Gerry McNamara, Jon Scheyer Are Going To Be Facing Each Other On Sidelines For Seasons To Come Because Gerry McNamara Is Syracuse's New Head Coach

Gerry McNamara is familiar with Syracuse because he was a guard for Syracuse from 2002-2006 as well as on Jim Boeheim’s coaching staff at Syracuse.

As a guard for Syracuse,

Gerry McNamara was a unanimous BIG EAST All-Rookie Team selection and was named to the All-Final Four Team after scoring 18 points on six threes vs. Kansas in the title tilt to lead Syracuse to a National Championship as a freshman in 2003. He earned Second Team All-BIG EAST honors during his sophomore season where he set program NCAA Tournament records with 43 points and nine made threes vs. BYU, and was a First Team All-BIG EAST and BIG EAST All-Tournament Team selection after guiding the Orange to their first of back-to-back BIG EAST Tournament Championships as a junior in 2005.

wrapped up his magnificent collegiate playing career by earning Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American acclaim as a senior, while also being the recipient of the 2006 Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award, presented annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to a senior Division I men’s basketball player who demonstrates outstanding character, leadership, and talent. He once again was named a First Team All-BIG EAST honoree, and received the Dave Gavitt Award as the 2006 BIG EAST Tournament MVP after helping Syracuse become the first team in conference history to win four games to take the trophy.  

As a guard for Duke for from 2006 -2010 Jon Scheyer was ne of the most versatile and reliable Blue Devils all-time, concluding his career as the only player in school history to record at least 2,000 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists, 250 three-point field goals and 200 steals. He averaged 14.4 points per game while scoring in double figures 114 times (sixth-most in Duke history) and leading the Blue Devils to a 115-29 (.799) record.

A two-time team captain, Scheyer scored 2,077-career points and still ranks 10th on Duke’s all-time scoring list. He ranks third in Duke history in free throws made (608), fourth in free throw percentage (.861; 10th in ACC history) and three-point field goals made (297; 13th in ACC history) and sixth in free throw attempts (706). He played in 144 consecutive games, tied for the second-longest streak in Duke history, while his 4,459 minutes played rank fourth in ACC history.

As a senior in 2010, Scheyer averaged 18.2 points, 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game from the point guard position to spark Duke to a 35-5 record and its fourth national championship. He was a consensus second-team All-American and a first-team All-ACC pick in his final season after starting all 40 contests and scoring in double figures in all but two games on the year. His 1,470 minutes played as a senior remains the ACC single-season record.

Scheyer was named MVP of the ACC Tournament as a junior in 2009, averaging 21.7 points and 4.0 rebounds as Duke took home the title.

As a coach at Duke,

Jon Scheyer has been integral in the recruiting and development of several young Duke stars since joining the staff. In accepting Duke’s head-coaching position a year before taking the helm, Jon Scheyer was able to fully recruit the nation’s No. 1-ranked freshman class for the 2022-23 campaign -- highlighted by the top two-ranked players -- Dereck Lively II and Dariq Whitehead. He followed that by landing the No. 2 overall class in 2023-24 class with four top-25 signees, then moved back to the top of the rankings in 2024 with six recruits inside the top 30, including the No. 1 overall prospect, Cooper Flagg. Scheyer retained the top spot in the 2025 recruiting rankings with four top-25 prospects, including the third-ranked recruit, Cameron Boozer.

Duke has finished top three in ESPN.com’s class recruiting rankings every season with Scheyer on the staff, including the No. 1 class seven times (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024, 2025).

A total of 35 Duke players have been drafted, including 26 first-rounders, with Scheyer on the staff, highlighted by overall No. 1 selections Zion Williamson in 2019, Paolo Banchero in 2022 and Cooper Flagg in 2025. Williamson was the consensus National Player of the Year in 2019, Banchero was an All-American and ACC Rookie of the Year in 2022, and Flagg was the National Player of the Year and ACC Player and Rookie of the Year in 2025. His first draftees as a head coach -- Lively and Whitehead -- were each first-round picks in 2023, followed by first-round selection Jared McCain in 2024. In 2025, Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach were all selected in the top 10 of the NBA Draft.

Williamson and Banchero join six other Scheyer-coached Blue Devils to be named ACC Rookie of the Year, including Flagg in 2024-25 and Kyle Filipowski in 2022-23 – Scheyer’s first commitment in the 2022-23 class, who chose to wear the No. 30 in honor of his first-year head coach.

