Adrian Autry hires a general manager to run point on recruiting, NIL and the transfer portal.
Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Within the changing landscape of college sports, the Syracuse Orange men’s basketball program has created a new role usually reserved for professional sports: general manager. Filling the position is Syracuse class of 2016 alumnus Alex Kline.
Kline, 30, previously served as a scout for the New York Knicks. In his previous role he helped with talent evaluation, assisted the team around the trade deadline and free agency. Kline’s primary role with the Syracuse program will be scouting and recruiting, student-athlete engagement, NIL, transfer portal and institutional fundraising.
“As we look to compete at the highest levels, bringing in Alex as our General Manager position is critical,” Autry said in a press release. “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, who graduated from Newhouse with a degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism, felt now was the time to rejoin his alma mater.
“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.”
Kline got his start with the NBA in 2016 with the New Orleans Pelicans as a basketball operations assistant. He spent over four years with the Pelicans before joining the Knicks.
The general manager position is usually reserved for professional sports but with college athletics experiencing a sea change in just the last few years, Duke men’s basketball hired the first general manager position for men’s basketball back in 2022. Programs such as Arkansas, Baylor, Villanova and Texas also have general managers for men’s basketball.
