troyrecord
SYRACUSE, N.Y.
The phone call and ensuing job offer were unexpected.
Tyus Battle was walking into a gym near his home in New Jersey for a workout when Gerry McNamara face-timed him.
McNamara wanted Battle to join his coaching staff at Syracuse as the Oranges director of player development.
The two had not discussed the job previously.
I received a FaceTime from G and he just offered me the job, Battle said.
When you get offered a job at your alma mater, you cant turn that down.
Battle admitted that not only did he have no clue McNamara was considering him for a job with the Orange, but he didnt really consider a career in coaching until very recently.
I really didnt even have college coaching on my radar, Battle said in a recent appearance on the Inside Syracuse Basketball podcast.
Battle played at Syracuse from 2017 to 2019.
He scored 1,647 points in just three seasons with the Orange, putting him at No.
18 on the schools all-time scoring list.
Only two players have scored more points in 3-year careers Dave Bing and Billy Owens.
When he was lighting up the scoreboard and filling up the scorebook, coaching was far from Battles mind.
He had his sights set on a long professional career.
I never did (imagine a career in coaching), Battle said.
I was thinking Id be playing right now.
Thats the first thought.
I always thought Ill play until about 34, 35 (years old) and then you know see what happens after that.
Battle, now 28 years old, did play professionally for several years after leaving Syracuse following his junior year.
He spent time in the G League and played for pro clubs in Russia, Italy, Israel, France and China.
But his career was cut short by injuries.
I was doing my rehab in Manhattan, Battle said.
One of my friends, who actually went to Syracuse, he was a middle school coach for Columbia Prep.
He asked me if I wanted to help out and that was my first coaching gig.
And I fell in love with it.
Battle and McNamara have a relationship dating back to Battles freshman year at Syracuse.
McNamara, then an assistant under former SU coach Jim Boeheim, was Battles position coach for all three of Battles years with the Orange.
I was with him every morning; 5:30 a.m.
every single morning, Battle said.
Hes someone I was able to talk to during tough times.
Someone I always kept in touch with.
After Battle accepted the job, McNamara laid out what he expected of his new director of player development.
Just someone who lives in the gym with the guys, Battle said.
Thats what we love to do.
Thats our thing.
I mean, the work shows whatever work youre putting in, it will show on the court.
So just to be in the gym with the guys anytime they want to work out before practice, after practice, come in late, get up extra shots.
Battle, who has been on the job for roughly a week, said despite his knee issue, he can still match his skills up against the current players.
When I can, Im in there jumping in drills with them, he said.
Im in lifts.
We have a sprint.
I can still run a little bit.
Im not trying to lose any sprints.
(Im) just trying to bring the competition level up as much as possible because thats the only way we can well teams in general can win games, he continued.
You have to be the most competitive team on the floor.
Although hes only been working with the Syracuse players for a short time, Battle said he is impressed with the team that McNamara and his staff have put together for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
We have a great group, Battle said.
They work hard.
They compete and they want to get better, which is all I ask for..