Betting Odds Place Siena Coach Gerry McNamara as SU’s Next Head Coach

Is G-Mac Coming Back?

Capital Region basketball fans are celebrating Siena’s return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010, but that success could also bring some unwanted attention.

According to a new report from Bookies.com, the man many credit with this incredible turnaround, Siena head coach Gerry McNamara, is currently the favorite to become the next head coach at Syracuse University.

G-Mac, a Central New York legend, was a freshman when the Cuse won the National Championship back in 2003.

It’s important to note that no official sportsbook odds currently exist for the job opening. The projections were created using reporting from college basketball insiders and industry sources.

The Path for His Return to Syracuse

Syracuse fired head coach Adrian Autry on Wednesday after three seasons. Autry went 49-48 overall and failed to reach the NCAA Tournament, extending the Orange’s drought to five straight years — the program’s longest tournament absence since the early 1970s.

With Syracuse now beginning its coaching search, McNamara’s name has quickly risen to the top of speculation lists, and while this may not come off as shocking to college basketball fans who have followed G-Mac's career, many in the area are holding out hopes that Syracuse looks in a different direction.  But that seems unlikely...

What Do the Odds Say?

The former Syracuse star guard and fan favorite is currently listed with +150 odds, giving him roughly a 40% implied chance of landing the job according to projections compiled by Bookies.com.

McNamara, now in his second year, has helped spark a resurgence for Siena basketball in Loudonville, bringing new energy and excitement back to the program — including this season’s March Madness appearance. On Sunday, the Saints will find out who they will face in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

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Other names listed among potential candidates include Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz, South Florida’s Bryan Hodgson (Pelicans assistant), former SU Player Mike Hopkins, and Merrimack coach Joe Gallo.

For Siena fans enjoying the Saints’ tournament run, the news is bittersweet: success often attracts attention from bigger programs — especially one located just down the Thruway.