Syracuse to Hire Gerry McNamara as Head Basketball Coach Syracuse University is set to hire Gerry McNamara as its next head basketball coach, according to sources who confirmed the deal is expected to finalize soon. McNamara, a former standout player and assistant coach for the Orange, will replace Jonny Flynn, who was fired earlier this month after failing to lead the team to the NCAA tournament in any of his three seasons. McNamara’s hiring comes after he guided Siena to the NCAA tournament in his first season as head coach, securing a spot in the MAAC conference tournament and leading the Saints to a historic upset against No. 1 seed Duke. The Saints became the first 16-seed in NCAA tournament history to lead a 1-seed by double digits at halftime. His two-year tenure at Siena saw the team post a 37-30 record, marking a significant turnaround for the program. McNamara’s connection to Syracuse runs deep. He was a key player for the Orange, helping them win a national championship in 2003 and later having his No. 3 jersey retired in 2003. He holds records for most 3-pointers made and minutes played in program history, earning All-Big East honors three times. After a brief professional career, McNamara returned to Syracuse as a graduate assistant in 2009 and was promoted to an assistant coach under Jim Boeheim in 2011. When Boeheim retired in 2023, McNamara was elevated to associate head coach under Adrian Autry, who later became the head coach. Syracuse athletic director Bryan Blair has been in frequent contact with McNamara, including in-person and virtual meetings, as the university sought a coach committed to NIL (name, image, likeness) opportunities and competitive success in the ACC. The hiring reflects Syracuse’s desire to rebuild its program, which struggled under Autry’s leadership.#syracuse_university #gerry_mcnamara #siena #jonny_flynn #bryan_blair
