SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Syracuse University is working to finalize a deal with Gerry McNamara to become the next men’s basketball head coach.

Thamel said that Syracuse athletic director Bryan Blair spoke to McNamara multiple times over the last week, including both virtually and in person, according to his sources.

Gerry McNamara is currently the head coach for Siena men’s basketball where he has been for the last two seasons. McNamara helped guide the Saints to the MAAC Championship this past season, nearly upsetting top-seed Duke in the NCAA Tournament. 

Before becoming a head coach, Gerry was an assistant coach at Syracuse from 2011 to 2024.  In his 15 seasons at Syracuse, McNamara helped guide Syracuse to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by trips to the Final Four in both 2013 and 2016.

As a player at SU, GMac was a two-time first-team All-Big East selection.  He scored 18 points in the National Championship game against Kansas in 2003.  He helped the Orange to the back-to-back Big East tournament titles in 2005 & 2006. McNamara’s 2,099 points rank 4^th all-time in Syracuse men’s basketball history.  

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