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Gerry McNamara Takes Over as Head Coach at Siena
Gerry McNamara has officially signed a deal to assume the role of the men’s basketball coach at Siena, marking his transition from his longstanding position at Syracuse. Having spent over two decades at Syracuse as a standout player and assistant, McNamara eventually rose to the position of associate head coach for the Orange.
Siena formally announced McNamara’s appointment on Friday, marking his debut as a collegiate head coach. He steps in for Carmen Maciariello, a Siena alum who was dismissed after a five-season tenure, culminating in a disappointing 4-28 record this year.
McNamara’s journey at Syracuse began in 2009, starting as a graduate assistant and progressing to an assistant coach under Jim Boeheim for more than a decade. Last season, he was promoted to associate head coach when Adrian Autry assumed the head coaching position.
Acclaimed Career Leading to New Chapter
At 40 years old, McNamara remains the fourth-highest scorer in Syracuse history, following only Laurence Moten, Derrick Coleman, and John Wallace. Notably, he played a pivotal role on Syracuse’s 2003 national championship team alongside Carmelo Anthony, contributing 18 points solely from 3-pointers in the thrilling 81-78 victory over Kansas in the NCAA title game.
Expressing his enthusiasm for this new venture, McNamara shared, “I am so honored and excited to lead Siena College as the new head men’s basketball coach. My family and I can’t wait to get started and embrace Siena and the Capital Region.”
McNamara’s legacy at Syracuse encompasses starting all 135 games of his collegiate playing career. He holds the school record for most 3-pointers made by a significant margin, with 400 conversions, far ahead of Buddy Boeheim and Joseph Girard III. Additionally, he leads Syracuse’s historical records in free throw percentage (.888) and minutes played (4,799).
Impact Beyond Playing Days
Following his playing career, McNamara ventured into the NBA G League and European leagues before returning to Syracuse in a coaching capacity. With Siena belonging to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, their home games take place in Albany, around 150 miles east of Syracuse.
Siena has been a launchpad for numerous coaches over the years, including Fran McCaffery, Paul Hewitt, Mike Deane, and Rob Lanier. Notably, former Syracuse player and assistant Louis Orr previously coached at Siena, enjoying a successful stint before moving on to Seton Hall.
Siena’s president, Chuck Siefert, emphasized McNamara’s championship experience and mentoring skills, aligning with the college’s rich basketball tradition and high expectations. Siefert highlighted McNamara’s appointment as a step towards both championship success and Siena’s enhanced prominence in collegiate sports.
Recruitment Challenges Ahead
McNamara’s forte in recruiting will be crucial in revitalizing Siena’s basketball program. The team’s recent performance places them among the bottom teams in Division I rankings this season, with only a handful of squads exhibiting worse records.
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