Syracuse reportedly targeting former player Gerry McNamara as its next men's basketball coach Syracuse University is finalizing a deal to hire former player Gerry McNamara as its next men’s basketball head coach following the dismissal of Adrian Autry. The move comes after Syracuse finished the 2025-26 season with a 15-17 record and a six-game losing streak, including four consecutive losses to unranked opponents. McNamara, who previously coached Siena to a 23-12 record and an NCAA tournament berth, is set to replace Autry, who led the Orange for his first season after taking over from legendary coach Jim Boeheim. McNamara’s coaching career at Siena saw the Saints improve from 14-18 in his debut season to 23-12 in 2025, securing a spot in the MAAC tournament. The team advanced to the NCAA tournament, where they faced No. 1 Duke in a historic matchup. Despite a 71-65 loss, Siena led Duke by 11 points at halftime, the largest halftime lead ever recorded by a No. 16 seed against a No. 1 team. However, the Saints’ depth was severely impacted when starter Antonio Chandler was ruled ineligible, a decision the NCAA attributed to an “institutional mistake” by Siena. Before joining Siena, McNamara spent his entire college coaching career at Syracuse, returning in 2009 as a graduate manager and later serving as an assistant. He became associate head coach for the 2023-24 season. McNamara’s playing career at Syracuse included a standout 2003 NCAA championship season, where he averaged 13.3 points per game as a four-year starter and a three-time All-Big East selection. Autry’s first season as Syracuse’s head coach saw the Orange go 20-12, but the team’s performance declined to 14-19 in 2024-25. Syracuse has not advanced beyond the Sweet 16 since 2021 and has not secured an NCAA tournament berth higher than a No.#syracuse_university #gerry_mcnamara #adrian_autry #jim_boeheim #maac_tournament
Siena coach Gerry McNamara: Focus on tournament, not Syracuse Siena head coach Gerry McNamara addressed rumors linking him to the vacant Syracuse coaching position, calling the speculation "inevitable," but emphasized his commitment to preparing his team for the NCAA tournament. Speaking ahead of the Saints’ opening-round matchup against No. 1 seed Duke, McNamara stated his priority was the game and his players. "These kids have given me everything they’ve got every day this season, and they deserve my full attention," he said. "That’s where my focus is." McNamara, a former Syracuse player and member of the 2003 national championship team, spent 15 years as an assistant coach with the Orange before joining Siena in 2023. Under his leadership, the Saints compiled a 23-11 record this season, including a MAAC tournament championship. His success, combined with his deep ties to Syracuse’s program, has placed him in the conversation for the vacant head coaching job at the Orange, which was vacated after Adrian Autry was fired following two consecutive NCAA tournament misses. McNamara acknowledged the speculation but framed it as a natural outcome of his achievements. "Because of what we’ve done here, my name is coming up," he said. "You get good players, you coach them right, you win, and everybody gets recognition." He noted that the timing of the Syracuse vacancy and Siena’s recent success made the situation "obviously going to be some speculation." Syracuse’s struggles in the NCAA tournament have been stark. The program has not advanced past the first round since 2021, a far cry from its dominant era in the 2000s when McNamara was a key player. He was a four-year starter for the Orange, leading them to four straight tournament appearances.#gerry_mcnamara #siena #syracuse #adrian_autry #jim_boeheim
