Gerry McNamara is set to write a third chapter in his storied legacy at Syracuse.
The former Orange star and longtime assistant is “working toward” returning to the program as its next head coach following a two-year stretch helming Siena, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
A deal for the program legend is expected to come together in the “near future,” the report said.
McNamara, 42, is riding high after leading the Saints to a MAAC title and their first March Madness appearance since 2010 — nearly staging an epic upset over top-seeded Duke in the first round.
They made history as the only No. 16 seed to ever lead a No. 1 seed by double digits at halftime.
Before taking over in Loudonville, McNamara served as an assistant on the Syracuse staff for 15 years under Jim Boeheim and Adrian Autry.
Autry, who took over for Boheim in 2023, was fired after the ACC Tournament with a mediocre 49-48 record — and zero NCAA Tournament appearances — during his three seasons in charge
Not only is McNamara a celebrated former assistant, but he’s also one of the greatest players to ever put on an Orange jersey.
The 6-foot-2 guard — who holds the program record for made 3-pointers and minutes played — helped lift Syracuse to a national title in 2003, alongside Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony.
Two decades later, McNamara’s No. 3 jersey went up in the rafters.
Following a brief stint in the pros, McNamara returned to Syracuse as a graduate assistant in 2009, rising the ranks under Boeheim before taking over as associate head coach under Autry, another former four-year starter for the Orange.
Syracuse’s newly hired athletic director, Bryan Blair, met with McNamara several times over the last week, and program officials underscored a commitment to NIL that “projects in the top third of the ACC,” according to ESPN.
McNamara, who posted a 37-30 record in his two seasons at Siena, will attempt to revive a Syracuse program that went 15–17 (6–12 ACC) in 2025–26 to mark back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since before he was even born (1968–69).