It’s time to search out out what sort of program Syracuse needs to be within the trendy period.
The Orange fired coach Adrian Autry on Wednesday, a supply briefed on the scenario mentioned, the morning after Syracuse’s season-ending 86-69 loss to SMU within the ACC match.
Autry — Jim Boeheim’s longtime assistant and successor — went simply 49-48 in three seasons coaching his alma mater, by no means making the NCAA Tournament. Autry struggled to navigate the present school hoops panorama, with Syracuse slipping towards nationwide irrelevance as its postseason drought extends to 5 seasons.
The excellent news is, one proper rent can reverse all that — and Syracuse is as well-positioned as any program this spring to capitalize on a cycle during which it might be one of many higher openings.
There are questions on how good a job that is, as this system’s best successes all got here underneath Boeheim throughout his 47-year tenure. Syracuse additionally simply named a brand new chancellor, and its athletic director, John Wildhack, is retiring this summer season. His substitute has but to be introduced. There’s additionally the matter of Syracuse winters, which are not any joke from a top quality of life standpoint — and, extra importantly, a recruiting one.
Lastly, do the assets match expectations? Syracuse wasn’t within the ACC cellar when it comes to participant payroll — particularly after considerably upping its funding this season — however the Orange are nonetheless on the decrease finish of the band of competitiveness. Is extra funding doable for the proper coach?
It’s a barely extra difficult image than you may anticipate from a spot with Syracuse’s status, nevertheless it’s nonetheless on the quick record of “best jobs available” this offseason. That means the Orange can, and will, shoot excessive.
Call record (in alphabetical order)
Bryan Hodgson, head coach, South Florida
No coach has been related to the Orange greater than Hodgson, a fast-riser from Nate Oats’ coaching tree.
The soon-to-be 49-year-old, who’s initially from western New York, went 23-8 in his first season with the Bulls, successful the American regular-season title and placing USF in a powerful place to make the NCAA Tournament.
He beforehand went 45-28 in two seasons at Arkansas State, after serving to Alabama to its first Final Four in program historical past as an assistant. Industry chatter says the curiosity between Syracuse and Hodgson is mutual. If so, the one hiccup to him turning into the Orange’s next head coach is perhaps how far the Bulls go in March.
James Jones, head coach, Yale
Jones is on the older facet, having turned 62 in February, however he has lengthy been among the best coaches outdoors the high-major stage.
He turned Yale into the category of the Ivy League in his 27 seasons in New Haven and is simply getting higher with age. The Bulldogs have made 5 NCAA Tournament appearances — and received two video games — within the final decade alone.
Jones can be a Long Island native who performed at Albany, giving him deeper regional ties and understanding than most candidates. He’s not the sexiest title, but when the Orange are unable to land their high decisions, Jones could be a terrific fallback choice.
Gerry McNamara spent 19 years at Syracuse as a participant and coach. (Mark Konezny / Imagn Images)
Gerry McNamara, head coach, Siena
McNamara, in his second season as Siena’s head coach, is a Syracuse legend whose jersey hangs within the rafters of the JMA Wireless Dome.
And whereas Syracuse ought to rent the very best candidate — no matter program ties — there are undoubtedly going to be some preferring somebody from Boeheim’s tree.
McNamara might be the most suitable choice there: A freshman starter on the Orange’s 2003 title workforce who later spent over a decade on Boeheim’s workers, he has been a hit at Siena, taking a program that went 4-28 the 12 months earlier than his arrival to the NCAA Tournament this season after winning the MAAC tourney on Tuesday.
Given Autry’s struggles, Syracuse might need extra problem promoting some followers on one other rent from Boeheim’s workers, however McNamara is starting to make his personal title.
Luke Murray, assistant coach, UConn
It’s solely a matter of time till Murray, one of many main architects of the Huskies’ offense, will get his high-major shot. He’s extensively thought of one of many high assistants in high-major school basketball, and a purpose why UConn received consecutive nationwide titles in 2023 and 2024.
However, meaning the soon-to-be 41-year-old may also afford to be choosy, as he’s extremely well-situated (and well-compensated) in Storrs, Conn. Is Syracuse a ok job price leaving for? Possibly, even when it contains future contests in opposition to the Huskies and Dan Hurley.
From Syracuse’s perspective, Murray, who’s from close by Connecticut, has received at the best stage and possesses each Big East and ACC expertise, checks each field.
Josh Schertz, head coach, Saint Louis
Recent business chatter is that none of this cycle’s openings is perhaps enticing sufficient to persuade Schertz to depart Saint Louis. That may show true, however Syracuse has to strive all the identical.
Schertz, 50, is that nice a candidate, having led the Billikens to a 27-4 document and the Atlantic 10 regular-season title. The Brooklyn native is an revolutionary offensive coach who would thrive with the assets of a high-major program. He is greater than personable sufficient to carry his personal in Syracuse and the ACC at massive.
Is Syracuse keen to make Schertz a proposal he can’t refuse? It might be cash nicely spent if it offers an immediate turnaround for the Orange.
Kimani Young, affiliate head coach, UConn
Had Hurley taken the Los Angeles Lakers job within the spring of 2024, Young was slated to be UConn’s next head coach. The Queens native has been a fixture on Hurley’s workers since 2018 and has performed an outsized position within the Huskies’ return to dominance.
He’s a improbable communicator, trainer and recruiter, who would inject fast power right into a program that has lacked juice of late.
However, like Murray, Young is in a fantastic spot at UConn, and luring him away received’t be simple.
And the rent is …
Schertz, if Syracuse is keen to extend its funding and permit him to noticeably compete with the ACC’s a number of packages spending $10 million-plus on their rosters (Syracuse was reportedly just under $8 million this season).
But if not, Hodgson, Murray or Young could be needle-moving hires. Of these three, Hodgson appears most definitely, and he’s able to turning Syracuse again right into a winner.
