Coach Search Options after Autry

[crv1728]

insanity

Hey Atlanticcuse, looking at your avatar, I think you stole my dog!

 

[sufandu]

I’m not fully against Gmac. But how do you defend his entire assistant coaching track record at SU. It’s fully correlated with our downturn.

I believe the argement in GMac's favor is that JB tied the hands of his assistants. Of course, that's a double edged sword. If their hands are tied and they're not allowed to contribute their own ideas, are they being prepared to be head coaches?

 

[swish7]

I’m not fully against Gmac. But how do you defend his entire assistant coaching track record at SU. It’s fully correlated with our downturn.

He wasn't the head coach.
He was under JBs thumb.
Red was apparently ranked higher.
Look at the performance of the players he coached.

 

[swish7]

There's huge value only playing 5 guys the whole game like Jim's 6-7 man rotations?

You know what logical fallacies are, correct?

 

[Newhouser]

Zoom action is where you play through the high post with your center and run lots of DHO (dribble handoff) action. The play many on here screamed about all season long without realizing 75% of college basketball was running similar versions (just executing much better). Horns is double high post sets where you can run many various actions out of a high post entry. Often times you will enter to one high post and the guard will cut off the opposite post and get a layup tha is one of the most common simple yet effective actions everyone runs. Hope this helps

Excellent description - as you pointed out I think people don't recognize the similarity in offenses because of our execution.

 

[RyanCuse44]

I really like Nyk Lewis as well. He is only a Freshman...
Also their center Djokovic is a Junior.

I feel all three of those guys can play at a p4 level. That would be a massive jump start to getting his program installed

That would make too much sense and can't have that at SU.

 

[orangefog]

Who had a bigger ego than Boeheim?

John Lally?

 

[Newhouser]

Regardless if we have a chance of hiring him, this is great.

He's going to make a P4 program very happy - not sure it will be ours, but he gets it.

 

[Newhouser]

Agree - can see Hodgson at Tennessee

I can't see a big time SEC school offering a job to a guy who has never won an NCAA game. The Vols can pluck someone from a current P4 school. Our difference is we can't - hence Hodgson, Martelli, Gerry, etc

 

[Cusefan0307]

I can't see a big time SEC school offering a job to a guy who has never won an NCAA game. The Vols can pluck someone from a current P4 school. Our difference is we can't - hence Hodgson, Martelli, Gerry, etc

They probably have to dig deep if they do. Not sure even they can do it. Pope was UK’s 7th choice last year and he was an alum.

 

[kingtidge]

Excellent description - as you pointed out I think people don't recognize the similarity in offenses because of our execution.

Of course we don't. We're stupid.

 

[Irishsecra1]

They just talked about the Siena game on CNN.
Heaped a lot of praise on the team.
When is the last time SU was ever in the national non sports media and we were being praised.
I want Gerry because I feel he is a winner and can frankly save our program.
Not sure if he wants us now though.

But if nothing else the moment they decide to hire him casual fan interest will go thru the roof.
It will literally be a huge injection of hope.
Not for nothing but the last 2 years have been soul sucking.

Martelli may be as good of a coach, but the huge injection of hope and excitement will not even be a third of what GMAC can generate.

 

[Blanko97]

Maybe you didn't get what I was saying. My source was as good as it would be possible to have.

I’m sure Gerry could’ve said it to save face but it was never true.

 

[chadvader]

They just talked about the Siena game on CNN.
Heaped a lot of praise on the team.
When is the last time SU was ever in the national non sports media and we were being praised.
I want Gerry because I feel he is a winner and can frankly save our program.
Not sure if he wants us now though.

But if nothing else the moment they decide to hire him casual fan interest will go thru the roof.
It will literally be a huge injection of hope.
Not for nothing but the last 2 years have been soul sucking.

Martelli may be as good of a coach, but the huge injection of hope and excitement will not even be a third of what GMAC

Yeah everyone looks at hiring in the family as being negative. There are also positives. Would be much easier to sell to the casual fans that you’re bringing home a name that they know and love. Ultimately winning is all that matters though.

 

[OrangeTarheel]

I don’t mind Axe but I really hope we go through about five more moments of “here’s the guy we hired … psych!” Just to see him jump on another bandwagon … and another … and another

 

[OburgOrange]

 

[crv1728]

This Martelli stuff? Don’t understand it. His sets stink. Doesn’t understand analytics and modern offense!

I think you’ve made your point.

 

[storange]

I don’t mind Axe but I really hope we go through about five more moments of “here’s the guy we hired … psych!” Just to see him jump on another bandwagon … and another … and another

Not a fan of Axe , but my feelings go back a long time ( having to do with coach P ) , Axe rides the wind , saying what he thinks his followers want . Always has and always will . I know many here like him .

