Inside Syracuse’s rough off-season: How portal misses and a lack of NIL money led to a lost year

[JeffCuse]

I work in public relations professionally.

The University PR department is crushing it right now. "Lost year"...poor Red. Oof.

 

[Blanko97]

The aspect of this that Mike didn't expound on is the support staff that was in place last spring. It was essentially Red, Griff and Engelstad with Pete Corasaniti before Straughan was hired. Staff was understandably 100% focused on the current season's games and unable to focus on roster construction for this year until we were knocked out of the ACC Tournament in mid March. Then, and only then did they realize that the budget they had set and communicated to the collectives for this year's roster would be woefully inadequate.
We have now added a GM and a data analysis guru so we have 1 head coach, 3 assistants and 3 support staff members,
Compare that to Duke's 1 HC, FIVE assistants, and at least EIGHT support staff members dedicated to the product on the court PLUS a fundraising arm dedicated solely to men's hoops and a staff that is tasked with player branding and developemt. I'm not even inclusing the others whose titles I couldn't decipher.
It's not solely NIL and quality of coaching. The larger issue is the level of support that the program is receiving from the department. Let's see how that changes beginning in a couple weeks.

Staff Directory - Duke University

The official staff directory for the Duke University

goduke.com

Thats all well and good but we still continue to ignore the fact that Reds job is build this staff and team. Short of Wildhack telling him to take a hike when he asked for more staff and support, those issues sit on reds desk and still registers another example of a failed understanding of how to coach.

 

[rrlbees]

I agree, but you have to admit Red has been severely strapped with having the necessary tools to compete. He needed to be better prepared and SU needed to provide the resources to compete in the new world of college athletics. I have no doubt that Kadary Richmond would have come back to SU if we could have matched St. John’s $1.2 million offer. If we matched Duke’s offer to Maliq, he may have come back. Relationships mean nothing any more. It’s only the $$$. I’m worried that we think Kline is going to be our savior.

You, amongst others, need to keep reminding yourselfs that NIL is US, not SU resources.

The additional resources I’d like to see SU provide is the filling of the 2 additional coaching spots the NCAA now allows. My preference would be an older very experienced coach and a young energetic coach. Regardless of what decisions they make about the current staff.

 

[baggerbob]

From what I have read and heard, Syracuse was no where ready for the portal last year, obviously whiffed on some kids who they thought they were going to get, including Richmond. They are using not being ready for the portal as this years excuse as well as not having the $$ needed to get players. They settled on the players who are here now. Going forward I believe, with no proof, that they will have the needed cash this year and they have a full time GM who's main mission is to be ready for the portal this year. Mr Autry, you are on the clock!!

Too bad, but looks like Red is getting a 3rd year, maybe he finally figures out an offense and defense.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Fran had a plan, hoops clearly didnt have anything close to it

Seems like a huge red flag no pun intended. How do you not have a plan coming into being hired for the portal when you know the landscape has changed.

 

[Fly Rodder]

You, amongst others, need to keep reminding yourselfs that NIL is US, not SU resources.

I think its willful ignorance to think that these are not coordinated. The funds are certainly not commingled, but I've got a bridge to sell you if you're testifying that no coordination is occurring.

 

[Consigliere]

Question for you or anyone who knows. It's been said our NIL budget is better next year. Last year it was 2 - 2.5. What is our approximate NIL budget for next year?

I don't have first hand knowledge of a concrete number, but we now know that there will be $20.5MM for direct payments. Subtract $2.5MM to fund additional scholarships leaving $18MM, 15 to 20% of that is earmarked for men's basketball, so on the low end that is $2.7MM. Add a minimum of $1MM for the Vegas tournament. Assume the goal for the collectives to raise will not be reduced (might be a stretch with the same donors being asked to fund ChampionCUSE, but doubt that will be built into the plan) so that's another $2.5MM. That brings us to north of $6MM not including and major infusion from new megadonors. If we fill all 15 allowed scholarships (we won't), that's an average of $400k per player. Absurd IMHO, but may not even be "enough" to reach elite levels.

 

[rrlbees]

I think its willful ignorance to think that these are not coordinated. The funds are certainly not commingled, but I've got a bridge to sell you if you're testifying that no coordination is occurring.

Who’s talking about commingling or coordinating? I’m talking about where the money actually comes from. It does not come from an SU budget.

 

[DilemaCuse]

Seems like a huge red flag no pun intended. How do you not have a plan coming into being hired for the portal when you know the landscape has changed.

Yeah wasn't that one of the reasons cited as to why he was hired in 23 because the portal was opening and we couldn't take our time to have a long drawn out search.

