Gerry McNamara Wins First Game as Coach

Syracuse beat New Haven 74-58 two days after McNamara's father, Gerard, died at age 78.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Basketball

Syracuse University basketball coach Gerry McNamara won his first game as head coach, defeating New Haven 74-58 at the JMA Wireless Dome. The win came two days after the death of his father, Gerard McNamara, at age 78.

Why it matters

The victory marks a personal milestone for McNamara, a Scranton native and member of Syracuse's 2003 national championship team, with his mother and family in attendance. It also opens his tenure with a win during a difficult stretch.

The final score was 74-58 in favor of Syracuse, a 16-point margin over New Haven. Gerard McNamara died at age 78 two days before the game, and the extraction does not specify the cause of death.

The players

Gerry McNamara

Syracuse University basketball head coach and former player who was part of the 2003 national championship team.

Syracuse University

Private research university in Syracuse, New York, whose men's basketball program won the 2003 NCAA national championship.

The details

McNamara's first game as head coach was played at the JMA Wireless Dome, where Syracuse defeated New Haven 74-58. His mother and family attended the game despite the recent death of his father.

Two days before the game: Gerard McNamara died at age 78.
Game day: Syracuse defeated New Haven 74-58 in Gerry McNamara's first win as head coach.
Next week: The winner of Pittston Area vs. Abington Heights plays in the state playoffs.

Program Legacy

McNamara's first win as head coach links him directly to Syracuse's 2003 national championship team, where he played before returning to the program in a coaching role. The victory places his early tenure within the program's most decorated era.

McNamara now has a 1-0 record as head coach, and the program's early results under his leadership will be tracked from here. Fans following Syracuse basketball can watch how the team builds on this opening win.

The takeaway

A first win carries weight beyond the scoreboard when it arrives during personal grief. McNamara's opening result reflects both his family's support and his ties to the program's championship history.