Gerry McNamara wanted Adrian Autry to succeed. Now, he’s replacing him.
Gerry McNamara said he hoped he’d never return to Syracuse because it would mean Adrian Autry succeeded. Now, he’s back as SU’s head coach. Zoe Xixis | Asst. Photo Editor
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When Gerry McNamara left Syracuse two years ago, he said he was hoping he’d never be back. Because his return would mean Adrian Autry had failed as SU’s next head coach.
“That’s why I was emotional, because I walked away thinking I probably won’t be back unless I didn’t do well and came back hopefully as an assistant or something,” McNamara said.
Now, McNamara is back in Syracuse, succeeding Autry as the Orange’s next head coach. While McNamara’s two years with the Saints went almost as well as he could’ve hoped for — going from a four-win program to making the NCAA Tournament — Autry and SU continued to sputter.
Autry was fired after three seasons, during which he posted a 49-48 record and missed the NCAA Tournament each year. Following Jim Boeheim’s retirement, McNamara, who spent 15 years on SU’s coaching staff before departing for Siena, was elevated to be Autry’s associate head coach.
“I love Adrian Autry,” McNamara said. “There was no one happier for Red when he got the job than me. I was actually grateful that he wanted me to be his associate head coach.
“To me, it was like, man, I’ve worked with this guy that I love. We’re such good friends for over a decade, and now it’s like, ‘Yo Mac, I trust you enough, like, you’re my guy.’”
At the same time, McNamara said he thought his window was getting smaller in terms of “going out and trying to prove what I’m capable of, too.”
As McNamara noted, he would only leave SU if the right opportunity arose. After helping Autry and the Orange win 20 games as the associate head coach, he found the right opportunity at Siena.
While Autry suffered back-to-back losing seasons, McNamara gave his former boss and friend a glowing endorsement.
“He’s terrific,” McNamara said. “He’s gonna land on his feet. He’s awesome. He’s so well respected.”
Before Autry became SU’s head coach, he and McNamara worked together as assistants for 11 seasons. McNamara said he never took it as a slight that Autry was chosen to replace Boeheim.
In the end, with how everything shook out, McNamara believes he’s inheriting a situation where he’s built to thrive.
“I felt like this is a blessing in disguise, the right opportunity for me to go prove myself on my own under no one’s blanket,” he said. “Just go do it.”
