Gerry McNamara needs to be the next coach

[Cappy3]

You can only win against what you play. When I was on UNC boards after Mack 2.0's 3rd season (6-7) calling for him to be fired and replaced by Curt Cignetti, the opposition reacted as if I were beyond crazy, because Mack had won a National Championship at Texas and Cignetti had won only in D2 and 1 AA (FCS).

And Cignetti in 2 years at IU has produced easily the 2 best teams in school history, the latter a National Champ.

.

So GMac is 2-7 against Q 1-3. That doesn’t scream out ACC level to me.

 

[WoadBlue]

Awesome. I don’t care, because it doesn’t refute what I was saying. It’s basically “He doesn’t just have ties to the program! He has really, really close ties!”

Fine. “Really, really close ties to the program” is just as awful a reason to elevate someone to being a coaching candidate who wouldn’t be otherwise as “close ties”.

It’s just endless bullcrap with you Gerry nutcases. This is like trying to explain to your 17 year old daughter why the drug addict musician isn’t a great life choice and just hearing “but I love him!!!” back. You’ve staked out an irrational, emotional position and are going to die on that hill, no matter how absurd it gets.

If you want to argue why “really, really close ties” is a world of difference from “close ties” - knock yourself out. You’re not going to convince me, but I expect the attempt will be hilarious nonsense. I’m willing to be entertained.

Drug addicted musician? Wouldn't McNamara be more like the good student who is quite responsible and so might bore the 17 year old girl who wants to party while young?

 

[WoadBlue]

Can we stop with GMAC talk? He will not get the job. The JB coaching tree is dead let it go

It may be dead for Syracuse, but my guess is that McNamara will have a decent career as HC. He may never get a job in a Major conference, but I think 2026 will not be his last NCAA T as HC.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

You can only win against what you play. When I was on UNC boards after Mack 2.0's 3rd season (6-7) calling for him to be fired and replaced by Curt Cignetti, the opposition reacted as if I were beyond crazy, because Mack had won a National Championship at Texas and Cignetti had won only in D2 and 1 AA (FCS).

And Cignetti in 2 years at IU has produced easily the 2 best teams in school history, the latter a National Champ.

.

But his team didn’t win against the actual decent teams, including UVM who stomped Siena.

He’s not ready yet.

 

[Briancuse]

It may be dead for Syracuse, but my guess is that McNamara will have a decent career as HC. He may never get a job in a Major conference, but I think 2026 will not be his last NCAA T as HC.

He will and deserves a p4 job just not here. It's 100 pct the wrong time. It wouldnt be fair to him tbh.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I think he stays at Siena for at least another year. He’s bringing in a top 150 player at point guard. If he can keep Doty and Folefac I expect they will be even better next year and that’s when big jobs will really notice.

 

[Cusefan95]

Just an aside on the “BC & GT are interested!” story.

I’ve been contacted by recruiters for jobs where I knew there was no way I was qualified. I had just enough experience that the call wasn’t a complete waste of time - sometimes recruiters want that CV just to make their other candidates look even better. But I knew there was no universe in which I’d get the job if I tried for it.

On the opposite side, I’ve had recruiters tell me how much interest a marginal candidate was getting from our competition as a way of trying to sell that candidate. I was always skeptical there was legitimate interest.

So as far as Gerry getting interest from other ACC schools - I don’t know if it’s true, and don’t care if it is. Let me know if/when he gets to a second interview with somebody - at that point you know there’s real interest. Before that it’s all just people playing poker and you have no idea what’s in their hand.

 

[IthacaMatt]

If BH crushes it, I think he leaves in a few years for a bigger bag.
There are quite a few places that could pay a lot more than us, and don’t get me started on NIL.
I think that is true for anyone not named GMAC.

Now, that is no reason not to hire BH. Frankly, after what we have endured the last 5 years, it would be a nice problem to have.

He's an Upstate NY guy, and he will see that we don't fire people very lightly here.
At some point in your career you want stability. That's how you make bank. You stay someplace and get paid several million for 10+ years.

 

[RF2044]

Just an aside on the “BC & GT are interested!” story.

I’ve been contacted by recruiters for jobs where I knew there was no way I was qualified. I had just enough experience that the call wasn’t a complete waste of time - sometimes recruiters want that CV just to make their other candidates look even better. But I knew there was no universe in which I’d get the job if I tried for it.

On the opposite side, I’ve had recruiters tell me how much interest a marginal candidate was getting from our competition as a way of trying to sell that candidate. I was always skeptical there was legitimate interest.

So as far as Gerry getting interest from other ACC schools - I don’t know if it’s true, and don’t care if it is. Let me know if/when he gets to a second interview with somebody - at that point you know there’s real interest. Before that it’s all just people playing poker and you have no idea what’s in their hand.

Personally speaking, I hope that GMac does NOT end up at BC -- because I think it is a dead end job that can be a career killer.

Not that far back, an accomplished coach with more experience and a stronger track record of postseason success [Steve Donahue, who led Cornell to back-to-back-to-back conference titles and several NCAA appearances] chased a pay day to go to BC, and it ruined his career.

GMac would get more money more quickly going to BC, but it might not be the best long term strategic option for him. Hope he doesn't fall into that trap.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Can we stop with GMAC talk? He will not get the job. The JB coaching tree is dead let it go

Pitino's still doing pretty well ... ;-)

 

[BomberOrange]

The amount of disrespect given to Gerry McNamara in this thread is ridiculous.

It’s not disrespect to GMac. Its that there are better options, period.

 

[IthacaMatt]

This is the most important point. It is not fair to GMac to put him in this position. If he's hired I'll support him fully, but waiting and bringing him in after the guy that rebuilds is hired away seems like the better move. They need to spend on this coaching hire to rebuild for decades and reset the mindset.

