Siena's McNamara Faces Duke's Scheyer in NCAA Tournament Clash

Coaches' vastly different salaries highlight the David vs. Goliath matchup

Mar. 19, 2026 at 6:40am

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Gerry McNamara and Jon Scheyer, two former national championship-winning players, will face off as head coaches when Siena takes on Duke in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. While McNamara has revived the mid-major Saints, Scheyer's Duke squad enters as the tournament's No. 1 overall seed. The salary disparity between the two coaches is stark, with Scheyer's estimated $7-8 million annual compensation dwarfing McNamara's likely $400,000-$600,000 range.

Why it matters

The matchup between McNamara's Siena squad and Scheyer's Duke powerhouse exemplifies the vast divide between mid-major and blue-blood programs in college basketball, both in terms of resources and coaching salaries. This highlights the challenges mid-major programs face in competing with the sport's elite teams and the importance of coaches like McNamara who can maximize limited budgets to achieve success.

The details

McNamara, a legendary player from Syracuse's 2003 national championship team, is in his first season as Siena's head coach after leading them to a MAAC Tournament title. Scheyer, a key player on Duke's 2010 championship squad, is in his fourth year succeeding Mike Krzyzewski and has the Blue Devils positioned as the tournament favorites. While McNamara's salary is likely in the $400,000-$600,000 range, typical for a mid-major coach, Scheyer recently signed a massive contract extension through 2031 worth an estimated $7-8 million annually, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball.

  • The Siena-Duke matchup will take place on Thursday, March 20, 2026 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
  • McNamara was hired as Siena's head coach in March 2024, replacing Carmen Maciariello.

The players

Gerry McNamara

A legendary player from Syracuse's 2003 national championship team, McNamara is in his first season as the head coach of the Siena Saints.

Jon Scheyer

A key player on Duke's 2010 national championship squad, Scheyer is in his fourth year as the head coach of the Blue Devils, succeeding Mike Krzyzewski.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The winner of the Siena-Duke matchup will advance to face the winner of the game between the 8-seed and 9-seed in the next round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

The stark contrast in coaching salaries between McNamara and Scheyer highlights the challenges mid-major programs face in competing with the resources and prestige of college basketball's blue-blood programs. However, McNamara's success in reviving Siena demonstrates that mid-major coaches can maximize limited budgets to achieve success and provide an inspiring underdog story in the NCAA Tournament.