Syracuse Fires Coach Adrian Autry After 3 Unsuccessful Seasons

Autry failed to lead the Orange to the NCAA Tournament in the post-Jim Boeheim era.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 6:18pm

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Syracuse University has fired head basketball coach Adrian Autry after three largely unsuccessful seasons, the school announced on Wednesday. Autry, who was 49-48 over three seasons, failed to lead the Orange to the NCAA Tournament and lost 12 of the last 15 games to finish the season 15-17.

Why it matters

Syracuse has been a perennial NCAA Tournament team under legendary coach Jim Boeheim, but the program has struggled to maintain that success in the post-Boeheim era. Autry's inability to return the team to the Big Dance has led to his dismissal, as the school looks to find a new coach who can restore the "Orange Standard" that Autry had promised.

The details

Autry, a former Syracuse player and assistant coach, took over as head coach in 2023 after Boeheim's retirement. However, he was unable to build on the program's past success, failing to reach the NCAA Tournament in his three seasons. The team's struggles culminated in a 37-point loss to Duke on February 16, the Orange's worst ACC loss since joining the conference 13 years ago.

  • Autry was fired on March 11, 2026, one day after Syracuse's loss to SMU in the first round of the ACC Tournament.
  • Autry had been the head coach for the past three seasons, taking over for Jim Boeheim in 2023.

The players

Adrian Autry

The former Syracuse player and assistant coach who was fired as the team's head coach after three unsuccessful seasons.

Jim Boeheim

The legendary former head coach of the Syracuse basketball team, who retired in 2023 after leading the program for over 40 years.

John Wildhack

The Syracuse athletic director who announced Autry's firing and will oversee the search for a new head coach.

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What they’re saying

“Adrian first came to Syracuse as a student-athlete in 1990, and this program has been a constant in his life ever since: as a player, assistant coach, associate head coach and ultimately as head coach. His dedication to our student-athletes on and off the court never wavered throughout his time here, and we are grateful for his service and commitment to Orange Basketball.”

— John Wildhack, Syracuse Athletic Director

“It has been an honor to coach at my alma mater.”

— Adrian Autry

What’s next

A national search will begin immediately to find Autry's replacement as Syracuse's head basketball coach.

The takeaway

Syracuse's firing of Adrian Autry marks the end of an era for the storied basketball program, as it struggles to maintain its success in the post-Jim Boeheim era. The school will now look to find a new coach who can restore the "Orange Standard" and return the team to the NCAA Tournament.