Gerry McNamara is heading back to Syracuse after a successful two-year stint at Siena to be the new head coach of the Orange. McNamara was a star player at Syracuse and then fifteen seasons working up through the coaching ranks there under Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim.
“I love this place. I love what Syracuse means: to the fans, to the players who have worn this jersey, to the people of Central New York. This program has given me everything, and I am ready to give everything back to it,” said McNamara. “College basketball has changed. How you build a program, recruit talent, compete for resources and win looks different than it did even five years ago. I know that. I’m ready for it. What hasn’t changed is what Orange Nation expects, and what this place deserves. We are going to build something special here.”
McNamara was a four-year starter for the Orange, earning all-conference honors in 2004, 2005 and 2006. He was a key member of the 2002-03 team, helping the program win their first (and still only) NCAA National Championship alongside fellow freshman Carmelo Anthony.
He later joined the coaching staff in 2009 as a graduate assistant and was elevated to assistant coach two years later. He was part of ten NCAA Tournament teams, including runs to the Final Four in both 2013 and 2016.
When Boeheim retired in 2023, associate head coach Adrian “Red” Autry was named his successor and McNamara was elevated into the AHC role as his replacement. After the 2023-24 season, he was hired to be the head coach at Siena in nearby Albany. He led the Saints for two seasons, going 14-18 in year one (a +10 win improvement from before his arrival) and then 23-12 in year two. The season culminated in a MAAC Tournament title and the Saints’ first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2010.
“Gerry McNamara is who our storied basketball program needs at this important moment,” said incoming AD Bryan B. Blair. “In every conversation, his competitive fire and passion was undeniable—it’s simply part of his DNA. He returns to Syracuse as a proven Division I head coach who led a program through a turnaround and back to the NCAA Tournament. At every stop in his playing and coaching journey, he has elevated those around him—student-athletes, staff and the broader community—through his energy, his standards and his ability to connect. While Gerry’s deep connection to Syracuse is meaningful, it’s simply a bonus to what he brings as a coach and leader. He honors our past, but he is driven to build for the future. This is a critical moment for Syracuse basketball, and it will take all of us—everyone connected to Syracuse University, Syracuse Athletics and Central New York—locking arms and supporting this program like never before. We welcome Gerry home and can’t wait to see where he takes our program.”
Meanwhile, Autry struggled at Syracuse in the wake of Boeheim’s departure. While they won 20 games in 2023-24, the team lived at the bottom of the ACC the last two seasons, prompting the school to make a change earlier this month. The Orange were last in the NCAA Tournament in 2021, when they reached the Sweet Sixteen as an 11-seed. Their last conference title came in the Big East in 2012, and since joining the ACC in 2013 have finished better than 6th in the league just twice.
credit to Syracuse Athletics for the image