Jon Scheyer helped mentor Tyus Jones to Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors and an NBA first-round pick in 2015. Five years later, Tyus’ brother Tre was named both the ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after a remarkable 2020 campaign.

Tre is one of 13 Blue Devils to earn All-America recognition with Scheyer on staff – a list that also includes Quinn Cook, Grayson Allen, Luke Kennard, RJ Barrett, Williamson, Banchero, Filipowski and Flagg.

According to https://sienasaints.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/gerry-mcnamara/4815

As a coach at Syracuse,

Gerry McNamara helped guide Syracuse to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by trips to the Final Four in both 2013 and 2016. Primarily charged with recruiting, scouting, and guard development, McNamara mentored current NBA performers Buddy Boeheim (Detroit Pistons) and Cole Swider (Miami Heat), and former players Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis, Michael Gbinije, Elijah Hughes, and Dion Waiters.

Gerry McNamara, Jon Scheyer faced each other in 2026 NCAA Tournament when Gerry McNamara was Head Coach of Sien Jon Scheyer was Head Coach of Duke who is the top overall seed in the East Region when Siena was the 16th seed survived Siena 71-65 because Following Duke’s 3 point shooting being subpar Duke surviving Siena in first round of NCAA Tournament 71-65 Thursday Cameron Boozer who was is a forward was 1-5 on 3 pointers was 13-14 on free throws to go along with 22 points shared his thoughts by saying We came out with the mentality it was going to be handed to us, and obviously that’s not what happended,”

You got to come out with energy and we didn’t come out ready to play,”

They had 43 points in the first half and they have one of the slowest paces in the country “That’s unacceptable. We’ve got to be better. In the second half, they only had 22 points, so we obviously did that.”

“We got punched in the mouth. “This is going to help us. You need a scare going into March Madness and this is our scare. We’ll learn from it.”

Though,

Cameron Boozer wasn’t the only Boozer to share his thoughts following Duke surviving Siena in first round of NCAA Tournament as his fraternal twin brother Cayden Boozer who was 9-16 on free throws , 1-4 on 3 pointers to go along 2 rebounds , 5 assists , 19 points by saying We didn’t want to go home,”There was no part of us that was going to allow that. We did what we needed to do.” You have to hand it to Siena. They outplayed us today,”But I didn’t want to go home and no one on this team wanted to lose this game. I felt like that whole second half we just had the right mindset, we had the right energy and it put us in position to win this game. “We had to just regroup, understand that we only have 20 minutes guaranteed. We all understood one thing. We weren’t going home.”

Following Duke’s three point shooting being subpar Duke surviving Siena in first round of NCAA Tournament 71-65 to advance to second round of NCAA Tournament Saturday Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer shared his thoughts by saying It doesn’t matter what you win by or how pretty or any of that stuff,

It’s about getting it done, finding a way, and then learning and growing from it. “ou’ve got to show what you’re made of, and these guys really did that.”

Toughest moment, toughest game, toughest position I’ve ever been in, in the tournament,”Toughest moment, toughest game, toughest position I’ve ever been in in the tournament, no question about it. “These guys, the character they showed. … The toughness down the stretch, I just think that’s what this tournament is all about.”

Look, I wish it could just be smooth sailing,”. We made some mistakes early that they made us pay for. All of a sudden, you want to win very badly. So you can start making plays to try to get back in the game that are probably uncharacteristic of who we’ve been.”

According to Chip Alexander News & Observer articles

According to Scott Fowler News & Observer article

https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article315063901.html

https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article315063877.html

https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/article315093629.html

When Siena season ended with 71-65 loss to Duke where Francis Folefac who is a freshman who is a guard was 7-16 on field goals was 2-4 on 3 pointers , 2-2 on free throws to go along 7 rebounds, 2 assists , 18 points. Brendan Coyle who is a forward who is a senior was 4-9 on field goals , 4-9 on 3 pointers to go along 5 rebounds, 12 points. Gavin Doty who is a sophomore who is a guard was 7-20 on field goals , 3-12 on 3 pointers , 4-4 on free throws to go along 4 rebounds, 2 assists , 21 points.

