The Syracuse Orange are off to a rocky start in the 2025-26 men’s basketball season, sitting at 6-4 after a disappointing loss to Hofstra. For a program with deep tradition and high expectations, especially in the post-Jim Boeheim era, the early returns under head coach Adrian “Red” Autry have been underwhelming.
Meanwhile, just a couple hours east, something special is brewing in Loudonville. The Siena Saints are 9-2 - their best 11-game start in 75 years - and leading the charge is a name that still echoes through the Carrier Dome: Gerry McNamara.
The former Syracuse star guard, now in his second year as Siena's head coach, has the Saints playing inspired, disciplined basketball. And while it’s still early in the season, there’s no denying McNamara has already made a strong impression in his first head coaching stop. The Saints are winning, they’re confident, and they’re doing it with a style that reflects their coach - gritty, fearless, and smart.
For Syracuse fans, it’s impossible not to notice the contrast. Autry, who served as a longtime assistant under Boeheim and had a decade more bench experience than McNamara, was a logical choice on paper.
He knew the system, the culture, and the expectations. But logic doesn’t always translate to results, and through 10 games this season, the Orange have struggled to find rhythm or consistency.
McNamara, on the other hand, was always seen as a rising star in the coaching world. His reputation as a recruiter and his basketball IQ made him a valuable asset on the Syracuse bench for years. When Siena came calling, it wasn’t a surprise that he took the leap - and so far, it looks like a home run hire for the Saints.
There’s already chatter among fans about whether McNamara could one day return to Syracuse to take the reins of the program he helped elevate as a player. That’s a conversation for another day - and one that would involve more than just wins and losses. Timing, fit, and the direction of the program all factor in.
But what’s clear right now is this: Siena found their guy. And if you ask most Syracuse fans, they wouldn’t be shocked.
McNamara was always seen as a future head coach. Now he’s proving it, just not where Orange fans expected.
And as the Orange continue to search for their identity under Autry, McNamara is quietly building something strong - and maybe even a little poetic - just down the road.