SYRACUSE — Beloved former Syracuse University player and coach Gerry McNamara is sticking with the men’s basketball program.

The school announced Wednesday that McNamara has been promoted to associate head coach and will remain part of Adrian Autry’s staff at Syracuse.

Autry had been the associate head coach until he was promoted to head coach last week following longtime coach Jim Boeheim vacating the position.

“I appreciate the chance to continue to coach at Syracuse University and help Coach Autry build on the program’s history of success,” McNamara said in a news release via the school. “The community has meant the world to my family and I over the years. I know as a staff we are eager to hit the ground running and get right to work.”

There had been some concern among the fan base about McNamara’s future recently. McNamara gave a speech to fans about what Syracuse means to him after the Orange’s final game of the regular-season at the dome. The speech came when he and Hakim Warrick had their jerseys retired and the 2003 national champions were recognized by the school.

McNamara is beloved by Syracuse fans for helping the program claim an NCAA championship in 2003. He made competitiveness a calling card throughout a four-year career with the Orange. McNamara owns the school record for 3-pointers and minutes played.

“Our program is fortunate to be able to have a quality coach like Gerry McNamara,” Autry said in the release. “He has symbolized the uniqueness of our program as a player and as an assistant coach. I am grateful to have him remain on our staff.”

McNamara was promoted to a full-time assistant coach in 2011-12. Syracuse Director of Athletics John Wildhack noted in the news release that McNamara works closely with the team’s guards. McNamara played a role in Judah Mintz’s strong freshman season, Joe Girard III’s development and the careers of Buddy Boeheim, Elijah Hughes, Tyus Battle, Michael Carter-Williams and others.

The school also noted McNamara’s roles “as a recruiter and opponent scout.”

“I am pleased Gerry will remain on our staff,” Wildhack said in the release. “He’s earned this well-deserved promotion to associate head coach. Gerry is an excellent recruiter and has done tremendous work developing our guards. I’m thrilled he will continue to grow his career at Syracuse.”

Griffin also remains

The school also said longtime assistant coach Allen Griffin will continue his duties on Autry’s staff.

Griffin has served as an assistant at his alma mater since 2017. He has worked primarily with Syracuse’s post players, the school noted. Griffin “has guided the growth of centers Paschal Chukwu and Bourama Sidibe from inexperienced college players into professional players on the international level,” the school said in a release.

“I’m thrilled to continue at Syracuse as a member of Coach Autry’s staff,” Griffin said in another news release. “I’ve cherished the time I’ve had working with Coach Boeheim and now I’m excited about this opportunity going forward.”

Griffin had totaled 15 years of NCAA Division I basketball coaching experience prior to returning to the Orange. He was an assistant at St. Francis (NY), Providence, Hofstra and Dayton.

Griffin, who competed at Syracuse from 1997 to 2001, played on four teams that earned invites to the NCAA Tournament. The Orange were 98-36 (.731) during that span. Griffin missed one out of 134 contests during his collegiate career.

“It was very important to me that we keep Allen Griffin a part of our coaching staff,” Autry said in a release.

“He’s played a crucial role in recruiting, in developing our student-athletes as players and young men, and in our commitment to the high standards of Syracuse basketball.”