Adrian "Red" Christopher Autry (born February 28, 1972) is an American basketball coach and former professional player who is the head coach for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
A former point guard for the Orange, Autry played from 1990 to 1994 and is currently ranked fifth in career assists (631) and sixth in career steals (217). After leaving Syracuse, Autry played professionally from 1995 to 2005 in various European leagues and USA Basketball.
After a 10-year career, Autry retired in 2005 and returned to the states to begin his career as a coach. He coached various teams in Virginia and returned to the Orange in 2011 as an assistant coach. In March 2023, Autry was named the eighth head coach of Syracuse men's basketball team following retirement of longtime head coach Jim Boeheim.
Personal life
Autry was born in Monroe, North Carolina on February 29, 1972, to Angeter Redfearn and Marvin Chambers. Autry, his mother and his sister moved to Harlem, New York when he was five years old and lived there until he went to college. Autry has two sisters and one brother.
High school
Autry attended St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School in The Bronx, New York. Autry was a standout basketball player in high school. He was a three-year starter and earned All-City First Team honors three times. While in high school, his squad won the New York City and New York state championships in 1988, the same year they were named the number one high school program in the nation. Autry was a Parade All-American in 1989 and 1990, named to the first-team All-New York City in 1988, 1989 and 1990, and was a 1990 McDonald's All-American. Autry also played in the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic and the 1990 U.S. Olympic Festival. Autry was teammates with Malik Sealy and current Monmouth College assistant men's basketball coach and UNC Tar Heels graduate Brian Reese.
College
Autry was recruited by Louisville, Kentucky, St. John's, and Pitt. Autry ultimately chose Syracuse University and began in the fall of 1990. Autry, a 6-foot-4 four-year starting point guard, played under Jim Boeheim and graduated in 1994 with a degree in speech communications from the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
In the freshman 1990–91 season, Autry led the team with 164 assists. In his first season, the Orange had a record of 26–6 and won the Big East Regular Season Title. Autry was named to the Big East Conference All-Rookie Team. In Autry's sophomore season, he led the squad in assists (123) and steals (48) while averaging 11ppg. The team won the Big East tournament. As a junior, Autry's scoring average jumped to 13.7 ppg. He once again led the team in assists (161) and steals (58). Autry was selected to the third-team All-Big East, and was also named to the Big East All-Tournament Team. He was teammates with Billy Owens, Lawrence Moten.
Autry had a great senior year. He was chosen to the first-team All-BIG EAST after averaging 16.7 ppg and 6.1 assists. The Orange made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. In that game, Autry set an NCAA-school record 31 second-half points in the overtime loss to Missouri. Autry ended his college career as one of only three players to lead SU in seasons assists four times, and still ranks fifth in career assists (631), sixth in career steals (217), 17th on the all-time scoring list (1,538) and eighth in career minutes played (4,037).
USA Basketball
Autry was one of twelve men selected to the 1993 FIBA 22 & Under World Championship games held in Burgos, Palencia, Valladolid, Spain between July 22–31, 1993. The team had a perfect 8–0 record and captured the gold medal in the Young Men World Championship. Autry played alongside Eddie Jones, Theo Ratliff, Corliss Williamson, Bill Curley and other talented Division I players. The team was coached by Mike Jarvis.
Professional career
After college, Autry pursued a professional basketball career. He was undrafted in the NBA but had several workouts and played on the Summer Team. Autry enjoyed a more lucrative career overseas. Autry spent one year (1995–1996) playing with Besiktas Istanbul, and then spent three seasons in Germany playing for SSV Ulm 1846. With Ulm, Autry and his team were the runners-up in the 1998 German Cup. Autry still holds the 1998–1999 records for points (504), assists (116), and steals (65) and was named to the All-German Imports First Team in 1999.