Syracuse basketball fans are emphatic about the hiring of Gerry McNamara after recent seasons of disappointment.
You saw years of success under Jim Boeheim. Deep NCAA Tournament runs were common. Once Boeheim started to really age and with Adrian Autry as the head coach, that success had faded. Once Autry was fired, McNamara was the first man to call.
McNamara steps in with a clear task. Win games. As stated in his introductory press conference “Anybody who knows me knows why I’m here,” McNamara said. “I’m here to win. It’s who I am and who I’ll always be,” as reported by Matthew Benninger.
During his two years as head coach of Siena, his record there was 37-30. That’s nothing too crazy, but what his team did this year was what truly secured him for the Syracuse job. This season, his Siena team went 23-12 and won their conference championship securing an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. They matched up against a very strong 1-seeded Duke team. Although the outcome didn’t go in his team’s favor, they hung in that game for all 40 minutes losing by only 6 points as a 16 seed. The average margin of victory for 1 vs 16 seeds in games like this, 24 points…
I interviewed two long time Orange fans, Peyton Way and former New Hartford alum Jack Taylor, and asked them three questions about the program.
First question: Are you looking forward to watching Syracuse games now?
Peyton said, “Yes I am definitely looking forward to these Syracuse basketball games because I think now with a new coach the future is brighter than ever for the Orange. Who knows maybe I will find myself at a game or two.”
Jack said, “I am much more optimistic about the future of the program with McNamara at the helm; the Orange needed a fresh start. With that said, I am certainly more excited to watch Syracuse in action in 2026 and beyond.”
You see clear interest from both. Interest drives attendance. Attendance drives revenue. Revenue supports recruiting.
Second question: Do you think hiring McNamara is a step in the right direction and why?
Peyton said, “I think at this point in time it is too early to tell but I am very optimistic for the program due to how he turned around Siena’s program and nearly upset 1 ranked Duke in the NCAA tournament.”
Jack said, “I do think hiring GMac was a step in the right direction because he quickly proved he’s a great coach while at Siena. He is able to bring in talent as he was a former player himself which is more important than ever in the NIL era. I also think his ability to recruit local talent like former Chittenango standout Ryan Moesch at Siena (now has transferred to Syracuse) is something that will not only help the program’s success but keep fan interest as well.”
You should focus on recruiting when you evaluate this hire. NIL deals shape decisions. Transfer portal movement shifts rosters fast. Coaches who connect with players gain an edge.
Third question: Do you think Syracuse basketball will return to its days of being consistent low digit seeds entering the NCAA tournament?
Peyton said, “I think we could see this version of the orange return, especially giving McNamara a deeper and talented roster.”
Jack said, “While I think McNamara was an upgrade, he’s not Jim Boeheim. The reality is that it’s hard to build a contender in today’s college basketball, regardless of the coach. The athletic budgets of the larger SEC Big 10 state schools dominate both high school recruiting and the transfer portal, and teams like Syracuse lag behind. I also believe the upstate New York climate is not enticing and that may play a factor in some of these prospective players’ decisions.”
You should note the gap in resources. SEC and Big Ten programs have more to spend. Facilities, NIL deals, and what Jack stated the climate in Syracuse may also be a factor.
Orange fans have waited long enough for a reason to believe in a head coach. With G-Mac now as the guy, that reason is finally here. Welcome home, G-Mac.
