- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Syracuse Taps Gerry McNamara as Next Head Basketball Coach
Former Orange star looks to revive program after successful stint at Siena
Mar. 23, 2026 at 12:23am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
More than two decades after helping to bring a national championship to Syracuse as a player, Gerry McNamara is poised to become the program's next head basketball coach. According to reports, Syracuse is working to finalize a deal with McNamara, who turned around the Siena program in just two seasons, leading them to an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Why it matters
McNamara's hiring could be just what Syracuse needs to inject new life into the program, which has struggled in recent years, missing the NCAA Tournament since the 2021-22 season. As a former Orange star, McNamara's return could reignite fan interest and help the team regain its status as a national powerhouse.
The details
McNamara, who does not have extensive head coaching experience at the Division I level, led Siena to a remarkable turnaround in his two seasons there. After inheriting a team that had won just four games the previous year, he improved the team by 10 wins in his first season and then led them to a MAAC championship and an NCAA Tournament berth in his second year, nearly pulling off a historic upset of top-seeded Duke in the opening round.
- McNamara was hired by Siena at the start of the 2024-25 season.
- In his first year, he improved Siena's win total by 10 games.
- In his second season, he led Siena to a MAAC championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
The players
Gerry McNamara
A former Syracuse player who helped the team win a national championship, McNamara is now poised to become the program's next head basketball coach after a successful two-year stint turning around the Siena program.
Syracuse University
A traditional basketball powerhouse with a huge fan base, Syracuse is looking to McNamara to help revive the program after missing the NCAA Tournament since the 2021-22 season, their longest drought since the early 1970s.
What they’re saying
“Having a good coach matters. But in the era of NIL and the transfer portal having a financial backing might matter just as much, if not more. Syracuse is a traditional basketball powerhouse with a huge fan base and playing in what has become a very winnable conference. There is no excuse for the program to not be a consistent contender within the conference, and also on a national scale. They might now be able to get back to that level.”
— Adam Gretz, Freelance Writer
What’s next
Syracuse officials have reportedly told McNamara that they are ready to deliver an NIL commitment that places them among the top-3 in the ACC, which could be a significant factor in his decision to take the job.
The takeaway
McNamara's hiring represents a homecoming for a former Orange star who has proven he can turn around a struggling program. If Syracuse can provide the necessary financial backing through NIL deals, McNamara could be the spark the program needs to regain its status as a national contender.
