Syracuse has named former standout guard Gerry McNamara as its new men’s basketball head coach. The 42-year-old returns to a program deeply tied to his legacy, stepping in after Adrian Autry’s three-season tenure ended with a 49-48 record and a prolonged NCAA tournament absence—the school’s longest drought since the late 1960s.
A key figure in Syracuse’s 2003 national championship run alongside Carmelo Anthony, McNamara later spent 15 years on the Orange coaching staff, working under Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim and then Autry. Now, he takes over a program aiming to regain its footing in a rapidly evolving college basketball landscape.
McNamara arrives after two seasons as head coach at Siena, where he compiled a 37-30 record. His second year marked a breakthrough, with a 23-12 finish, a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament title, and the program’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 2010. The Saints nearly pulled off a major upset before falling 71-65 to Duke in the opening round.
McNamara said in a statement: “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. 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.”
Incoming athletic director Bryan Blair called the hire a pivotal move for the program, emphasizing McNamara’s leadership and ability to elevate those around him. Outgoing AD John Wildhack echoed that sentiment, pointing to McNamara’s trust-building and program-building skills as defining traits.
McNamara has earned a reputation as a strong recruiter and player developer. During his time on Syracuse’s bench, he helped mentor future NBA players including Michael Carter-Williams, Dion Waiters and Tyler Ennis. The program also made nine NCAA tournament appearances during his tenure as an assistant, highlighted by Final Four runs in 2013 and 2016.
As a player, McNamara left a lasting imprint on the program. He scored 2,099 career points—fourth in school history—and still holds records for minutes played (4,799) and 3-pointers made (400). His No. 3 jersey was retired in 2023.
Editorial credit: Mahmoud Suhail / Shutterstock.com
