Gerry McNamara Named Syracuse Men's Basketball Head Coach

Syracuse University is expected to hire Gerry McNamara as the new men's basketball head coach.

“Syracuseis making the splash hire to try to replaceJim Boeheima second time, going with another Boeheim acolyte,Gerry McNamara, who just hadSienathiscloseto an upset of #1 Dukein theNCAA Tournament”

Augusta Free Press

ESPN's Pete Thamel and Jeff Borzello report that a deal is expected to come together in the 'near future.'

Augusta Free Press

Syracuse athletic director Bryan Blair has spoken with McNamara multiple times over the last week.

The conversations included both virtual and in-person meetings between the parties.

The 42-year-old coach is currently at Siena where he has led the Saints to significant success.

His return to Syracuse would end the Orange's five-year NCAA Tournament drought.

This drought represents the program's longest spell without NCAA Tournament play in over five decades.

McNamara is one of the greatest players in Syracuse basketball history.

He helped lead the Orange to a national championship in 2003.

ESPN

His No. 3 jersey was retired 20 years later.

He holds the program record for made 3-pointers (400) and minutes played (4,799).

He also ranks first in Syracuse history for free throw percentage (.888).

During his playing career from 2002-06, he scored 2,099 points for the Orange.

He earned All-Big East honors three times and started all 135 games he played.

His jersey number is immortalized in the JMA Wireless Dome.

At Siena, McNamara coached the Saints to a 37-30 record over two seasons.

“Syracuse is moving toward a potential reunion with one of its most recognizable figures, as the program works to hire Gerry McNamara as its next men’s basketball head coach”

FingerLakes1

He led significant improvement from his first year to his second.

In his first season at Siena (2024-25), the team improved from 4-28 to 14-18.

This season, he led the Saints to a 23-12 record.

The team won the MAAC Tournament championship.

They earned their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010.

The Saints made history as the only 16-seed to lead a 1-seed by double digits at halftime.

They narrowly fell to No. 1 overall seed Duke in the first round.

Before becoming Siena's head coach, McNamara had a long association with Syracuse basketball as a coach.

After his playing career, he returned to Syracuse as a graduate assistant under Jim Boeheim from 2009-11.

New York Post

He was promoted to an assistant coach for the 2011-12 season.

When Boeheim retired in 2023, Adrian Autry was promoted to head coach.

McNamara became Syracuse's associate head coach for the 2023-24 campaign.

He left to become Siena's head coach after that season.

This return to Syracuse represents a full-circle moment for McNamara.

He will now take over the program from Autry, who was fired earlier this month.

Autry failed to reach the NCAA tournament in any of his three seasons.

Syracuse officials stressed during the hiring process a commitment to NIL.

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The Daily Orange

They want NIL projections in the top third of the ACC.

Augusta Free Press

This indicates their understanding of modern college basketball landscape.

McNamara will replace Autry, who posted a 49-48 overall record.

Autry went 15-17 this season, including 6-12 in ACC play.

The Orange finished with consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1968-69.

The Orange's five-year NCAA Tournament drought is the program's longest in over five decades.

McNamara's hiring is crucial for restoring national prominence.

This follows the disappointing tenure of Autry.