It is an exciting time to be a Saint! Gerry McNamara has been named the 19th head coach in Siena College Men's Basketball history and Terry Primm has been named the 10th head coach of Siena College Women’s Basketball.
Coach McNamara, the Syracuse University legend and 2003 National Champion, takes over the reins of the Saints after spending the past 15 years on staff with the Orange. "I want to thank President Seifert and Athletic Director John D'Argenio for this incredible opportunity," said McNamara. "I am so honored and excited to lead Siena College as the new head men's basketball coach. My family and I can't wait to get started and embrace Siena and the Capital Region."
McNamara arrives in Loudonville after spending over a decade on staff at Syracuse. He reunited with his Basketball Hall of Fame Head Coach Jim Boeheim as a graduate assistant in 2009 at his alma mater, before being promoted to a full-time assistant in 2011. This past season, McNamara was elevated to associate head coach under new Syracuse Head Coach Adrian Autry.
"In the rich tapestry of Siena College's history, both on and off the basketball court, this moment marks a pivotal chapter as we welcome Gerry McNamara to lead our Saints," said Siena College President Dr. Charles "Chuck" Seifert." Gerry's illustrious career and championship pedigree at Syracuse University, paired with his exceptional skills in mentoring young talent, align perfectly with the high expectations and storied tradition of Siena Basketball. His appointment is not just about restoring championship success – a standard our fans rightly anticipate – but it also symbolizes Siena's ascent in the broader collegiate landscape. Under Gerry's guidance, we are not just aiming for victories on the court; we are bolstering our College's growing reputation for excellence. With record enrollment, rising national rankings, a coveted student experience inside and outside the classroom, and expanding brand recognition, Siena stands at the threshold of a new era. Gerry's leadership of our men's basketball program is a testament to our commitment to excellence, embodying the spirit of our community and the forward trajectory of our institution. Together, we look forward to celebrating the successes that lie ahead, rooted in the Franciscan Mission and values that define us."
McNamara graduated from Syracuse in 2006 with his Bachelor's degree in Speech Communications. One of the most decorated players in the storied Syracuse history, McNamara is the program's all-time career record holder for made threes (400), free throw percentage (.888), and minutes played (4,799), and ranks second all-time in steals (258), third in assists (648), fourth in scoring (2,099), and sixth in made free throws (435). He started all 135 career games played spanning his illustrious career from 2002-06, and led the Orange in made threes and assists in all four seasons, which each culminated in NCAA Tournament appearances. McNamara had his No. 3 jersey retired by Syracuse on Mar. 4, 2023.
Coach Terry Primm was promoted to head coach after being an assistant coach at Siena under Jim Jabir for the last three years.
"I would like to thank President Seifert, Vice President and Director of Athletics John D'Argenio, and the entire Siena family for their trust and support in me, my family, and our student athletes," Primm said. "Siena is a special place with an incredible spirit. We are dedicated to winning championships and supporting the growth of our incredible young women. Jim Jabir started a resurgence here that we will continue to build into being the best program in the MAAC and one of the best on the court."
The 49-year-old Primm has played an integral role in the improvement of the Siena Women's Basketball program, highlighted by consecutive MAAC Semifinals appearances the past two seasons for the first time in 11 years. Working in lock-step with Jabir, the Detroit native helped Siena achieve an 18-12 overall record including a 14-6 ledger in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action this past season, marking the program's most league victories in more than two decades dating back to the 2002-03 season. Primm previously led the Saints for seven games as acting head coach during the 2022-23 season, guiding the team to a 6-1 record.
"We are thrilled to welcome Terry Primm as the new head coach of the Siena women's basketball program," said Siena College President Dr. Charles "Chuck" Seifert. "Following our region's recent honor of hosting the NCAA Super Regional, it is clearer than ever that our community is primed to support women's basketball at the highest levels. Terry has had a profound impact as an assistant coach, underscored by back-to-back MAAC Semifinal appearances and instilling a winning mindset both on and off the court. His deep understanding of the Siena Mission and values, combined with a proven track record of producing results with our program, positions him as the ideal leader at this pivotal moment. With Terry at the helm, we look forward to embracing this growing momentum and are confident in the bright future ahead for Siena basketball."
During Primm's tenure, he has helped recruit and develop 10 All-MAAC honorees highlighted by the 2022-23 MAAC Rookie of the Year and 2023-24 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year. The coordinator of the team's defensive efforts, Siena ranked in the top-15 nationally this past season in both turnovers forced per-game and steals per-game.
Is it basketball season yet?