John McNamara remembers going to the old Newton North building to watch varsity basketball games when he was eight years old. Now, he’s taking the helm of a program that came oh so close to adding another MIAA Division 1 basketball championship to the school’s trophy case last year.

“It’s surreal,” McNamara said. “I’ve been in this program my whole life. It’s just starting to hit me now that I’m actually in charge and I can put my stamp on it. It means everything.”

McNamara has been a Newton North hoops lifer—first as a fan, then as a player, and most recently as an assistant coach. He played on North’s first state championship team in 2005. In 2009, he returned to the program in a coaching capacity, beginning as coach of the freshman team, before eventually becoming an assistant on the varsity squad, learning the ropes under legendary coach Paul Connolly. When Connolly announced his retirement in March, McNamara threw his hat in the ring, eager to lead a program that has meant so much to him.

McNamara said he doesn’t necessarily feel pressure to fill Connolly’s shoes. North basketball has been good for a long time—so the expectations are high, no matter who is calling plays from the bench.

However, he does feel a sense of responsibility to uphold the tradition and the legacy that Connolly built over his storied 24 years as the face of North basketball.

“The tradition we have built here, and the values that were instilled in me as a player, and the values I have tried to instill in the kids over the last 15 years—you can’t replace that,” he said. “It’s something that has so much value, and I’m blessed to be here and in charge.”

McNamara is optimistic about the campaign ahead. The squad is returning 10 players from last season, including three starters: senior Mateo Stamm, as well as juniors Bryson Mercedes and Jake Lyons. Junior Julian Zakak and senior Luke Washek also played key minutes last year and look to have expanded roles this season. McNamara expects to rely heavily on this solid, experienced core of players, especially in the early part of the season as he learns the ropes of being a head coach.

In terms of Xs and Os, the new coach isn’t planning on tinkering too much with a winning formula. McNamara wants North to continue the defense-first, hard-working play that took them to last year’s championship game.

“My hope is that in every gym we go into, we’re going to try to outwork everybody,” he said.

North opens the season at home against Framingham on Friday, December 12. Tiger fans may want to circle the following games on their calendar: Monday, Dec. 22, when North travels to rival Brookline; and Tuesday, January 13, when North and Braintree square off in a rematch of last year’s Round of 8 playoff game. (North took that one, 48-40.)

McNamara is eager to get started. There’s unfinished business from last year. And his players are ready to go.

“The kids are hungry,” he says. “They played together all off season. They work out together all the time. They’re in here in the morning shooting around. They are really into it. It’s a hard-working group that really wants to be good and wants to get after it every day.”

And how does McNamara feel going into his first season as head coach?

“I’m excited,” he said simply.

PHOTOS

First-year head coach John McNamara encourages his team from the sidelines during a preseason scrimmage against Boston Latin. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

“The tradition we have built here, and the values that were instilled in me as a player, and the values I have tried to instill in the kids over the last 15 years—you can’t replace that,” says head coach John McNamara. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

Players from Newton North and Boston Latin competed during a preseason basketball scrimmage on December 8, 2025. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

McNamara speaks to his players during a timeout in a preseason scrimmage against Boston Latin. “The kids are hungry,” he says. “It’s a hard-working group that really wants to be good and wants to get after it every day.” (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

A member of the Newton North varsity basketball team flies in for a layup in a preseason game against Boston Latin School on December 8, 2025. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon