When Syracuse University officially introduced Gerry McNamara as the new men's head basketball head coach, he knew expectations would run high.
A large crowd welcomed him at a public event Monday. And he wants to capitalize on that enthusiasm.
“We've got a lot of energy right now, a lot of people stepping up that want to help. The one thing that I know, it's I mean, it's pretty obvious with a couple thousand people being here today, like if people are ready, they're ready to step up. the energy's there. And now we've got to kind of focus our energy on getting the right roster and putting it into wins,” said McNamara.
He noted that new leadership, in Chancellor-elect Mike Haynie and Athletic Director Bryan Blair will add to that energy. McNamara called for fan participation, including donations to raise funds for player payments.
He told fans that his time as a player and as a coach sold him on Syracuse.
"My love grew for the people of this city, for the university that gave me an opportunity to showcase my gifts on the biggest stage. And I knew that it was going to be difficult one day to leave here. So, I didn't. And I don't plan on it anytime soon," he added.
Looking forward, he said the expectation should be that the basketball team is regularly playing in the NCAA tournament.
“Part of being in college at Syracuse as a student is the basketball team needs to be good," McNamara told a student questioner. "Like that should be non-negotiable. It should be so much fun because the basketball team's so good. I was a player when we were, and I'm telling you right now, this place was jumping. So that's what's a shame, is it needs to change. And I'm going to do my best to work my rear end off to change it.”
Chancellor-elect Michael Haynie said McNamara’s success turning around Siena college, where he coached for 2 years, was not the main reason he was chosen.
“It was that every person who worked with Jerry, every reference that we talked to, whether it was a player, a colleague, or a coach, said the same thing. They said he makes people better. He holds them to a high standard. He cares about them as people, not just as athletes,” said Haynie.
His task ahead? Rounding out a coaching staff and then recruiting players within the next few weeks – his first weeks on the job.
