The landscape of college athletics is rapidly changing, especially with the growth of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals being key factors in landing top recruits. In 2023, Duke became the first university to land a general manager for basketball, with many following suit. Last week, Syracuse joined in on the fun, inking former Knicks scout and SU graduate Alex Kline to be the new head man.
But what will Kline bring to the Orange? According to Syracuse Athletics’ official release, the general manager position will “support Coach Autry in managing various aspects of the men’s basketball program at Syracuse. The primary responsibilities will include scouting and recruiting, former student-athlete engagement, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, transfer portal management, and institutional fundraising in collaboration with University Advancement.”
Kline graduated from Syracuse University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism and a minor in Sports Management. After graduation, he joined the New Orleans Pelicans as a basketball operations assistant, where he focused on college scouting and player evaluation. This skillset transferred over to the Big Apple, where he was a scout for the past four seasons.
With the landscape of college athletics being strongly focused on scouting, having a general manager with a vast knowledge on player assessment is invaluable knowledge to a program. Head coach Adrian Autry had nothing but praise for the move.
“As we look to compete at the highest levels, bringing in Alex as our General Manager position is critical,” Autry said. “This move aligns with our goal of being at the forefront of player evaluation, development and retention, recruiting, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in college basketball. It will help Syracuse compete at the national level.”
Kline aims to bring an NBA-style front office to the collegiate level when it comes to producing a winning roster. What does that include? Having all hands on deck and considering all aspects of a successful basketball culture.
“With the rapidly changing landscape that is college basketball, I felt this was the perfect time to re-join my Syracuse family,” said Kline. “Coach Autry, the staff and I are in lockstep on a process-driven vision that is linear to how NBA front offices construct winning rosters. Simply put, this was a life-changing opportunity to impact both a university and community that has poured so much into me.”
Only time will tell if this move leads to the success both men are preaching. Either way, it’s a strong move in the right direction for transitioning Syracuse basketball into the new-look sphere of college athletics.
