“The torch is being officially passed”: Jim Boeheim says farewell, Syracuse introduces Adrian “Red” Autry
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – For the first time since 1976, Syracuse University Athletics welcomed a new men’s basketball head coach Friday morning.
Adrian “Red” Autry took the podium at the introductory press conference at the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center and metaphorically took the reins of the historic program.
“I stand up here, as a former player, proud alum, and now your next head coach,” Autry said. “I’m excited for the future, and what we’re going to do together.
Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud, Athletic Director John Wildhack, former Head Coach Jim Boeheim and Autry spoke Friday to reflect on the past and look ahead to the future.
“Today, the torch is being officially passed,” Syverud said. “It’s being passed from one of the winningest coaches of all time, and from an upstater who has been incredibly loyal to this program and this university in good times and in bad. It’s being passed to another alum who bleeds orange, who played for the Orange, and who has dedicated much of his professional life to the Orange.
A chapter closes, but Boeheim will remain at SU
After 47 years as the head coach and 62 total years with the program, Jim Boeheim stepped away from the top job. Two days after an awkward final postgame press conference and the press release announcing his departure, Boeheim gave his final goodbyes.
He began an emotional 11-minute speech by clarifying that he did not know he would depart after this season until the past two weeks.
“I thought about it this year,” Boeheim said. “When we hit the stretch that we hit, where I didn’t coach very good, we didn’t play very good, we lost those four games. I felt that this was the time.”
Boeheim continued his remarks by thanking the players and coaches he has worked with over the years, as well as his family, among others.
He endorsed Autry as his successor, saying “he can coach.”
“Syracuse basketball is being left in the best of hands,” Boeheim said. “They won’t need me, [but] I’ll be here every day.”
Syverud, Wildhack and Boeheim each mentioned that Boeheim will continue to work with the University in some capacity.
“I will never leave Syracuse and I will never leave Syracuse University,” Boeheim said.
Boeheim jokingly added that he would not know what else to do anyway.
Wildhack discusses release of Autry hiring news
When fielding questions from the media, Wildhack responded to a question about the timeline of Wednesday’s events, from the conclusion of Syracuse’s ACC Tournament loss to Wake Forest to the press release announcing Boeheim’s departure and Autry’s hiring three hours later. The release notably did not include a quote from Boeheim.
“As Coach said, we’ve had a plan in place,” Wildhack said. “He and I met last Friday. There are twists and turns to ultimately get where you get to, but we got to the right end.”
Boeheim did not use the term “retire” on Wednesday, but he and Wildhack did Friday. Boeheim lamented the fact that he, Wildhack and Syverud did not meet between the season-ending loss and the announcement.
“It was unfortunate that the [ACC Tournament] press conference was in the middle of that, and we didn’t get a chance to meet,” Boeheim said.
Wildhack did say Syracuse Athletics plans to celebrate Boeheim “in a big way” in the future, saying it would be bigger than the recent celebration of the 2003 national championship team.
Autry commits to a high standard
Adrian Autry played for Syracuse men’s basketball from 1990 until 1994 and returned as an assistant coach in 2011.
“When I think about what attracted me and drew me to Syracuse as a player, I think about its history, the rich tradition, and what I refer to as the ‘Orange standard’ that was set by Coach [Boeheim],” Autry said.
Though he intends to maintain the standard that propelled the program to five Final Four appearances during Boeheim’s tenure, Autry said he is “a new face with new ideas.” He mentioned the style of play he envisions for his team.
“We want to be versatile on both ends of the floor,” Autry said. “We want to be aggressive, we want to get up and down. We want to be able to adapt.”
Autry mum on roster, coaches, X’s and O’s
Autry inherits a roster in which every player has eligibility remaining. Most of the roster, including seniors Jesse Edwards and Joe Girard III, as well as star freshman Judah Mintz, attended Friday’s press conference. Autry’s first task as head coach and recruiter will be retaining as much of that roster as possible.
“We’re very disappointed in the outcome of this season, but I think, with everyone having eligibility to come back — I think that’s a big plus, and if they did come back, we can really do some things, get back to winning,” Autry said.
Another of the biggest questions from fans is whether the team will run Boeheim’s patented 2-3 zone defense during Autry’s tenure. Autry was not giving away the answer to that question.
“We’ll be versatile,” Autry said. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to win the game.”
Additionally, Autry did not confirm whether the current staff of assistant coaches would remain at Syracuse.
“As a coach and staff, we want to take our time,” Autry said. “[…] I’m very fortunate and lucky to have them with me. I’m not going to rush into anything, but we’ll get there when we need to.”
The full press conference is available below.