Syracuse Coaching Shuffle

[E.T.]

Thursday, March 11, 2004

Associated Press

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- With spring football practice just over two weeks away, Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni has retooled his coaching staff.

Pasqualoni has tabbed new coordinators for defense, special teams and recruiting, but nobody will have the title of offensive coordinator formerly held by associate head coach George DeLeone.

The changes: Chris White has taken over the role of recruiting coordinator and will continue as tight ends coach; Steve Dunlap replaces Chris Rippon as defensive coordinator and also will coach the linebackers; Rippon will become assistant head coach in charge of safeties and will return to special teams coordinator, a position he held from 1995-98.

The switches come in the wake of two disappointing years. In 2002, the Orangemen finished 4-8, their first losing season in 16 years, and last season they were 6-6.

"The talent and expertise we have on our staff allows us the flexibility to shift coordinator responsibilities in an effort to maximize the overall strength of our staff," said Pasqualoni, who will be responsible for final game-plan decisions.

"Chris Rippon served as our special-teams coordinator during an era when Syracuse was a national leader in that aspect of the game. As the safeties coach, he will also remain very involved with the defense."

Dunlap was defensive coordinator at West Virginia for 10 years before joining the Orangemen. The Mountaineers played in the 1996 national championship game, and Dunlap directed the defense that led the nation.

Pasqualoni said the changes had been in place since December, but he waited to announce them until he was certain his staff was intact. Recruiting coordinator Jerry Azzinaro left the Orangemen for Duke in December, and Pasqualoni said there had been other inquiries regarding his assistants.

White has made a big impact in recruiting for the Orangemen. He recruited 15 student-athletes on the spring roster and 10 of the incoming class signed with the Orange after White recruited them.

"Chris has done an outstanding job in all phases of recruiting," Pasqualoni said. "We are fortunate."

Pasqualoni said he would be responsible for plays that are included in the game plan and used by the team. He said every offensive assistant, including DeLeone, would be involved in play selection.

Athletic director Jake Crouthamel stripped DeLeone of the title of offensive coordinator after last season. Crouthamel said in December that DeLeone would retain his title as associate head coach and continue coaching the offensive line.

Spring practice begins March 26 and the annual spring scrimmage is set for April 24.

Syracuse kicks off the 2004 season at Purdue on Sept. 5. The game will be televised nationally on ABC.

[smazza]

he better win this year

[cuseroc]

Well, Pasqualoni will be calling the plays like he did the years that they were going 10-3 and 9-2  and going to the Orange Bowl.  He has to start winning this year, or its all over. I think he will. He is a good game day coach and his players will die for him. He has no disciplinary problems. He has either the highest graduation rates or one of the highest. For those reasons is why he is still head coach. But those are not good enough reasons to keep a coach if your programs go from one of the most consistant winning programs to just mediocre or worse.  

He should start winning this year. He has a great QB from Texas. Cuse was just a QB away from going 9-3 last season. If he goes 8-3 this season he will still be coach. I dont think he can afford to go 7-4.

[smazza]

ala frank solich

[E.T.]

Good Luck to 'cuse and I also like your coach, class as far as I can tell.

We were in the same situation at QB last season  :'(

[smazza]

simutaneously the bulls shave when of best defensive coaching staffs in the land

[bulls96go]

can you say frank solich