Like lets rush this coaching hire because the transfer portal opens in 3 days. Thats not playing the long game.

To Reds defense he got JJ and Chance who we all agreed were good adds at the time.

 

[Consigliere]

Thats all well and good but we still continue to ignore the fact that Reds job is build this staff and team. Short of Wildhack telling him to take a hike when he asked for more staff and support, those issues sit on reds desk and still registers another example of a failed understanding of how to coach.

Focus the last two years was on re-establishing football. Wildhack made major investments following the 2022-23 season to give Dino every opportunity to succeed, but he also imposed a tangible performance metric in 7 wins that he would be measured against. When he failed to meet that metric in 2023 a change was made and Wildhack doubled down with a major increase in the budget for assistant coaches, a near doubling of support staff, a ramp up in planned facilities upgrades dedicated to football and an effort to bridge a schism with a football alumni based fundraising group = a group that was initially critical of the Brown hiring - to boost the NIL coffers.
My read is that the AD, like any good manager, will show as much support as possible to an employee before resorting to firing him or her. It may be delaying the inevitable, or it may be ensuring that you are not throwing out the baby with the bathwater so to speak, but it helps establish a culture that creates an attractive work environment for all current and potential future employees.

 

[Dcuse]

From what we've seen this year, the staff needs truly elite talent to overcome their enormous deficiencies in coaching and player development. I just don't see the team next year being anything more than bubblicious, and even then, only if they absolutely crush it in the portal.

We could win a NC and you still wouldn’t give any credit to Autry. You’re dislike of him is on a large screen

 

[Red2003]

Yeah wasn't that one of the reasons cited as to why he was hired in 23 because the portal was opening and we couldn't take our time to have a long drawn out search.

Like lets rush this coaching hire because the transfer portal opens in 3 days. Thats not playing the long game.

To Reds defense he got JJ and Chance who we all agreed were good adds at the time.

Agree on the last part. Let's not forget that despite the blowouts last year and fizzling out at the end.

Autry got 19 wins and was at one point pushing toward a double bye in the ACCT, beat UNC in Feb, all with alot of injuries and JT being a black hole at the 4.

Everyone just thought oh we can just run it back again and get those extra 5 wins to sneak onto the bubble this year without having to address any root problems.

I'm no Autry fan but there is revisionist history everywhere right now.

 

[Consigliere]

Yeah wasn't that one of the reasons cited as to why he was hired in 23 because the portal was opening and we couldn't take our time to have a long drawn out search.

Like lets rush this coaching hire because the transfer portal opens in 3 days. Thats not playing the long game.

To Reds defense he got JJ and Chance who we all agreed were good adds at the time.

Red's hiring was not a rushed decision. The succession plan was in place for well over a year and included evaluating internal and external candidates. Exact timing may have changed, but JB was always going to be replaced by an in house candidate (though some debate over which) once feedback from respected members of the media and coaching fraternity indicated that the best candidate was already here and an external hire and complete teardown of the program would be a far greater risk.

 

[kcsu]

You have Sadiq going to the bench and Freeman starting at the 4 but playing the 3 and you're going to get a starting caliber SF from the portal? Good luck.

Thanks, we need all the luck we can get. Yes, Sadiq comes off the bench. Donnie plays 3 positions. Primary is the 4. Yes, we get three starters from the portal. JJ and Donnie, if he comes back are the only returning players who start.

 

[Consigliere]

Agree on the last part. Let's not forget that despite the blowouts last year and fizzling out at the end.

Autry got 19 wins and was at one point pushing toward a double bye in the ACCT, beat UNC in Feb, all with alot of injuries and JT being a black hole at the 4.

Everyone just thought oh we can just run it back again and get those extra 5 wins to sneak onto the bubble this year without having to address any root problems.

I'm no Autry fan but there is revisionist history everywhere right now.

Not going to make excuses, but it's difficult not to speculate what our record would be right now if we didn't go extended periods with each of our top two players missing extended time due to injury. I won't pretend it would have met the "Orange Standard," but it's not a stretch to project an additional 4 or 5 wins with a fully healthy roster. Again, it is the coach's job to ensure you have a roster with enough depth to overcome an inusry or two, but I sense the drama and hyperbole wouldn't be quite tje same level if that scenario had unfolded.

 

[kingtidge]

Red's hiring was not a rushed decision. The succession plan was in place for well over a year and included evaluating internal and external candidates. Exact timing may have changed, but JB was always going to be replaced by an in house candidate (though some debate over which) once feedback from respected members of the media and coaching fraternity indicated that the best candidate was already here and an external hire and complete teardown of the program would be a far greater risk.

