Gerry McNamara coached Syracuse to a win on Monday evening in his debut as head coach of the Orange, though it came with a heavy heart just days after his father died at 78 following a battle with cancer.
Syracuse defeated the New Haven Chargers 74-58 in the season opener, but the victory was overshadowed, at times, by the fact that McNamara's father, Gerard McNamara, couldn't be there to see it.
"It's been a tough week for our family, and the first person that would be here tonight would be my father," McNamara said . "Everybody that knows me knows that. I'm hurting a little bit this week. Obviously I'm going to be hurting for a little while, pretty much forever, so I just appreciate all the people that have reached out to us."
Syracuse Orange head coach Gerry McNamara speaks with the media following a game against the New Haven Chargers at JMA Wireless Dome on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
"It will be a tough night tonight when I reflect on today not having him here with me for the first time," the new Syracuse coach added, before appearing to have to hold back some of his emotions.
Gerard McNamara died on Saturday after his third bout with cancer.
Syracuse Orange head coach Gerry McNamara looks on prior to a game against the New Haven Chargers in Syracuse, N.Y., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
McNamara told reporters he had moments where his emotions started to get to him, but that he tried to keep them private.
"The national anthem got me a little bit thinking of him and his service," McNamara said about his father, who served in the Marines. "I've tried to compartmentalize it a little bit. It's been when I've been around the team that I can just focus on the team. That's kind of been the needed distraction. Having my mom here tonight, I think maybe it was a little bit of a distraction for her as well.
A fan holds a sign for Syracuse Orange head coach Gerry McNamara during a game against the New Haven Chargers in Syracuse, N.Y., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
"Tomorrow is going to be really hard. Wednesday's going to be really hard. The next 48 hours are going to be tough, but then I get to turn around and do this again on Thursday, and then I'll get angry and forget about it for a minute."
The Orange dominated New Haven in the first half, outscoring the Chargers 39-17, before their opponents outscored them in the second half, but the game remained out of reach for the NEC program.
Syracuse shot 39.3 percent from the field in the win and 28.6 percent from 3-point range.
McNamara was a member of the 2003 national championship squad at Syracuse and had previously been part of the coaching staff before taking the job as head coach at Siena.
He was hired in March to resurrect the Syracuse basketball program.
