Siena basketball fans should enjoy Gerry McNamara while they have him, because he might not be there after the 2026 NCAA Tournament is over.
McNamara has been the head coach of Siena's basketball program since 2024. After going 14-18 during his first season, he led the Saints to a 23-11 record and NCAA Tournament appearance.
Even though Siena entered the opening round of the NCAA Tournament as a massive underdog, McNamara's squad is giving Duke's players all they can handle. In fact, the Saints jumped out to a 43-23 halftime lead over the Blue Devils.
Throughout the first half of the Siena-Duke game, fans started speculating about McNamara's future. Many people believe he'll soon be named the next head coach of the Syracuse men's basketball team.
© Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images.
"Syracuse should name Gerry McNamara head coach, like, right now," Ralph D. Russo of The Athletic said.
"Won or lose.. Gerry McNamara locked up the Syracuse job in the first have if he hasn't been their top choice already," one fan wrote on social media.
"I think McNamara already won the Syracuse job," another person said.
Syracuse fired Adrian Autry after he went 49-48 during a three-year stretch. The Orange failed to make the NCAA Tournament with him at the helm.
McNamara has already commented on the Cuse job.
Prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament, McNamara was asked about being a candidate for Syracuse's job vacancy. He made it known that his focus is entirely on Siena.
"My situation with that right now is I'm here at the NCAA tournament for the first time as a head coach, and I get an opportunity to coach Siena University, and the kids in that locker room deserve that opportunity," McNamara said, via ESPN. "That's where my focus is. These kids have given me everything they've got every day this season, and they deserve my full attention, and they've got it."
Make no mistake, McNamara will receive plenty of calls from Syracuse's athletic department once his run with Siena ends. After all, his No. 3 jersey is hanging in Syracuse's rafters.