That's not true - at all.

A decision was made to hire internally, but at no point during that decision making process was the "best candidate" even a consideration.

The best candidate was and is somewhere outside the program.

 

[Fly Rodder]

Who’s talking about commingling or coordinating? I’m talking about where the money actually comes from. It does not come from an SU budget.

Correct, but you're being pedantic about something that is a huge part of every D1 program. When people use "Syracuse" and the school, they are pretty obviously not saying that NIL money is coming out of the schools budget. They are more likely using it as a generic term for the program, alumni groups, boosters, etc.

 

[Consigliere]

That's not true - at all.

A decision was made to hire internally, but at no point during that decision making process was the "best candidate" even a consideration.

The best candidate was and is somewhere out side the program.

So Wildhack didn't have discussions with members of the media, agents, and other members of the coaching community for the two years leading up to Boeheim's retirement about potential candidates to lead the program and build out a detailed succession plan for when that day arrived? He just went in alphabetical order and stopped at the A's?

Thanks for sharing that.

 

[Fly Rodder]

So Wildhack didn't have discussions with members of the media, agents, and other members of the coaching community for the two years leading up to Boeheim's retirement

Did JAB know he was retiring? Because he sure seemed like he wasn't on board. Who else was Syracuse considering to replace him?

 

[Cstate]

You really think “an excellent player” has his shooting percentages?

Agreed 100%. I’ve seen enough line drive missiles over the last two years to be fine with him either coming off the bench or transferring. And I don’t even have to comment on his commitment to defense.

 

[Red2003]

That's not true - at all.

A decision was made to hire internally, but at no point during that decision making process was the "best candidate" even a consideration.

The best candidate was and is somewhere out side the program.

Maybe by Best they meant the most cost effective hire that most people would live with.

I still maintain that we got Autry for pennies on the dollar compared to what the "Best" would cost. None of us have that contract and I have no information.

There's no way they just dropped a contract on his desk and saied we're giving you 10X your salary. He prob was given an industry standard low range ACC coaches salary with a few years, but also one that gave JW wiggle room to buyout after a few years too.

 

[Consigliere]

Did JAB know he was retiring? Because he sure seemed like he wasn't on board. Who else was Syracuse considering to replace him?

Timing may have changed but of course he knew. And that’s not entirely relevant to whether ir not there was a detailed succession plan in place.
One of the leading external candidates was actually coaching in the Dome this year, but that is from second hand knowledge, so take it for what it’s worth.

 

[SUFan44]

This is SU laying the narrative for Red being retained

Propaganda at its finest.

 

[Consigliere]

Maybe by Best they meant the most cost effective hire that most people would live with.

I still maintain that we got Autry for pennies on the dollar compared to what the "Best" would cost. None of us have that contract and I have no information.

There's no way they just dropped a contract on his desk and saied we're giving you 10X your salary. He prob was given an industry standard low range ACC coaches salary with a few years, but also one that gave JW wiggle room to buyout after a few years too.

Pragmatism was certainly part of the plan. Don’t think we considered luring Greg Popovich to CNY.

 

[Scooch]

Where was the media to report that we are being outspent 3-1 or 5-1 or 10-1 for guys?

They don't report on this kind of thing. It's bewildering. I spent the past 5 months reading almost daily about the Red Sox player budget. What they've spent historically, what they would spend this offseason, what their strategy is for 2025 and beyond. But in Syracuse? Literally nada. All the things that are reported publicly in pro sports are the domain of private texts at Syracuse. It's bizarre. But apparently the media needs "access"... to not report on things beyond what they get in press conferences and basic interviews.

Question for you or anyone who knows. It's been said our NIL budget is better next year. Last year it was 2 - 2.5. What is our approximate NIL budget for next year?

No one will provide a number. I'm guessing our total compensation fund -- between what SU can pay directly and what we'll have incrementally to that via NIL -- will be ~$9 million.

$4.1 million direct (20% of $20.5M) + $2.5M (last year's NIL budget) + $1M (tourney) + $1.5M (additional NIL funding).

Just a guess.

Keep in mind, everyone else's compensation funding will grow considerably as well.

You, amongst others, need to keep reminding yourselfs that NIL is US, not SU resources.

And folks should remind themselves that Red completely botched the NIL fundraising process for 15 months. We've read multiple accounts that he didn't have a plan when he started his tenure as HC. And that he was agonizingly slow to approach donors for money. Sounds like he wasted 2 full portal cycles before he realized he screwed up.