The entire Syracuse basketball coaching staff is not being retained for the 2026-27 season.
SU Athletics announced on Wednesday morning that it had fired third-year head coach Adrian Autry. Also on Wednesday, CBS Sports Jon Rothstein reported on X that the 'Cuse had parted ways with Syracuse basketball general manager Alex Kline.
Syracuse.com reported on Wednesday afternoon that all the other Orange assistants have also been let go. They are assistant coach Allen Griffin, assistant coach Dan Engelstad, assistant coach Brenden Straughn and assistant coach/director of operations Peter Corasaniti.
I'm not surprised that the entire staff has been fired, but I do wish every assistant nothing but a ton of success moving forward. The Orange, after its ACC Tournament first-round setback to SMU on Tuesday, ended its disappointing 2025-26 campaign at 15-17 overall.
Autry, in his three seasons at the 'Cuse helm, went just 49-48 overall, and Syracuse basketball hasn't made the annual NCAA Tournament since 2021, an almost unheard of fact for one of college basketball's most storied squads.
Syracuse basketball will have a completely new staff in 2026-27.
On Wednesday, in announcing his decision to fire Autry, outgoing SU athletics director John Wildhack said that Syracuse will "move quickly" to find its next Syracuse basketball head coach, which is important, given that the transfer portal opens next month. I'm also hearing that the next SU athletics director will likely be announced soon.
Straughn is a terrific recruiter and, like Autry, has deep connections and ties to the talent-laden Washington, D.C., region. Straughn was a huge reason why the 'Cuse ultimately landed a commitment from 2024 five-star prospect Donnie Freeman, who, as a sophomore with SU in 2025-26, was an honorable mention All-ACC performer.
Griffin overlapped with me for three seasons while I was a student at Syracuse University from 1996 to 2000. A standout guard at the Orange, he was on four NCAA Tournament teams at the 'Cuse, including two SU runs to the Sweet 16.
In April 2017, Griff was named an assistant coach at Syracuse basketball, so he's been on the staff for nearly a decade. I want to thank Allen for his time in Central New York. I'm excited to see what's next for all these former 'Cuse assistant coaches, along with Autry and Kline.