 

[Hopkins16]

…Says the guy who ran off to the fake Orange.

 

[RedtheGOB]

After 619 pages and two months of checking this thread here is where I am at. If I am ADBB, my job is 1. to give the program the coach with the highest probability of winning for the next 5 to 10 years, 2. but I also need to hire someone who I can get along with and want on my team.

I think #2 eliminates BH from consideration... sorry, but there is no way I want someone who is a clear flight risk on my team. My hunch is Syracuse did feel him out and maybe even got to an agreement in principle, but it was clear that BH would not be long for the job. Part of a leaders job is to manage egos for sure... but there are egos and there are egos. Plus I already have one ego monster on my team.

So going to consideration #1... I evaluate based on ability to bring NIL, ability to recruit players, strategy and vision, program management, and execution and most importantly what do they do when they get punched in the face in a game. Hiring him would be class if faith without proof. Maybe it worked with Fran maybe it didn’t… but this is the route you take if you are in a really really weak position. If we go this route either Murray is such a no brainer in one of the areas that nothing else matters or the program is circling the lower part of the bowl that already has crap sticking to it.


Based on all of the above, unless you are going cheap, I have no idea how you go with Luke Murray unless he completely blows everyone away in the interview. Fran obv was able to do this and but he at least had the title of #1 recruiter in college football... but do we even know how good of a recruiter Murray is?

I have no idea who the choices are but I've heard Hurley, GMAC, Martelli Jr, Otz from ISU (too lazy to spell it out) Of all these dudes Otz is the clear #1 and it's not even close, but I believe he is a pipe dream. We know what Hurley can do and he's probably a 2 or a 3 out of 5 in all areas but recruiting where he is a 4 maybe (being generous), I also suspect the Hurley name gets him to a 4 on the NIL piece.

GMAC and Martelli are relatively unknowns, but in this case the devil you don't know is probably more attractive than the devil you do know from seeing Hurley's record so those two are above Hurley suspect Martelli is probably a bit above GMAC in everything but NIL and recruiting. We don't know how either of these guys can recruit at the P4 level, but GMAC is probably a bit ahead because he did bring talent that JB couldn't close.

The biggest separator is going to be NIL... GMAC's NIL potential blows everyone out of the water, including Martelli. And I get it... if Martelli or someone else comes in and makes the dance in year 1 the NIL will come in, but again my job as AD is to find the highest probability and here GMAC wins easily because of what he will bring in year 0 and year 1

So to me Otz from ISU (again don't want to spell his name) or someone like him is choice #1 by a mile, but we seem to have not shot. Of the alternatives, I wouldn't hire BH either and of the rest GMAC is the clear choice based on the NOW... hiring anyone else is a super big risk and you better sure the upside is there.

Thanks for listening to my ted talk.

Well said. Some common sense here is what I needed with my morning coffee while I'm forced to do more AI training that will ultimately replace all our jobs.

So Summary.
-Luke Murray if he pulls a Fran in the interview (this was my pick yesterday before the games).
-Martelli prob checks the most boxes but will the NIL show up right away, alot of unknowns
-Gmac: If NIL promises push everyone else out of the conversation, he's the now choice
-Pipe Dream: TJ

 

[RedtheGOB]

https://twitter.com/CBB_Central/status/2034708557132677419

Not sure how to copy the image, but if you read the messages, both Curry and Sweeney state that BH never had an offer. And insinuate that he was further down the wish list than many speculated. Seems agent-initiated propaganda which Goodman et al jumped on. Not sure about Curry, but Sweeney is more reputable than most, more measured and thoughtful, less prone to hyperbole and frankly seems like far less of a gullible simpleton than a Goodman for example, IMO.

Leads me to believe SU had their man lined up before BH decline-gate materialized. Will be very interesting now to see if that was GMac, someone else, and if Siena/Duke yesterday impacts what ultimately happens.

Been saying this for 3 days. All people keep seeing is copy pasted quotes from Goodman.

 

[elimunelson]

Been away all week.

Are we seriously arguing if Gerry is going to get the job? At this point it’s a question of timing to me. The school can’t possibly let him leave Manley without pen to paper right?

You guys are nuts if you think they will go another route. What else did he have to prove.

The mental gymnastics about the family, boeheim etc, he’s a good leader of men. He won the tournament by punching Duke.

 

[kingtidge]

They just talked about the Siena game on CNN.
Heaped a lot of praise on the team.
When is the last time SU was ever in the national non sports media and we were being praised.
I want Gerry because I feel he is a winner and can frankly save our program.
Not sure if he wants us now though.

But if nothing else the moment they decide to hire him casual fan interest will go thru the roof.
It will literally be a huge injection of hope.
Not for nothing but the last 2 years have been soul sucking.

