Syracuse Football Terminates Head Coach Dino Babers

Syracuse Orange football head coach Dino Babers was fired on Sunday morning by Athletic Director, John Wildhack after nearly eight seasons with the program.

It came after a disappointing, (31-22) loss to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Atlanta on Saturday. It puts their record to 5-6 overall, and 1-6 in ACC play.

A search is now underway for Syracuse football’s 33rd head coach, as Babers failed to reach Wildhack’s benchmark goal of leading the team to a 7-5 record for the second straight year.

Baber’s History

Babers was originally hired as Syracuse’s head coach on Dec 5, 2015, by former (AD) Mark Coyle. Right from the start, Babers brought his energy and juice to a program that needed it at the time.

After back-to-back, 4-8 campaigns in 2016-2017, Babers led the team to its most wins under his tenure.  They went 10-3 in 2018, a big win over the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Camping World Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

In 2019, with a 5-7 record, and a 1-10 finish in 2020 in which COVID forced the team to play a bunch of freshman recruits, Syracuse football went 5-7 in 2021 and 7-5 in 2022, completing its first winning season since 2018.

On Dec. 29, 2022, Syracuse football lost its Pinstripe Bowl game to the Minnesota Golden Gophers to finish 7-6.

After a promising 4-0 start to the 2023 season, Syracuse football dropped five conference games in a row to fall to 4-5. The Orange got back on track with a (28-13) win over the Pittsburgh Panthers in the 100th anniversary game played at Yankee Stadium.

Due to a disappointing loss to the Yellow Jackets last weekend, Syracuse football finished 5-6 and failed to reach the 7-5 benchmark.

In all, Babers tallied a 41-55 record with a 20-45 stint in conference play.  Syracuse was Baber’s first head-coaching position at a Power Five school.

He also coached at Eastern Illinois in 2012 and tallied a 19-7 record for two seasons, while coaching for Bowling Green in 2013. With an 18-9 record in two seasons, he led his team to the MAC title in 2015.

Interim Head Coach

Syracuse football announced that tight ends coach, Nunzio Campanile will be the interim head coach. He will lead the team for their final matchup at home against Wake Forest this Saturday at 2:00 pm.

Campanile grew up in one of the most popular football families in New Jersey and has a body of work in New Jersey football.

RUTGERS

He came to Syracuse after five years with Rutgers. The Jersey native was their tight ends coach and also contributed as their offensive coordinator as well as their interim head coach.

BERGEN CATHOLIC

Prior to that, he served as the Bergen Catholic football head coach for eight years.  He brought his team to the 2017 state championship, while the team went 60-28 (.681) during Campanile’s tenure.

DON BOSCO PREP

From 2000-09, Campanile was the offensive coordinator for 10 seasons. The Ironmen boasted six state titles and won the national championship in 2009. During his time with the team, the team compiled a 112-6 total record.

What Syracuse Football is Looking for in Next Head Coach

(AD) Wildhack has multiple criteria that he is looking for in Syracuse’s next head coach. He thinks their next head coach should have some of the following attributes:

1.   Be a good leader

2.   Have clear communication

3.   Can support staff

4.   Values community

5.    Special Teams experience

6.    Experience coaching in North East

With Syracuse football starting their search now before the season ends, it should give them a jump start to hiring a new head coach, as Michigan State, Texas A&M, and Mississippi State are also looking for new head coaches.

Syracuse’s football chances are still open to reaching bowl eligibility, with a win this Saturday over Wake Forest at the JMA Wireless Dome, in the team’s regular-season finale.

Let’s all wish Coach Campanile and the team “Good Luck!”

For another Syracuse story, please check out:

Syracuse Bounces Back to Beat Pittsburgh 28-13 at Yankee Stadium