Mike Makubika and Gerry McNamara used to play one-on-one every day during the offseason. Makubika, a team manager for Syracuse in 2003-04, went up against McNamara, starting guard for the defending champions.

Never once did Makubika pull out a win.

Now as an assistant coach for 2014 Division II National Champion Florida Southern, Makubika’s returned to get his revenge on the sideline against McNamara, now an assistant coach for SU.

After transferring from Central Connecticut, Makubika was in contact with assistant coach Mike Hopkins, who he knew from when Hopkins recruited one of his friends. The assistant coach introduced Makubika to the head team manager and got Makubika a job with the team.

As a team manager, Makubika did anything and everything for the Orange, from assisting pregame warm-ups, drills in practice, or getting water for the players and coaches.

“There was nothing too small or too large that we could’ve done,” Makubika said.

While manager on the team, Makubika became close with McNamara and center Matt Gorman, whom he roomed with in 2005-06. The former roommates, all still in contact today, now are working as coaches.

McNamara stayed at his alma mater and began working as a graduate assistant in 2009 before being promoted as an assistant for the Orange for the 2011-12 season. Gorman is working as an assistant at Jefferson Community College in Watertown, NY.

Gorman mentioned he wished he could see Makubika more, but their distance has kept them apart.

“You can drop him off anywhere in the world and he’ll get along with anyone,” Gorman said. “I think that’s what makes him an effective coach and makes him so successful.”

Gorman said Makubika was always able to make the team laugh, recalling a time he dressed up as singer Rick James for Halloween.

Makubika described his relationship with head coach Jim Boheim as a positive one, however, Gorman recalled a time when Boheim wasn’t too pleased with Makubika.

Makubika accidentally walked by a motion sensor that turned on a hand dryer while Boheim was speaking. The head coach was furious.

“You weren’t trying hard if you didn’t get yelled at by coach Boheim,” Gorman said.

 Makubika has taken several things from Boheim, Hopkins and Syracuse, however, he said the most important thing he learned was loyalty.

“The work ethic up there (is amazing),” Makubika said. “It’s a first class operation, you’ve got to have good players and good people in your program.”

The Moccasins are now led by head coach Mike Donnelly and Makubika, who coached together for five seasons at Southern Connecticut State, hope to continue the success they had with SCSU.

The scheduling for this Sunday’s game began years ago when Makubika reached out to Syracuse to play an exhibition game against SCSU. When Makubika and the entire Donnelly coaching staff moved to Florida Southern, they reconnected with SU to schedule this Sunday’s exhibition.

Makubika is flourishing in his new role with a program that just won a national championship, but maintains he would “love” to come back to coach at his alma mater

 “The sky is the limit for him,” Gorman said of Makubika. “I just hope they don’t get beat by 100.

“It will be great to see Makubika back at the dome.”

Published on November 6, 2015 at 6:03 pm

Contact Jack: jfupton@syr.edu