Siena head coach Gerry McNamara gestures during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Duke, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Siena head coach Gerry McNamara talks with Siena guard Justice Shoats (0) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Duke, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Siena head coach Gerry McNamara gestures during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Duke, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
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Siena head coach Gerry McNamara gestures during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Duke, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Gerry McNamara is expected to return to the school where he won a national championship as a player 23 years ago.
The Bishop Hannan and Syracuse legend and Siena coach is working toward finalizing a deal to become the Orange’s next head coach, according to multiple sources Sunday including ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Jeff Borzello.
McNamara has a 37-30 record in two seasons as Siena’s head coach. This season, he led Siena to a 23-12 mark, as the Saints captured a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title and clinched an NCAA Tournament berth.
As a No. 16 seed, Siena faced No. 1 seed Duke in the first round and put a scare into the Blue Devils. The Saints took an 11-point lead into the half, and Duke needed a late 11-0 run to avoid the upset.
McNamara, who had his jersey number retired by Syracuse on March 4, 2023, is Syracuse’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals (400), free-throw percentage (.888) and minutes (4,799), and helped lead the Orange to the national championship as a freshman in 2003.
After his playing career ended, McNamara spent 15 years at Syracuse, starting as a graduate assistant in 2009, before being promoted to full-time assistant in 2011, then associate head coach in 2023, following the hiring of Adrian Autry to replace Jim Boeheim.
Autry was fired by Syracuse after going 49-48 in three seasons and failing to get the Orange to the NCAA Tournament.