Great Neck Native Joins Syracuse Basketball Coaching Staff

Ben Lee, a graduate of Great Neck South High School, will serve as an assistant coach under new head coach Gerry McNamara.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 4:49pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the abstract shapes and forms of basketball players on a court, with the arena fading into the background, conceptually representing the coaching changes at Syracuse University.A cubist interpretation of the coaching changes at Syracuse University, reflecting the program's efforts to rebuild and reconnect with the local community.Syracuse Today

Syracuse University has overhauled its men's basketball coaching staff, bringing in a new head coach and several new assistants, including Ben Lee, a native of Great Neck, New York. Lee, a graduate of Great Neck South High School, joins the Orange after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Siena University under Gerry McNamara, who was recently named the new head coach at Syracuse.

Why it matters

Syracuse's men's basketball program has struggled in recent years, missing the NCAA Tournament for five straight seasons. The hiring of McNamara and his staff, including the local connection of Lee, is seen as an effort to revitalize the program and return it to national prominence.

The details

Lee spent the last two years as an assistant coach at Siena University, where he helped the team improve from just 4 wins in 2023-24 to 23 wins and a MAAC championship in 2025-26. Siena made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010, nearly upsetting top-seeded Duke in the first round. Lee was credited with scouting the Blue Devils and putting together Siena's game plan for the upset bid.

  • Lee joined Siena's coaching staff ahead of the 2024-2025 season.
  • Siena won 23 games and the MAAC title in the 2025-2026 season.
  • Syracuse hired Gerry McNamara as its new head coach in March 2026.
  • Lee was announced as an assistant coach on McNamara's staff on April 6, 2026.

The players

Ben Lee

A native of Great Neck, New York and a graduate of Great Neck South High School, Lee joins the Syracuse coaching staff as an assistant coach after spending the last two seasons in the same role at Siena University.

Gerry McNamara

The new head coach of the Syracuse men's basketball team, McNamara is a former Syracuse player who won a national championship with the Orange in 2003. He spent the last two seasons as the head coach at Siena University, where he worked with Ben Lee.

Gavin Doty

A junior guard at Siena University, Doty was named the 2025-2026 MAAC Tournament MVP after averaging 18 points per game. He has announced that he will transfer to Syracuse to play for Gerry McNamara.

Tasman Goodrick

A forward at Siena University who averaged 9.7 points per game in the 2025-2026 season, Goodrick has also announced that he will transfer to Syracuse to play for Gerry McNamara.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think I've ever been more proud of any group of kids I've been around.”

— Gerry McNamara, Head Coach, Siena University

What’s next

Syracuse will look to build momentum and return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021 under the new coaching staff led by Gerry McNamara and Ben Lee.

The takeaway

The hiring of Ben Lee, a local product from Great Neck, New York, as an assistant coach on Gerry McNamara's staff at Syracuse signals the program's effort to revitalize its basketball program and reconnect with the local community in the hopes of returning to national prominence.