The Syracuse Orange finished yet another season of failure on Saturday, losing to BCS Busting Cincinnat 30-10 and sealing the 4th consecutive losing year for Syracuse. The team finished 3-9 and the best record under Greg Robinson was a 4-8 campaign in 2006. With the past 4 years finally finished, Greg Robinson fired, and the program in desparation mode, a new head coach is on the horizon. “I have made the decision to move our football program in a new direction and have informed Greg Robinson that his tenure as Syracuse’s head coach will end at the conclusion of this season" SU athletic director Daryl Gross said. That new direction could have been much of the same, as there was initial interest in former Raider head coach and ex-USC assistant Lane Kiffin. Gross worked with Kiffin at Southern Cal and rumors speculted there was a reunion possibly in the works. Now that Kiffin is the new coach at Tennesse that rumor can be put to rest. As for SU? Their search will continue and look for the school to take its time.
“The timing of this announcement allows us to end rumor and speculation and provides us ample time to hire a head coach who has shown the capability to produce a winning football program that the Syracuse nation can be proud of. That process will begin immediately and will remain confidential until a selection is made.” The nation hasn't had anything to be proud of as late. Some fans continue to think about the "glory days" at SU when Paul Pasqualoni was at the helm. His last season saw SU go 6-6, a record Greg Robinson can only dream of now. Recruiting issues, an inept offense, and just no real plan for games has plagued Syracuse throughout the Robinson regime. From Andrew Robinson to Cam Dantley, no capable quarterback was ever found. Now comes the big challenge, finding a coach that can resurrect this program and bring tradition back to Syracuse. Gross and the University should have their sights set on one of these 4 up & coming head coaches, if they would prefer to keep their jobs.
4) Randy Edsall, Uconn. Former SU player and assistant coach, has been Uconn head coach since 1999. He took the Huskies from division 1aa to 1a and stayed throughout the transition. They entered the Big East conference a year earlier than expected due to the defections of teams to the ACC, and has led the team to a record of 50 and 53 under his watch and was Big East co-champions in 2007. He was recently rumored to be a possible candidate to take over as head coach at Syracuse after Greg Robinson was fired on November 16, but has said he isn't interested in the position and will remain at Uconn.
3) Chris Peterson, Boise State. Peterson has his Broncos undefeated for the 2nd time in 3 years and has a career coaching record of 35-3. His school's win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl a couple of seasons ago is still talked about today and the type of offense and excitement he could potentially bring to a program would make any athletic director's eyes light up. The only downside is Peterson could be considered a "west coast guy" much like Greg Robinson was, but the comparisons stop there. A big bcs school offer may not be enough to woo Peterson however. "I can't see him leaving," says Boise State tight end Richie Brockel. "People always say that the grass is greener on the other side. But sometimes it isn't."
2) Skip Holtz, East Carolina. The former Uconn head coach and current ECU coach dreams of having a BCS job. Holtz has had success in his 2 stints as a head coach going 64-43 in 8 years. He laid the foundation for Uconn to enter division 1 and he has really set up the Pirates for continued success even if he is no longer the coach there. Holtz was born in Connecticut and has recruiting ties all across the east coast, having spent time wherever his father Lou was coaching. Those eastern connections are something that Syracuse is in desperate need of and could be a huge factor in hiring their next head coach.
1) Kyle Whittingham, Utah. Another "west coast guy" with a strong record on this list. Much like Chris Peterson, Whittingham coaches in a western conference and has his team with a 12-0 record during the 2008 campaign. Whittingham took over the Utes after former coach Urban Meyer left for Florida and saw immediate success. Whittingham may not have the ties an eastern school like Syracuse would be looking for, but he has had success with a record of 35-14 and 3 straight bowl victories. Greg Robinson never had much college or head coaching experience, Whittingham has both. And an undefeated record to make some noise in the press.
While a mix of East and West is included on this list, there are also several other candidates Syracuse could target. Buffalo head coach Turner Gill has been a big rumor, and University of Oregon offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will interview for the Syracuse University head coaching job on Wednesday according to Tom Dienhart of Rivals.com. "Every single offensive coordinator I've had, every single year, has been offered jobs," Bellotti told the Register-Guard on Friday. "I don't see that as anything different. It comes with the success of the program and with the territory, and the type and style of offense that we run." Kelly coached offenses for several years at New Hampshire and has Oregon as one of the best offenses in the country this year. There will continue to be speculation amongst all Syracuse die-hards, and a decision could come soon. The main thing that the University needs to accomplish to find a coach that will excite the fans and make them remember a little less about the past 4 years.
