Syracuse Legend Gerry McNamara Lands Head Coaching Job

29/03/2024 16:20

NEW ORLEANS - APRIL 5: Gerry McNamara #3 of the Syracuse University Orangeman stands next to his teammate Carmelo Anthony #15 during the semifinal round of the NCAA Final Four Tournament against the University of Texas at Austin Longhorns at the Louisiana Superdome on April 5, 2003 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Syracuse defeated Texas 95-84, advancing them to the Championship game. (Photo by Craig Jones/Getty Images)

Craig Jones/Getty Images

Gerry McNamara is best known for his time as a player at Syracuse, starting all four years of his career and winning a national title with the Orange along with Carmelo Anthony in 2003.

McNamara joined the Syracuse coaching staff after his playing career ended, working under his former head coach Jim Boeheim.

He spent several years as an assistant at Syracuse, and now he's landed a head coaching position of his own.

According to Mark Singelais of the Times-Union, Siena has hired McNamara as its new head coach.

The former Syracuse point guard will take over for Carmen Maciariello, who was fired this week after a program-worst 4-28 season.

The Saints won the MAAC regular-season title in 2021, but lost to Iona in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.

The program has not played in the NCAA Tournament since 2010 when the Saints lost to Purdue in the first round.

"All I know is I've never had a guy more ready to be a head coach," Boeheim said about McNamara last week.

"He's an unbelievable on-the-floor coach, individual coach, an understanding-the-game coach. He's a really good recruiter."

McNamara will be returning to the Albany area more than 20 years after Syracuse won the regional title there to advance to the 2003 Final Four. The site of the regional in the 2003 tournament was the MVP Arena, the same arena that the Saints call home.

"Everybody in Albany knows who Gerry McNamara is and that's helpful, but you have to be a great coach, and he is," Boeheim said.

"I think Siena's a great job. I know of four coaches that won there and moved on to significant head-coaching jobs.

I think it's a really good job. They have good support and I can't think of a better candidate for being the head coach at Siena than Gerry McNamara."