ACC Coaching Carousel: Boston College and Syracuse Part Ways with Leadership

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As the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament continues this week, several schools are already shifting their focus toward the 2026–27 season. At Boston College and Syracuse, coaching changes have become the first order of business in a league where winning remains a relentless task. With high expectations and a competitive landscape, both programs have determined that a change in leadership is necessary to alter their current trajectories.

At Boston College, Earl Grant was let go after five seasons with the program. His tenure ended with an overall record of 72–92 and a 31–67 mark in league play. The administration believes this move is vital to reboot a program that has struggled to find a consistent footing in the ACC. Grant’s high-water mark came during the 2023–24 season when the Eagles finished 20–16 and accepted an invitation to the NIT. That year, BC recorded seven road wins, the most for the program in two decades, and reached the second round of the tournament. Under Grant, the Eagles made two appearances in the ACC tournament quarterfinals and saw center Quinten Post drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 2024, marking the 34th NBA draft pick in school history. However, this past season saw a decline, as the team finished 11–20 overall and 4–14 in conference play, including a difficult 1–10 record on the road. A national search for Grant’s successor is currently underway.

Syracuse has also moved in a new direction, relieving Adrian Autry of his duties after three seasons. The Orange finished the current campaign 15–17 overall and 6–12 in the ACC, capped by an opening-round loss to SMU in the conference tournament. While the team maintained a respectable 12–6 record at home, they struggled away from the JMA Wireless Dome, going just 2–7 on the road and 1–4 at neutral sites. Autry finishes his head coaching tenure at his alma mater with a 49–48 record, which included a 20-win debut season. Having served the program as a star player, assistant, and associate head coach before taking the helm, Autry remains a deeply respected figure in the Syracuse community. The university has announced it will conduct a thorough and expedient national search to find a leader capable of returning the storied program to the “Orange Standard” of consistent March success.