Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFB | Wanted
Many have pegged Randy Edsall as a logical choice for SU's next coach
By Andy McCullough
Posted: 11/13/08, 11:31 PM EST Section: Sports
Edsall recently signed a contract extension through 2013. A day after the Times report, Edsall addressed the Syracuse issue. "I don't deal in speculation, and I just want you to know and everybody to know I haven't been contacted by any college, any university, the NFL, any person or people regarding and jobs," Edsall said on his regular Connecticut media teleconference.
Others have also been mentioned as strong candidates. There is Mike Locksley, the offensive coordinator at Illinois. There is Lane Kiffin, the former head coach of the Oakland Raiders and someone with experience at Southern California, the old home of Syracuse Director of Athletics Daryl Gross.
A group of Syracuse alums also sent Gross a letter putting their support behind Steve Addazio, assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Florida.
But Edsall presents a package of skills that could cure what ails the Syracuse program. He recruits well, with strong ties to the East Coast. Current Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson, someone with West Coast and NFL experience, never really had that. Edsall guided the Connecticut program from Division I-AA to I-A in 2000, building a winner in the process.
The Huskies have played in two bowls since 2004. The team is on the verge of its second Big East championship this season (it was co-champion with West Virginia last year). His recruiting helped put his program on the map, MacPherson said.
"He's a natural recruiter," MacPherson said. "He's from nearby Pennsylvania, so it was a good marriage from that standpoint. He had a great personality, very attractive to young people, and did a good job recruiting."
Edsall also has deep ties to the Syracuse program. He spent more than a decade at Syracuse as a coach and a player. He earned a varsity letter as a backup quarterback in 1979, then joined the coaching staff as a graduate assistant. He coached running backs, tight ends and defensive backs. He also served as Syracuse's recruiting coordinator in 1983 to 1990, honing the skills he would use with his own program.
Edsall studied under Tressel, future head coach of Ohio State, and Blackney, future head coach of Bowling Green.
"All this time, he was making a good living and richly blessed with who he was working with," MacPherson said.
All of this prepared him for his tenure at UConn. And maybe, just maybe, a tenure with the Orange.
The Syracuse football team will be in rebuilding mode next year. Edsall has experience with that. He spent four years with the expansion Jaguars in the NFL. He guided Connecticut into Division I-A.
The shoe fits.
"He does it all," MacPherson said. "And he has it all. He's very smart, he's a very good recruiter, he's everything."
ramccull@syr.edu
Others have also been mentioned as strong candidates. There is Mike Locksley, the offensive coordinator at Illinois. There is Lane Kiffin, the former head coach of the Oakland Raiders and someone with experience at Southern California, the old home of Syracuse Director of Athletics Daryl Gross.
A group of Syracuse alums also sent Gross a letter putting their support behind Steve Addazio, assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Florida.
But Edsall presents a package of skills that could cure what ails the Syracuse program. He recruits well, with strong ties to the East Coast. Current Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson, someone with West Coast and NFL experience, never really had that. Edsall guided the Connecticut program from Division I-AA to I-A in 2000, building a winner in the process.
The Huskies have played in two bowls since 2004. The team is on the verge of its second Big East championship this season (it was co-champion with West Virginia last year). His recruiting helped put his program on the map, MacPherson said.
"He's a natural recruiter," MacPherson said. "He's from nearby Pennsylvania, so it was a good marriage from that standpoint. He had a great personality, very attractive to young people, and did a good job recruiting."
Edsall also has deep ties to the Syracuse program. He spent more than a decade at Syracuse as a coach and a player. He earned a varsity letter as a backup quarterback in 1979, then joined the coaching staff as a graduate assistant. He coached running backs, tight ends and defensive backs. He also served as Syracuse's recruiting coordinator in 1983 to 1990, honing the skills he would use with his own program.
Edsall studied under Tressel, future head coach of Ohio State, and Blackney, future head coach of Bowling Green.
"All this time, he was making a good living and richly blessed with who he was working with," MacPherson said.
All of this prepared him for his tenure at UConn. And maybe, just maybe, a tenure with the Orange.
The Syracuse football team will be in rebuilding mode next year. Edsall has experience with that. He spent four years with the expansion Jaguars in the NFL. He guided Connecticut into Division I-A.
The shoe fits.
"He does it all," MacPherson said. "And he has it all. He's very smart, he's a very good recruiter, he's everything."
ramccull@syr.edu
Be the first to comment on this story