Adrian Autry began chasing his college coaching dream at Virginia Tech
Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry started his college coaching career as the video coordinator on Virginia Tech’s staff. Courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics
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Adrian Autry broke into college coaching as a video coordinator in the late 2000s, making $20,000 a year.
After playing professionally overseas, Autry began coaching with high school and AAU teams in Virginia.
While Autry worked as an assistant coach for Team Takeover, then-Virginia Tech head coach Seth Greenberg attended a recruiting event. He knew Autry as a player in the early 1990s. But in watching him interact with players at the event, Greenberg thought Autry was ready for the next step.
“He was a high school assistant basketball coach, but I saw something in him,” Greenberg said. “I watched him make sacrifices to remain chasing his dream of becoming a coach.”
Autry started coaching at Virginia Tech in the late 2000s on Greenberg’s staff. He worked as the video coordinator before elevations to the director of basketball operations and, eventually, a full-time assistant coach role.
Now, as Syracuse’s head coach, Autry’s squad meets the Hokies on Wednesday in hopes of bouncing back from a loss to Boston College. In his three seasons helming the Orange, Autry has consistently leaned on lessons from Blacksburg.
“The ups and downs, the swings of the season, you got to stay focused and you got to really block everything out and worry about your team and the preparation part,” Autry said of what he learned at VT. “The consistency, whether you’re in a three-game winning streak this week, a three-game losing streak or whatever it is, just keeping your team grounded and focused.”
As a player at SU, Autry starred as the point guard — a position synonymous with being the team leader. But coaching came with a “learning curve,” fellow assistant coach John Richardson III said. Greenberg saw Autry’s potential and knew, with some nurturing, Autry could grow into a head coach.
Although Autry was first listed as Virginia Tech’s video coordinator, he was involved in every aspect of the program. He broke down the scouting report as the video coordinator, and when promoted to DOBO, he handled logistics on and off the court. Everything from on-campus recruiting to travel itineraries fell on Autry. He acted as the connector between the administration and the basketball team.
“He really just rolled his sleeves up and went back to work,” said James Johnson, an assistant on the staff. “That’s really impressive for a guy like him with the accolades in his background that not all coaches want to do. They want to come in on the third floor and not start in the basement. (Autry) was not that at all.”
“You’re basically the backbone of the program,” Richardson added.
Autry then earned a promotion to an on-court assistant coach. Greenberg felt Autry was a great complement to balance him out. The former head coach said Autry wasn’t afraid to coach the players hard, yet had a compassion that connected with them. He worked specifically with the guards, helping the Hokies to 22 wins as Malcolm Delaney, Erick Green and Dorenzo Hudson each averaged double-digit points per game.
Adrian Autry’s first college coaching stint was at Virginia Tech. The Orange’s head coach climbed the Hokies’ ladder before returning to his alma mater. Courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics
Johnson said working under Greenberg meant you had to be a “basketball junkie.” He felt Autry quickly fit the mold. Greenberg ensured each staff member was involved in every aspect of the program. Whether making late-night phone calls for recruiting or preparing a scouting report for the next opponent, Autry had a hand in it.
Richardson vividly remembers the first time Autry was tasked with delivering the scouting report. Nov. 10, 2010. Virginia Tech took on UNC Greensboro on the road in the third game of the season. Richardson encouraged Autry to be himself and tell the opponent’s story through his own lens, while cracking a joke or two to keep the room engaged. Richardson sensed a bit of nervousness, but Autry worked through it. The Hokies went on to win 92-70.
There was another time later in the year in ACC play. VT battled a tight game in the final minutes where every point mattered. Autry coordinated the Hokies’ rotations on the free-throw line, calling plays from the sidelines. Virginia Tech missed a look from the charity stripe, but Autry’s play call won it an extra possession and ultimately the game.
Where Autry didn’t need to learn was recruiting in the DMV. His extensive ties to the area as an AAU coach and assistant at Bishop Ireton and Paul VI allowed Autry to build a network in the basketball world. The connections continued at SU, where Autry recruited top talent like Judah Mintz, Benny Williams and now Donnie Freeman.
“Anytime we had to pick the phone up and call somebody to recruit, somebody from that area, (Autry knew them),” Johnson said. “He knew the coach, knew the aunt, knew the uncle. He knew someone in the circle.”
Once players reached the Hokies’ squad, Autry honed in on his playing days to teach. Green initially played under Autry at Paul VI before moving to Blacksburg around the same time. Green initially didn’t know much about Autry’s prolific career at Syracuse, but learned through his father.
Autry’s voice stayed in Green’s ear throughout his development, focusing on how improving his mid-range could sharpen his game. As he worked through struggles in his freshman campaign, Autry would put his arm around Green, laugh and joke, yet still be hard on him.
“You just knew he was gonna be a head coach,” Green said.
Adrian Autry started his collegiate coaching career making $20,000 a year as a video coordinator at Virginia Tech under head coach Seth Greenberg. Wednesday, Autry aims to lead Syracuse to a bounce-back win over the Hokies. Courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics
By the time Green was a senior, he had become a top player in the country. While Autry was at Syracuse, Green led the nation in scoring at 25.0 points per game in the 2012-13 season and earned ACC Player of the Year. Green credits Autry’s extra time at the facility with him in his younger days as a boost for his development.
Even though Autry had known Green since his high school days, Johnson said he treated all of his players like sons, using his career not as a mark to live up to but as a way to mentor.
“There was a smoothness and a calmness to him,” former VT forward Jarell Eddie said. “It was easy to relate to, because we had Coach Greenberg, excited and amped up. (Autry) was the calm of the storm that you would listen to as the voice of reason.”
As Autry’s Virginia Tech tenure neared its end, Greenberg saw an increased confidence. Autry understood what it took to be successful in the profession, taking no shortcuts to get there.
“The grind can never be a burden. It’s got to be a passion,” Greenberg said. “And I think (Autry) had that trait and still has that trait.”
Following the 2010-11 season, Autry joined Dayton’s staff as its associate head coach. Then, a few weeks later, Rob Murphy left his role as a Syracuse assistant to become Eastern Michigan’s head coach. Autry slid into Murphy’s role under his former coach, Jim Boeheim.
Now, in his third season after taking over for Boeheim, Autry is clawing to bring his alma mater back to national relevance. He’ll need to beat Virginia Tech to get the train moving in the right direction.
