Syracuse basketball assistant Gerry McNamara one of top young coaches

ESPN.com has slotted Syracuse basketball assistant Gerry McNamara at No. 23 in its list of top coaches under 40 years old. His rating is too low.

Former Syracuse basketball star Gerry McNamara became a full-time assistant coach for the Orange in the 2011-12 campaign. Primarily focused on the development of ‘Cuse guards, McNamara has served as a stellar coach and recruiter since joining head coach Jim Boeheim’s staff.

In addition to Syracuse’s success with the NBA Draft in recent years, the Orange advanced to Final Fours in 2013 and 2016, the Elite Eight in 2012, and the Sweet 16 in 2018. The ‘Cuse also started out 25-0 in the 2013-14 term, its first as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

All in all, Syracuse has made the NCAA Tournament in six out of nine seasons dating back to when McNamara arrived as a full-time assistant coach. It’s only a matter of when, not if, as it pertains to him eventually getting a head-coaching gig. Perhaps he’ll prove a candidate to ultimately replace Boeheim at the helm on the Hill.

For his achievements as a coach, ESPN.com has put McNamara at No. 23 in its ratings of the top-40 coaches and assistant coaches in collegiate hoops who were under 40 years old as of April 30, 2020. The article “attempts to rank coaches according to both achievements and potential” and “features a diverse collection of elite young coaches who could secure some of the top jobs in the sport in the coming years.”

Here’s what the story had to say about GMac. “An assistant to Jim Boeheim since 2011, McNamara has been on staff for 213 wins and six trips to the NCAA tournament. Oldsters still talk about how his 19-of-40 3-point shooting over four close games led the Orange to the 2006 Big East tournament title.”

Frankly, and we acknowledge some ‘Cuse bias here, but 23rd seems slightly low. McNamara should appear in the top 15, based on what he’s done in Central New York, and how much he will excel in the future, while keeping in mind the other guys in this ESPN.com piece.

For context, the top 10 of this 40 Under 40, in order, are Wes Miller of UNC Greensboro, Travis Steele of Xavier, Will Wade of LSU, Mike Boynton of Oklahoma State, Bob Richey of Furman, Richard Pitino of Minnesota, Andy Toole of Robert Morris, Jordan Mincy of Florida, Jon Scheyer of Duke and Luke Murray of Louisville.

Just missing the cut is Greg Paulus, who heads up Niagara and has deep basketball and football ties in the Syracuse area. Paulus got thrust into a really challenging situation in the 2019-20 stanza, and he fared extremely well with the Purple Eagles given the circumstances.

Paulus and McNamara have many, many wonderful coaching campaigns ahead of them!