Syracuse men’s basketball adds former Penn State associate head coach to staff (report)
Looks like another spot on G-Mac’s coaching staff is filled out.
Penn State basketball associate head coach Jamal Brunt on the sidelines against Illinois on Jan. 3, 2026. | Taj Falconer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images New Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team head coach Gerry McNamara appears to have locked in another spot on the bench.
Former Penn State associate head coach Jamal Brunt is reportedly leaving his position there to join the Orange’s coaching staff, according to a report released Thursday from Jon Sauber of The Centre Daily Times. This development comes shortly after TNIAAM learned former VCU assistant coach Ryan Daly will also be a part of McNamara’s staff as an assistant. Sources: Penn State men's basketball associate head coach Jamal Brunt is leaving for a job at Syracuse.
More here: https://t. co/er5ZTZk91x — Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) April 2, 2026 Like Daly, Brunt also has ties to VCU. Prior to serving three years in his associate head coach role with the Nittany Lions, Brunt had been an assistant with the Rams for several seasons.
Brunt served as Penn State’s defensive coach during his time there. In his first two years, he helped the Nittany Lions finish 81st and 69th overall in adjusted defensive rating, per KenPom. In 2025-26, Penn State ranked 121st in the category en route to a Big Ten-worst 12-20 overall record and 3-17 conference record.