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Syracuse University men's basketball coach Gerry McNamara is set to strengthen his coaching staff by adding Ben Lee, a former assistant from Siena University. According to a report by Sports Illustrated's Kevin Sweeney, Lee will join McNamara at Syracuse after their successful collaboration at Siena, which culminated in an NCAA Tournament appearance last month.
Lee, 29, has been a rising star in the coaching world, having spent two years with McNamara at Siena. Before that, he worked under former Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins at Washington, where he was promoted from director of basketball operations to assistant coach and director of recruiting. Lee's coaching journey began after his college basketball career as a point guard at Union College, where he graduated in 2019.
McNamara's staff at Syracuse is shaping up to include a mix of new and familiar faces. Alongside Lee, McNamara has reportedly brought in Ryan Daly from VCU and Jamal Brunt from Penn State. The combination of these coaches is expected to bring fresh perspectives and experience to the Orange.
With the NCAA transfer portal opening on April 7, McNamara is likely to finalize his staff soon. As reported by Daily Orange, the current staff includes Ryan Blackwell, Arinze Onuaku, and director of operations Ryan Beaury, all of whom have worked with McNamara at Siena.