Syracuse Men's Basketball Coaching Search Hits Roadblocks

Top candidates reportedly turning down the Orange's overtures as program struggles to adapt to new recruiting landscape.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 4:05pm

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The search for a new Syracuse men's basketball head coach has hit several roadblocks, with top candidates like Saint Louis' Josh Schertz and South Florida's Bryan Hodgson reportedly declining the Orange's advances. Experts say Syracuse is struggling to keep up with the financial resources and NIL funding available at other major programs, making it a less attractive job than it once was under legendary coach Jim Boeheim.

Why it matters

Syracuse was once considered one of the premier men's basketball programs in the country, winning a national championship in 2003. However, the school's failure to adapt to the new NIL era of college sports has left it struggling to attract top coaching talent, raising concerns about the future direction of the storied program.

The details

According to reports, Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz agreed to a six-year, $20 million extension, signaling a lack of interest in the Syracuse opening. Meanwhile, South Florida's Bryan Hodgson, a Western New York native, reportedly told the Orange he was not interested in the job, potentially opting to join Providence instead. Experts say Syracuse's lack of NIL funding compared to other major programs has made it a less attractive destination for top coaching candidates.

  • On March 19, 2026, reports surfaced that the Syracuse coaching search was in disarray.

The players

Josh Schertz

The head coach of the Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball team, who agreed to a six-year, $20 million extension, signaling a lack of interest in the Syracuse job.

Bryan Hodgson

The head coach of the South Florida Bulls men's basketball team, who reportedly declined an offer to become the next head coach at Syracuse.

Gerry McNamara

A Syracuse basketball legend and fan favorite, who may be considered for the head coaching job if the Orange continue to strike out on external candidates.

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What they’re saying

“Syracuse is not the job people think it is, at least not right now. Not with the way it is currently funded.”

— Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports Analyst

“People have delusions based on the history of this program based on when Carmelo Anthony was there and they were winning national championships (sic; Syracuse has one title from 2003) under Jim Boeheim. But they do not have the level of funding that is a requisite to compete at this level right now.”

— Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports Analyst

What’s next

The Orange will continue their search for a new head coach, with UConn assistant Luke Murray emerging as a potential candidate. If they are unable to land an external hire, they may turn to program legend Gerry McNamara, who has limited head coaching experience.

The takeaway

Syracuse's struggles to attract top coaching talent highlight the challenges the program faces in adapting to the new NIL landscape in college sports. The once-proud program must find a way to invest in its basketball program and provide the necessary resources to compete with the sport's financial heavyweights if it hopes to return to its former glory.