Multiple outlets are reporting Siena is targeting this Syracuse alum as its next head coach.
Could the Siena Saints men's basketball program be on the verge of hiring another former Syracuse player and assistant coach as its head coach? Multiple outlets are now reporting that former Washington Huskies head coach and SU alum Mike Hopkins is likely to be named the new Siena Saints men's basketball coach in the next few days.
He would replace Gerry McNamara, who was just named the head coach at Syracuse earlier this week. McNamara led Siena to the NCAA Tournament this season after winning the MAAC Tournament title.
Mike Hopkins' past with Syracuse
Hopkins, a California native, joined the Syracuse basketball program as a player in 1988. The 6'5' forward played four seasons with the Orange, including helping the program win a Big East championship in 1992. Hopkins left Syracuse in 1993 to play professional basketball overseas before returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach in 1995.
After coaching in three different decades with Syracuse, Hopkins left Central New York to accept the head coaching job with the Washington Huskies. Despite being dismissed in 2024, Hopkins was named Pac-12 Coach of The Year twice during his tenure with the team. Since departing from Washington, Hopkins has worked with the Phoenix Suns as an assistant head coach and is currently with the New Orleans Pelicans as an assistant and head of player development.
Another Syracuse to Siena connection?
If Hopkins were to become the head coach of the Saints, it will mark the third time in less than 30 years that a former Orange player leads Siena.
In 2000, Louis Orr was named the head coach of the Saints. Orr was a legendary player for Syracuse along with his teammate Roosevelt Bouie, with the duo better known as the "Louie and Bouie Show".
A four-year player (1976-1980) for Syracuse, Orr helped lead the team to four consecutive NCAA tournament berths. He was selected by the Indiana Pacers in the 1980 NBA Draft. "Louie and Bouie" had their numbers retired together in February 2015. Orr died in 2022.
In his lone season coaching Siena, Orr was 20-11, at that time the best record for any first-year head coach in program history. Orr accepted a job to coach Seton Hall in 2001 where he spent the next five seasons.
Most recently, McNamara served as Siena's head coach for two seasons. McNamara played for Syracuse from 2002-2006 before joining the Orange on staff in 2009. He spent 15 years as an Orange assistant, overlapping with Hopkins as well.
Is Hopkins the right choice?
In June 2015, Hopkins was named the "coach in waiting" at Syracuse. Hopkins chose not to wait in Central New York but instead left for Washington less than two years later. Jim Boeheim did not retire until 2023. In the above video we discuss this topic and other coaches that made sense for the Saints.
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