With chancellor, athletic director set, focus turns to Syracuse basketball head coach

Syracuse University leaders are moving things along efficiently when it comes to some big-time appointments on the Hill, and that's highly encouraging, especially given the current landscape in collegiate athletics.

On Thursday afternoon, as first reported by ESPN senior writer and SU alum Pete Thamel and later confirmed by Syracuse Athletics, the executive committee of SU's board of trustees has approved the appointment of Bryan Blair as the Orange's next athletics director.

Blair, who is known for his tremendous fundraising prowess, is currently the athletics director at Toledo. He will replace John Wildhack, who is retiring on July 1, as the new SU athletics director. A huge congrats and welcome from Orange Nation to Bryan. You can read more about his background here.

Toward the beginning of March, J. Michael Haynie was appointed the next chancellor of Syracuse University, replacing Kent Syverud, who will become the new president at the University of Michigan.

In the span of nine days, SU has revealed its new chancellor and now its new athletics director. That's terrific. Next up: Hiring the next Syracuse men's basketball head coach.

Credit Syracuse for getting a new chancellor and athletics director on board in an expedient manner.

On Wednesday, Wildhack fired Syracuse basketball head coach Adrian Autry after three seasons in which Red went just 49-48 and never made the NCAA Tournament. The rest of the Orange staff has also been let go.

Wildhack said that he would make any changes needed at Syracuse basketball while still in his post. He did that. Now, it's time for him to step aside, respectfully, and let Blair, Haynie and other stakeholders hire the next 'Cuse hoops head coach.

Time will tell, but from my perspective, Syracuse University brass made great hires in Blair and Haynie. Wildhack said on Wednesday that the Orange will "move quickly and with purpose" in finding the next Syracuse basketball head coach.

That's key, since the transfer portal will open in less than a month, running from April 7 to April 21. Obviously, the new head coach, and his assistant staff, have to be in place before the portal window opens for business.

So SU leaders have some time, but not a ton of time, to get things right with their hiring of a new head coach. Given the program's state, and where college sports are these days with direct revenue-sharing, third-party NIL and other factors, Blair needs to hit a home run with Syracuse basketball's next head coach.

And I'm cautiously optimistic that he will.