leading the Orange men’s basketball family.
Adrian Autry ’94, the former men’s basketball standout who served as Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim’s ’66, G’73 assistant and associate head coach for 12 years, begins his next great coaching challenge: leading his alma mater.
“This is a dream come true. For Coach Boeheim to stamp me [as his successor] and give me his blessings, it means the world to me and I don’t take that lightly,” says Autry, who earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
“When I talk about our program and what it means to me … I love this place, I love Coach Boeheim and I love Syracuse. This place was pivotal for me growing as a young man. Those years were important because I experienced everything there and I took everything I learned with me,” Autry says. “I especially learned about loyalty. The Syracuse community, this University and our fans are loyal to the men’s basketball program, and that all comes back to the family part of it. I’ve always embraced that family atmosphere here.”
During a four-year playing career, Autry etched his name in the school’s record books as a prolific passer and tremendous defender. He still ranks fifth in program history in career assists and sixth in steals. Following a successful playing career that included stints in Europe and across North and South America, Autry embarked on his second act: as a basketball coach, learning the Xs and Os of coaching from his mentor, Boeheim.
Autry stopped by the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast to discuss this exciting opportunity, and why he’s ready to take over and make his mark on the men’s basketball program.
Autry also reveals the lessons he’s learned from Boeheim, explores why his team will be fast-paced on offense and tenacious on defense, recalls his favorite memories from his playing days and shares why, from his first day on campus, Syracuse has always felt like home.
Check out episode 153 of the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast featuring Autry. A transcript [PDF] is also available.