Martelli may be as good of a coach, but the huge injection of hope and excitement will not even be a third of what GMAC

Fans will get behind just about any coach who comes here and wins. That's a fact and we are THAT starved for a winner.

The Big NIL for GMAC... no NIL for you... no NIL for you... no NIL for you... for other HC options is a REAL argument for GMAC (if true).

You can argue that is shortsighthed if you want, but it's brass tacks no matter how you slice it, and whale donors gonna whale with their money howevs they want.

All this other warm fuzzies stuff is just noise and warm fuzzies are not a legit reason to hire the bball coach.

What if VCU beats Illinois and is in the sweeet 16 by the end of the weekend??

Warm Fuzzy double-down:

"Well, Martelli looks like a great coach but the average Syracuse fan still isn't going to know who he is or be excited by his hire... .and now that he's in the sweet 16, his price is probably sky high. GMAC brings the excitement day 1 and is the only option."

 

[FasterCuse]

For those that just woke up from a coma and don't want to read 600+ pages.​

Phase 1: “This Is Hypothetical (Right?)”​

Mid‑December 2024 – Early 2025

Thread opens (Dec 14, 2024) with the assumption that firing Autry is unlikely, but fans are already bracing for where the program could be headed.

Dominant themes

• “Red is under contract, this is probably moot”
• Concern that Syracuse won’t spend for an elite hire
• Very early mentions of:
  • Mid‑major head coaches
  • Colgate / Patriot League types
  • General pessimism about NIL competitiveness

Most posters still believe Autry will get time, even if confidence is shaky. [syracusefan.com]

---

Phase 2: “Okay…This Might Actually Happen”​

Summer–Fall 2025

Autry’s second losing season changes the tone of the thread dramatically.

What shifts

• The thread becomes active speculation, not just venting
• Posters start matching coach types to NIL reality
• Booster influence and “who will actually pay” become central

Common refrains

• “You can’t hire a system coach without money”
• “This job isn’t what it used to be”
• Fear Syracuse has become “just another P4 opening”

Names begin surfacing repeatedly:

• Bryan Hodgson
• Josh Schertz
• Gerry McNamara (GMac) — initially divisive
• Mike Hopkins — nostalgia + skepticism

---

Phase 3: NIL Reality Check & Booster Wars​

Late 2025 – January 2026

This is where the thread balloons in size.

Key evolution

• Discussion moves from who is best → who is fundable
• Clear fault lines develop among posters over:
  • NIL collectives
  • Specific donors
  • Whether Syracuse basketball is still a “top‑tier” job

Posts repeatedly emphasize:

• No coach comes without millions in guaranteed player spend
• Donor politics could eliminate candidates regardless of fit

Some posters openly argue the program is structurally capped unless NIL improves. [syracusefan.com]

---

Phase 4: Autry’s Seat Is Lava​

February – Early March 2026

At this point, the thread effectively becomes a live coaching search war room.

What dominates

• Portal timing (April 7 repeatedly cited as a hard deadline)
• Inside‑baseball speculation on:
  • Search committees
  • Board of Trustees vs AD authority
  • Chancellor and AD transitions

A widely‑quoted post lays out an internal decision timeline, correctly predicting Autry’s fate and stressing urgency around the portal window. [syracusefan.com]

---

Phase 5: Autry Fired — Thread Goes Nuclear​

March 11, 2026

Autry is officially dismissed after the ACC Tournament loss. [usatoday.com], [sports.yahoo.com]

The thread accelerates dramatically.

Immediate reactions

• Shock is minimal; anger is not
• Strong “this was inevitable” tone
• Open criticism of how succession has been handled since Boeheim

---

Phase 6: The “Top Tier” Candidate Debate​

Mid‑March 2026

Once the firing is official, discussion narrows around a short list:

Tier 1 (Consensus Serious)​

• Josh Schertz (Saint Louis) – “best coach available but hardest get”
• Bryan Hodgson (South Florida) – recruiter + NY ties
• Luke Murray (UConn assistant) – Hurley pedigree

In‑Family Debate​

• Gerry McNamara
  • Momentum spikes after Siena success and NCAA Tournament visibility
  • Deeply polarizing but increasingly credible
• Mike Hopkins
  • Viewed as safe but uninspiring by many

Media reporting largely confirms the same names fans are debating. [cbssports.com], [sports.yahoo.com]

---

Phase 7: Donor Pressure & Deadline Panic​

Late March 2026 (Current Pages ~600+)

The most recent pages are less about coaches, more about power.

Thread mood now

• “Who will the donors actually back?”
• Anxiety that:
  • Syracuse could lose top choices to faster schools
  • Money delays will decide the hire, not evaluation

Some posters compare this process unfavorably to the Autry hire, warning against repeating a “courtesy interview + predetermined outcome” search.

 

[KellySyracuse]

what's up with every word starting with a capital letter? Is that what the kids do now?