McNamara Named Head Coach At Siena

Gerry McNamara, a standout as a player and coach at Syracuse, has been named the 19th head coach at Siena College.

Siena's athletic program owns membership in NCAA Division I and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

"I want to congratulate Gerry McNamara on his hiring as the men's basketball coach at Siena College," said Syracuse Director of Athletics John Wildhack. "There are very few individuals who have contributed to our men's basketball program and all of Orange Nation as dramatically as Gerry has. He displayed an unmatched competitive desire as a student-athlete at Syracuse and, for the past 15 years he has shared his passion for and knowledge of the game with our student-athletes as a coach. I, along with all my colleagues in Syracuse Athletics, wish Gerry, Katie and their family the best as they embark on this new opportunity."

One of the most popular players to pull on a Syracuse jersey, McNamara excelled from the moment he enrolled. His freshman season was nothing short of spectacular as McNamara and the Orange raced all the way to the 2003 NCAA Championship. In the 2004 NCAA Tournament, McNamara tallied a career-high 43 points against BYU to help SU into the "Sweet 16."

In 2004-05, McNamara earned first-team All-BIG EAST Conference recognition and was named to the BIG EAST Conference All-Tournament Team. He made 107 3-points during the season, a school record. McNamara led the Orange to the 2006 BIG EAST Tournament championship and was presented with the Dave Gavitt Award as most outstanding player in the event. McNamara was a first-team all-conference selection again. Syracuse earned NCAA Tournament spots in 2005 and 2006, making it four straight years for McNamara.

He remains the school record holder in season (107) and career (400) 3-point baskets at Syracuse. McNamara's 4,799 career minutes played is another school standard.

McNamara pursued a career in the professional ranks and performed overseas and in the NBA Developmental League. He went to training camp with the NBA's Utah Jazz in 2008 but was the last player released.

He returned to Syracuse to join the Orange coaching staff as a graduate assistant. In 2011-12, he was promoted to a full-time assistant coaching post. When Adrian Autry was named head coach, he elevated McNamara to associate head coach. McNamara works primarily with Syracuse's guards and as a recruiter and opponent scout.

McNamara had his jersey retired in a ceremony at the JMA Wireless Dome in March 2023. He joined an exclusive group of Syracuse standouts who have earned the recognition.

Syracuse made NCAA Tournament appearances in nine of his 15 seasons as an assistant and reached the Final Four in 2013 and 2016. He was part of a staff which guided the Orange into the Sweet 16 in 2018 and 2021.

McNamara has tutored NBA performers Buddy Boeheim (Detroit), Michael Carter-Williams (Orlando), Tyler Ennis (LA Lakers), Elijah Hughes (Portland), Cole Swider (Miami) and Dion Waiters (LA Lakers).

He and his wife, Katie, have two sons, Gerry and Patrick, and two daughters, Maggie and Grace.

Syracuse University Athletics

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