A New Chapter for Syracuse Basketball

Syracuse University officially announced on Tuesday that Gerry McNamara, a revered figure in the program’s history, has been appointed as the new head coach of the men’s basketball team.

Commitment to the Future

Expressing his deep connection to the institution, McNamara stated, «I love this place. I love what Syracuse means: to the fans, to the players who have worn this jersey, to the people of Central New York. This program has given me everything, and I am ready to give everything back to it.»

Addressing the evolving landscape of the sport, he added, «College basketball has changed. How you build a program, recruit talent, compete for resources and win looks different than it did even five years ago. I know that. I'm ready for it. What hasn't changed is what Orange Nation expects, and what this place deserves. We are going to build something special here.»

A Proven Legacy

The 42-year-old coach brings a rich history with the Orange. During his four-year playing tenure, he was instrumental in leading the team to four NCAA tournament appearances, highlighted by the 2003 national championship and a Sweet 16 run the following year.

Coaching Pedigree

Before this appointment, McNamara gained head-coaching experience at Siena, where he spent two seasons. After a 14-18 debut, he led the Saints to a 23-12 record and a MAAC tournament title, securing an automatic NCAA tournament berth. His squad nearly pulled off a historic upset against top-seeded Duke in that tournament.

Prior to his time at Siena, McNamara’s coaching career was almost exclusively tied to Syracuse. He began as a graduate manager in 2009, eventually serving as an assistant coach and then associate head coach for the 2023-24 season.

Navigating Recent Struggles

McNamara’s hiring follows a period of transition for the program since the retirement of long-term head coach Jim Boeheim in 2023. Adrian Autry initially took over, leading the team to a 20-12 record in his first season. However, the program faced challenges thereafter, posting a 14-19 record in 2024-25 and a 15-17 finish in 2025-26, the latter marred by a six-game losing streak.

Syracuse aims to revitalize its competitive standing, having not qualified for the NCAA tournament since 2021.