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SYRACUSE -- Syracuse University Athletic Director Dr. Daryl Gross announced SU graduate and former player Doug Marrone as the 28th head coach of the Orange. Addressing a room full of media and members of the Syracuse University athletic department Marrone said "today is the greatest day of my life."
Marrone said this is a dream job for him. This was the job that he visualized when he first decided to get into head coaching with a job at Cortland State. Marrone said "the minute I made my decision to start coaching I hoped one day I'd be the head football coach at Syracuse University." Marrone is currently the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He has also coached at Georgia Tech and with the New York Jets.
Marrone said he will emphasize Syracuse University ties and connections to northeast recruiting when he hires his coaching staff. He has already met with several players on the team. Marrone told them he will need all of them to put the program back on a winning track.
Former Syracuse coach Dick MacPherson and player Tim Green were on the committee that helped select Marrone. They both talked about his passion for the game and their confidence for Marrone as the new leader of the program.
Tune in to Action News at 5:00 and 6:00 for more on the new coach.
Original Story:
Action News has confirmed with Syracuse University that New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Marrone has been named the 28th head coach of the Orange football program. The announcement was first made on the SU athletic department website Friday morning.
Marrone played for Syracuse from 1983 to 1985 and was a team captain. He was in Chicago Thursday night with the Saints for a game against the Bears, a game the Saints lost 27-24 in overtime. He had previously traveled to Syracuse on Sunday following the Saints' victory over the Atlanta Falcons for a second interview with athletic director Daryl Gross.
Marrone will succeed Greg Robinson, who was fired last month after compiling a 10-37 record over four seasons.
This will be Marrone's first stint as a head coach. Marrone spent ten years as an assistant in the college ranks, including a five-year stint at Georgia Tech, mainly working with the offensive line. In 2002, Marrone joined the NFL as an offensive line coach with the New York Jets.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
