Syracuse, N.Y. ― Gerry McNamara and Syracuse University officials have come to terms on a contract that will make him the ninth head coach in Syracuse basketball history.
The hire comes after being approved by the university’s Board of Trustees, the school said in a news release Tuesday morning.
McNamara, who played at Syracuse from 2002 to 2006 and started as a freshman on the school’s 2003 NCAA championship team, returns to Syracuse after spending the last two years as the head coach at Siena.
The school did not provide details on McNamara’s contract with the university or what it paid to buy out McNamara from his contract with Siena.
“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,” McNamara said in a statement through the university.
“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.”
The university indicated in its release that outgoing athletic director John Wildhack and new athletic Bryan Blair were involved in the hiring process.
“In every conversation, his competitive fire and passion was undeniable — it’s simply part of his DNA," Blair said in a statement.
He said McNamara’s deep connection to Syracuse was “simply a bonus.”
“He honors our past, but he is driven to build for the future,” Blair said. “This is a critical moment for Syracuse basketball, and it will take all of us — everyone connected to Syracuse University, Syracuse Athletics and Central New York — locking arms and supporting this program like never before."
Wildhack said in a statement that watching McNamara for years as an assistant has shown him the trust he builds with players and their families.
“He has proven in a short time as a head coach that he knows how to build a program,” Wildhack said. “I am proud that this was among the final pieces of work I had a hand in.”
This season, McNamara guided Siena to the school’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 2010. Last Thursday, the Saints, seeded 16th in the NCAA’s East Regional, threw a scare into top-seeded Duke before falling 71-65.
The agreement between McNamara and Syracuse comes two days after the two sides were close to finalizing the deal. However, as recently as noon on Monday, the deal had still not been reached, a source told syracuse.com.
Now that it’s done, McNamara will be tasked with restoring the basketball program to its past glory.
Chancellor-elect Mike Haynie touted McNamara’s coaching, recruiting and fundraising prowess in the university’s release.
“His passion and talent, and his deep belief in what it means to be Orange are exactly what we need,” Haynie said in a statement.
Syracuse has missed out on the NCAA Tournament for five straight years, the last three of which were under former head coach Adrian Autry, who was fired at the end of this past season.
The Orange finished the season with a 15-17 record. It marked the second straight losing season — the first time that occurred since 1968 and 1969 — and third in the last five years for Syracuse.
In returning to Syracuse, McNamara will need to restore energy and excitement to the JMA Wireless Dome. In addition to waning on-court success, Syracuse has also seen a steady drop in attendance.
McNamara is one of the most beloved figures in Syracuse sports history, having helped lead the basketball program to the NCAA championship as a freshman in 2003.
McNamara was an assistant to Jim Boeheim from 2011 through 2023 when the Hall of Fame coach retired. McNamara then served as Autry’s top assistant for one year before taking the head coaching job at Siena.
One reason for Syracuse’s recent mediocrity on the court has been a lack of financial support in terms of both funding the roster and staffing needs.
It’s possible the return of a legend — McNamara was a part of some of the most memorable moments in SU history — will convince both school officials and the team’s fans to provide more support for the program.
In talks with McNamara, Syracuse officials stressed a commitment to fund the program so that it could compete in the top third of the 18-team ACC, ESPN previously reported.
McNamara came to Syracuse out of Bishop Hannan High School in Scranton, Pa., where he was already a legend after leading the Lancers to the PIAA Class AA state championship as a senior.
Bus loads of fans would make the trip from Scranton to Syracuse to see McNamara play for the Orange.
In his first year, he teamed with fellow freshman Carmelo Anthony to propel Syracuse to its only NCAA championship in men’s basketball. McNamara made six 3-pointers in the title game against Kansas.
He would go onto score 2,099 points in his career, which still ranks fourth on the school’s all-time list.
Stories by Mike Waters
- What Syracuse’s hiring of Gerry McNamara means for 2026-27 roster: Who could come from Siena?
- Syracuse to play Providence in Boston next season
- Syracuse basketball finalizing deal to hire Gerry McNamara as next head coach
- Syracuse basketball continues search for head coach: An updated list of candidates
