Five Candidates Interviewed for Men's Basketball Head Coaching Job

School aims to be thorough in search to find the right fit

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:27am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Basketball insider Adam Zagoria reported that five names have been interviewed so far for the vacant men's basketball head coaching job at the university: Eric Konkol, Eric Olen, Gerry McNamara, Jay Larranaga, and Joe Gallo. While Larranaga is considered a 'slight favorite' at this point, the school plans to conduct more interviews to ensure they find the right candidate.

Why it matters

The men's basketball program is looking to rebound after a disappointing season, and the new head coach will be tasked with rebuilding the team and recruiting top talent. The decision on who will lead the program is crucial for the university's athletic department and fan base.

The details

The five candidates interviewed have varying levels of coaching experience. Larranaga has extensive NBA experience, including 12 years as a player in Europe and 9 years on the Celtics and Clippers coaching staffs. Gallo has had success as the head coach of Merrimack, while Konkol and Olen have proven track records as Division I head coaches. McNamara, a former Syracuse player, has less head coaching experience but is a well-known name in the sport.

  • The coaching search update was reported on March 14, 2026.
  • Further interviews are expected to take place this weekend.

The players

Eric Konkol

A veteran head coach with 212 career wins, Konkol has experience as a head coach at Louisiana Tech and Tulsa.

Eric Olen

The current head coach at New Mexico, Olen has a successful track record with a 262-128 career record and an NCAA tournament appearance last season.

Gerry McNamara

A former player at Syracuse, McNamara has been an assistant coach at his alma mater and is currently the head coach at Siena.

Jay Larranaga

With extensive NBA experience as both a player and coach, Larranaga is currently an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers and is considered a 'slight favorite' for the job.

Joe Gallo

The head coach at Merrimack, Gallo is seen as a rising young coach in college basketball with a 184-124 career record.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

After any further interviews this weekend, the decision-makers will discuss the candidates and make a final decision on the new head coach.

The takeaway

The university is taking a measured and thoughtful approach to this important hiring decision, recognizing the need to find the right candidate to lead the men's basketball program back to success.