Syracuse legend Gerry McNamara formally introduced as new Orange coach
SYRACUSE, N. Y. (AP) — He became a legend as a player at Syracuse, helping the Orange to the program’s only national championship as a freshman in 2003.
Now, his alma mater is banking on him becoming a legend on the sidelines. Syracuse University officials Monday formally introduced former star guard Gerry McNamara as the program’s ninth head basketball coach at an event befitting the return of a conquering hero. A standing-room only crowd of more than 2,000 blue-and-orange clad fans and supporters, some wearing No.
3 McNamara jerseys and many sporting “In Our McNamEra” T-shirts handed out to attendees, packed the pep-style rally in a hospitality space at the JMA Wireless Dome set up for 500 people. All of them were on hand to welcome back McNamara, nicknamed “G-Mac,” who’s returning to where he and Carmelo Anthony led the Orange to the title. They’re counting on him to revitalize the once-proud program that has fallen on hard times.
Videos featured coach Jim Boeheim, Anthony, alums Mike Tirico and Ian and Noah Eagle, and former players Tyus Battle and Michel Carter-Williams who all hailed the choice. The size of the crowd impressed the new head coach, whose retired jersey hangs from the Dome’s rafters. “This kind of like looks like a Georgetown game where people couldn’t see,” McNamara joked, nostalgically recalling the Big East rivalry that routinely filled the Dome with crowds of 30,000-plus.
“The reality is we have work to do, we really do,” he said. “Anybody that knows me, knows why I’m here,” he said in closing, to cheers. “I’m here to win.