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As is the case after nearly every NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, the head coaching carousel has gotten kickstarted in 2026. There's nothing more enticing for big basketball programs than a head coach hanging tough against big guns with a less-talented team in The Big Dance.
Siena going toe-to-toe with Duke as a No. 16 seed in the first round of the tournament was more than enough for Gerry McNamara to quickly land a major job. It was seemingly written in the stars, as McNamara has landed back at Syracuse, where he has plenty of ties.
Gerry McNamara, former player and coach at Syracus, lands back with Orange
McNamara attended Syracuse as a student-athlete and left an indelible mark on the school's basketball program. He was a four-year starter as the Orange's point guard, combining his great control of the game as a ball-handler with impressive three-point shooting ability.
As a freshman, McNamara helped lead Syracuse to a national title alongside future NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony. Guided by legendary head coach Jim Boeheim, that has been Syracuse's lone National Championship triumph to this day.
Now, the university is hoping McNamara can recapture some of that magic. As Siena's head coach, McNamara led the Saints to their first conference tournament championship since 2010 this past season. He had taken the Siena job after spending a decade and a half on Syracuse's coaching staff under Boeheim.
McNamara operated as the team's associate head coach under Adrian Autry for one season after Boeheim retired. Autry was subsequently fired after two very disappointing seasons in a row. Now, it's McNamara's time to turn things around.