Coach Ryan Odom and Virginia men’s basketball announced the signing of former Syracuse Coach Adrian Autry as an assistant coach Thursday. The addition comes after Cavalier associate coach Griff Aldrich accepted the head coaching job at Pepperdine March 26.
Autry, who reunites with Odom after working at Virginia Tech under Seth Greenberg, is now coming off a short tenure as the Orange’s head coach, where he went 49-48 over three seasons.
From 1990-94, Autry played point guard under legendary former Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim. He later worked as an assistant and associate head coach under Boeheim for 12 total years before being named his successor.
“We are thrilled to add Adrian Autry to our coaching staff at Virginia,” Odom said in a Virginia Athletics press release. “His integrity, extensive experience, commitment to player development and knowledge of the game make him an invaluable addition to our program. I am confident he will help us continue our pursuit of excellence at Virginia.”
Notably, Autry is recognized as an adept recruiter with strong connections in the greater Washington D.C. area — a trait that should help a Cavaliers squad that currently has zero committed transfers or freshman recruits for the 2026-27 season.
“I'm excited and grateful for the opportunity to join Coach Odom and the Virginia men's basketball program,” Autry said in the press release. “This is a new chapter for me, and I am ready to get to work.”
The open spot on the Virginia coaching staff was created just last week, when Aldrich’s acceptance of the Waves’ head coaching position became official after just one season in Charlottesville.
Aldrich had previously spent seven seasons as the head coach of Longwood, where he led the Lancers to a 127-100 record and two NCAA Tournament appearances over that time. He had previously played with Odom at Hampden-Sydney — where he also worked as an assistant coach for the 1999-2000 season — then earned a law degree at Virginia before working in the private sector. Aldrich returned to college basketball in 2016, joining Odom at UMBC as director of recruiting and program development.
Autry is also not the only addition to the Virginia staff this offseason — his hiring comes two days after the addition of former Cavalier guard and nine-year NBA veteran Malcolm Brogdon as a strategic advisor to the program Tuesday.
“We are thrilled to welcome back Malcolm to Grounds in this newly-created position in our program,” Odom said in a Virginia Athletics press release. “Malcolm will serve our program as a special advisor, bringing a wealth of knowledge, leadership and expertise from his successful nine-year NBA career and All-American career at Virginia.”
Brogdon retired from basketball shortly before the 2025-26 season, ending an NBA career that saw the Virginia legend win Rookie of the Year in 2017 and Sixth Man of the Year in 2023. In his four-year college career, Brogdon was a three-time ACC First Team member and one-time ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, becoming the first player to receive both honors in the same season. His No. 15 is retired by the program.
“I am honored to be a part of this new era of U.Va. basketball,” Brogdon said in the press release. “I know this is a new role, but I see myself jumping right in and being a resource for the players, coaches and the entire basketball program. I’m excited to return to a place I consider home in what I’m sure will be a meaningful experience for myself and the program.”
The additions of Autry and Brogdon add vital expertise and leadership to Odom’s staff after a successful first season in 2025-26. Odom will look to build off Virginia’s 30-win season with new faces both on the bench and on the court via the transfer portal this summer.
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