The coaching carousel at Syracuse is spinning once again. After parting ways with Adrian Autry, the Orange are on the hunt for a new leader to steer their men's basketball program. With a 15-17 record and an early exit in the ACC Tournament courtesy of SMU, Syracuse is staring at a fifth straight year without an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Initially, six names were thrown into the mix as potential successors. However, the list is already starting to shrink.
St. Louis has locked in Josh Schertz with a fresh deal, taking him off the table.
Let’s dive into the details.
Providence's Coaching Shake-Up
Over at Providence, Kim English has been shown the door following a quarterfinal loss to St. John's in the Big East Tournament. English's tenure saw the Friars finish at 15-18 this season, with an overall record of 48-52 over three years-none of which were winning seasons.
Enter Bryan Hodgson
Bryan Hodgson is emerging as a frontrunner for the Syracuse vacancy. Currently at the helm of South Florida, Hodgson has led the Bulls to an impressive 23-8 record this season. According to Jeff Goodman from Field of 68, Hodgson is the "leader in the clubhouse" for the Providence job as well, making him a hot commodity with multiple options on the table.
A native of Olean, N.Y., Hodgson's ties to the area are strong. He graduated from Jamestown High School and played at Jamestown Community College.
His coaching journey began at Division III Fredonia State in 2007. With stints at Arkansas State, Alabama, and Buffalo under Nate Oats, Hodgson's resume is as solid as they come.
Why Providence Might Appeal
Providence has a storied past, with Ed Cooley leading them to seven NCAA tournament appearances during his 12-year tenure. The Friars boast two Big East championships and have reached the Final Four twice, the last time in 1987. With Cooley's departure to Georgetown, the program is at a crossroads that could entice Hodgson if they make a compelling offer.
Syracuse's Next Steps
Syracuse has named Bryan Blair as their new athletic director, which means the clock is ticking on making a coaching hire. Blair, in a conversation with ESPN's Andrea Adelson, emphasized the weight of this decision:
"Anytime you've got to hire a coach, you're going to feel that pressure... You hire the individuals that dictate the experience of your student-athlete, and when you're talking about a sport like Syracuse basketball, in many ways, dictates the image and the self-esteem of a department and sometimes an institution and a region."
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