Gerry McNamara has re-energized Syracuse's fan base like it's nobody's business

Gerry McNamara is coming home to Syracuse, and the fan base is loving it.

On Monday, GMac held his first official press conference since being named the new head coach of Syracuse basketball last week. Before the presser, though, there was a separate event where McNamara and a whole host of other people spoke.

Reports suggested that at this initial event, the venue was packed with upwards of 2,000 SU fans and supporters. The buzz and energy were palpable. As McNamara has himself said in recent days, the Syracuse basketball fan base is ready for this program to get back on track.

GMac is ready, excited and honored to lead this program, and he's not messing around. This isn't a multi-year rebuilding process in his mind. He wants to win right away, and that, undeniably, has the 'Cuse fan base pumped.

Syracuse basketball, one of the top-10 all-time winningest teams in the history of collegiate hoops, hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since 2021. The Orange has struggled through three losing seasons over the past five years.

McNamara knows all of this. He's not sugarcoating things. He's ready to get to work. GMac's competitive spirit will suit the 'Cuse well. He demands that his players give maximum energy all the time.

That's refreshing to hear.

The fan base will appreciate McNamara's coaching personality, one that blends competitiveness, loyalty, trust, a deep work ethic, kindness and caring together into a delightful package.

I'm so jazzed that Gerry McNamara is Syracuse basketbal's next head coach.

Now, there's no guarantee that once the 2026-27 season gets underway, with GMac at the helm, the Orange will fare any better than it has in other recent stanzas. But from an emotional standpoint, as far as I can tell, Gerry McNamara is exactly who Syracuse basketball needs at this juncture.

A head coach whose overarching focus is winning, of course. But winning the right way, through hard work, being unselfish teammates, having high character and never taking a play off.

As various SU leaders noted on Monday, McNamara is a winner. He's won at every level, from high school to his playing career at the 'Cuse to when he was a Syracuse basketball assistant coach to guiding Siena over the past two stanzas.

At last week's Syracuse University giving day, the men's basketball program raised a lot of money from a lot of donors. That's because of GMac. And as I've opined, I think that financially speaking, the Orange will be just fine in 2026-27.

With Monday's festivities wrapped up, McNamara is getting to work. His assistant coaching staff will be revealed soon. The transfer portal opens a week from today, on April 7. GMac will continue to discuss retention efforts with current 'Cuse players.

I can't wait for the next campaign, which is months away. As I said at the top, Gerry McNamara has given the Syracuse basketball fan base a wonderful jolt, myself included.