According to ESPN App

Following Siena ‘s 71-65 loss to Duke in first round of 2026 NCAA Tournament on Thursday March 19, 2026 Gerry McNamara shared his thoughts on his team on Jon Scheyer by saying I've been doing this a long time. I don't think I've ever been more proud of any group of kids I've been around. I think the world and college basketball saw what I've been so grateful and thankful to be around all season, a group of kids that love each other, that compete at the highest level and play for each other.

We got off to a great start offensively in the second half when they switched to zone and slowed us down a little bit. I went back and watched, every time they've been scored on this season this past week, go game by game and there are stretches where they don't give up points, that's who they are. It kind of bit us in the second half where we weren't able to score r make a shot late and that kind of pushed the lead out.

I love Jon. The job he's done at Duke is remarkable. I wish them luck moving forward. They're a tough group. They're a Number 1 seed for a reason. They've got a lot of talent and a lot of heart and pride. I've got all that right here too.

I'm just really proud. I'm devastated for them because we were fearless. We wanted to accept this. I knew when we came back from Atlantic City, when I got them that Friday before Selection Sunday, where we had two practices, really three practices before that Selection Sunday, the energy they brought to the gym.

According to Bryan Stultz Duke Wire USA Today article https://dukewire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/duke/mens-basketball/2026/03/19/everything-siena-head-coach-gerry-mcnamara-said-after-loss-to-duke/89235883007/

Gerry McNamara comes to Syracuse following being Head Coach of Siena who lost to Duke, Head Coach Jon Scheyer in the first round of 2026 NCAA Tournament on Thursday March 19, 2026 by score of 71-65.

Following losing to Duke, Head Coach Jon Scheyer shared his thoughts on then Siena Head Coach now Syracuse Head Coach Gerry McNamara by saying I’ve known Gerry for a long time . G-Mac had his guys way more ready to play than I did. That’s one of the hardest moments for me in sport period to not have your best stuff.

According to Chip Alexander News & Observer article

Next season for seasons to come Gerry McNamara, Jon Scheyer are going to be facing each other as Head Coaches during the regular season as well as postseason because Gerry McNamara is Syracuse ‘s new Head Coach.

According to Pete Thamel, Jeff Borzello ESPN article https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48278903/sources-syracuse-hire-gerry-mcnamara-basketball-coach

Gerry McNamara is replacing Adrian Autry who in 2025-2026 season led Syracuse to 15-17 record and finished the 2025-2026 season on a six game losing streak.

On Tuesday Gerry McNamara was officially announced as Syracuse’s new Head Coach!

At the time of Gerry McNamara being announced Syracuse’s new Head Coach incoming Director Of Athletics Bryan B Blair shared his thoughts by saying Gerry McNamara is who our storied basketball program needs at this important moment,"n every conversation, his competitive fire and passion was undeniable—it's simply part of his DNA. He returns to Syracuse as a proven Division I head coach who led a program through a turnaround and back to the NCAA Tournament. At every stop in his playing and coaching journey, he has elevated those around him—student-athletes, staff and the broader community—through his energy, his standards and his ability to connect. While Gerry's deep connection to Syracuse is meaningful, it's simply a bonus to what he brings as a coach and leader. He honors our past, but he is driven to build for the future. This is a critical moment for Syracuse basketball, and it will take all of us—everyone connected to Syracuse University, Syracuse Athletics and Central New York—locking arms and supporting this program like never before. We welcome Gerry home and can't wait to see where he takes our program."

Though,

Incoming Director Of Athletics Bryan B Blair wasn’t the only one to share his thoughts as Syracuse new Head Coach Gerry McNamara outgoing Director of Athletics John Wildhack did as well by saying "I love this place. I love what Syracuse means: to the fans, to the players who have worn this jersey, to the people of Central New York. This program has given me everything, and I am ready to give everything back to it," says McNamara. "College basketball has changed. How you build a program, recruit talent, compete for resources and win looks different than it did even five years ago. I know that. I'm ready for it. What hasn't changed is what Orange Nation expects, and what this place deserves. We are going to build something special here."Gerry is a leader who brings out the best in people," saysI watched him for years as an assistant: in the gym, on the road recruiting and in conversations with players and their families. What has always distinguished him is the trust he builds. He has proven in a short time as a head coach that he knows how to build a program. I am proud that this was among the final pieces of work I had a hand in, and I have no doubt that he will make Syracuse and all of Orange Nation proud."

According to https://cuse.com/news/2026/3/24/gerry-mcnamara-06-named-head-coach-of-syracuse-mens-basketball