If we hired GMac we would need to super spend in the portal for five plus years and probably hire Melo in as associate recruiting staff even though his son is on the team. GMac would need to be fed every opportunity to build his legend to the highest level so players fight to play for him for the rest of his career. You can't let your basketball royalty wilt on the vine because of insufficient resources.
If the administration is not ready to do all of this right now it is not fair to GMac.

Even if he had all the support in the world, if we hired Gerry as our savior and he didn't start off well, how do you think the fans will react? Do you think we would ever get back to 10,000 actual attendance ever again?

That is our last card to play - hiring Gerry - and it's a big risk for where he is in his career as a coach. Play it now, and this program could be damaged forever.

 

[MSOrange]

Personally speaking, I hope that GMac does NOT end up at BC -- because I think it is a dead end job that can be a career killer.

Not that far back, an accomplished coach with more experience and a stronger track record of postseason success [Steve Donahue, who led Cornell to back-to-back-to-back conference titles and several NCAA appearances] chased a pay day to go to BC, and it ruined his career.

GMac would get more money more quickly going to BC, but it might not be the best long term strategic option for him. Hope he doesn't fall into that trap.

Agree 100%. There are two approaches - the short game or long game. The short game is jump on the first high major job that is offered to you. But if they don't have the resources/infrastructure set up for success, that might not be the best choice for your long term future. Agree that BC is an example of that. So you've got your payday, but it might be the last chance to get a high major job if things don't go well.

The long game is to wait for a job where you think you might have more success. There's always the chance you might not get an offer again if you wait. But I think most college coaches at that level have enough confidence in themselves to play the long game, and I think GMac fits in that category.

There's benefits and risks to both approaches, but personally I fall into the camp of waiting for the job where I feel I'd be set up for the best chance at success.

 

[kingtidge]

It’s not disrespect to GMac. Its that there are better options, period.

^^^^Truth.

We should hire the best candidate we can.

 

[CooperCuse]

It’s not disrespect to GMac. Its that there are better options, period.

I don't know, man, calling his supporters nutcases and comparing Gerry to a drug addict seems pretty disrespectful. How many years of blood, sweat, and tears did he give to Syracuse? Forget all that, he's a druggie you don't want to date, and if you do, you're crazy. It's hyperbolic nonsense.

 

[oldpinepoint]

It’s not disrespect to GMac. Its that there are better options, period.

Gmac is an option but he is not the best option. Why settle? I really don’t get it. Get the best coach you can.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Pitino's still doing pretty well ... ;-)

Yeah, that 4 minutes Rick was here were definitely transformative for him.

 

[kingtidge]

I don't know, man, calling his supporters nutcases and comparing Gerry to a drug addict seems pretty disrespectful. How many years of blood, sweat, and tears did he give to Syracuse? Forget all that, he's a druggie you don't want to date, and if you do, you're crazy. It's hyperbolic nonsense.

The "nutcases" on both sides are fringe at best and trolls and AI bots on socials posting clikbait disrepectful hottakes are not indicative of the most rational fans. They are just trying to piss people off and get clicks. Noise most should filter out.

 

[BomberOrange]

I don't know, man, calling his supporters nutcases and comparing Gerry to a drug addict seems pretty disrespectful. How many years of blood, sweat, and tears did he give to Syracuse? Forget all that, he's a druggie you don't want to date, and if you do, you're crazy. It's hyperbolic nonsense.

One person said this and you lump all of us in. Got it. Look, if Gmac was hired I would be fine and I think he would eventually do a decent job. But I and many others are shooting for the best and do not have orange blinders on.

 

[oldpinepoint]

I don't know, man, calling his supporters nutcases and comparing Gerry to a drug addict seems pretty disrespectful. How many years of blood, sweat, and tears did he give to Syracuse? Forget all that, he's a druggie you don't want to date, and if you do, you're crazy. It's hyperbolic nonsense.

That is disrespectful, if you objectively thing Gmac is the best candidate out there based on his skill set compared to other coaches we are considering that is fine. I keep it objective and frankly don’t care that he played or coached here. I think those are minor things to consider. I want to know his offensive philosophy, defense philosophy, plan for NIL, fund raising, recruiting. How did he do in game coaching, adjustments, substitution patterns. How did he manage his roster. So all things in a vacuum I want the best person for the job. I have concerns about his offensive philosophy. I just don’t think he is it right now. I get people are scared of change or have some type of loyalty to former players, glory days etc. change is good and quite frankly is needed.

 

[oldpinepoint]

Gmac is an option but he is not the best option. Why settle? I really don’t get it. Get the best coach you can.

LAorange44 i see my post made you angry. Why is that

 

[Newhouser]

Seeding for Siena will be interesting. I know some folks at Lehigh who think they will be in the play in game. Watched quite a bit of both teams and I think Lehigh would handle Siena.

 

[MSOrange]

LAorange44 i see my post made you angry. Why is that

That's LA's default reaction to any comment that expresses concerns about GMac or Hop. I wouldn't lose sleep about it. I've racked up my share also.

 

[oldpinepoint]

That's LA's default reaction to any comment that expresses concerns about GMac or Hop. I wouldn't lose sleep about it. I've racked up my share also.

Sometimes is fun to troll the troll

 

[hoopsupstate]

I was responding to this statement “The issue is there is no way in hell he would be considered if he didn’t have ties to the program.”

That’s objectively untrue.

I’m not saying Gerry should be our #1 choice. I’m advocating for him being a viable candidate. We could do much worse (and have).

Only JB has said he’s being considered for BC and GT.