Stature and coaches, 1936–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
Run↔pass identity, by season
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.
10th-best Syracuse tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Dino Babers (2016–2023).
| Season | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 10-3 | 3-9 | 4-4 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #38 | #42 | #35 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 60.3 | 48.5 | 47.1 | |
| Coordinators | ||||
| OC | Mike Johnson / Jeff Nixon | Mike Johnson / Jeff Nixon | Mike Johnson / Jeff Nixon | |
| DC | Elijah Robinson / Robert Wright | Elijah Robinson / Robert Wright | Vince Kehres / John Scott Jr. | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 91 | 4 | 36 | |
| Defense | 18 | 6 | 38 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 52.5 | 42.1 | 47.5 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 54.5 | 39.3 | 42.6 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 43.5 | 40.0 | 48.7 | |
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on offense and underperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
A typical amount of portal roster-building.
Brings in bigger-than-position-typical players than most.
Recruits younger transfers than most — more of a development bet.
4 NFL Draft picks: Oronde Gadsden II (2025), Kyle McCord (2025), LeQuint Allen (2025), Fadil Diggs (2025)
AI Narratives — “Syracuse — stat check”.
8th-best Syracuse tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Scott Shafer (2013–2015) · succeeded by Fran Brown (2024–now).
| Season | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||
| Record | 4-8 | 4-8 | 10-3 | 5-7 | 1-10 | 5-7 | 7-6 | 5-6 | |
| Postseason | — | — | W bowl | — | — | — | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #62 | #54 | #51 | #54 | #59 | #57 | #68 | #88 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||
| Pass rate | 53.8 | 53.4 | 43.6 | 44.9 | 51.4 | 36.9 | 45.5 | 37.3 | |
| Coordinators | |||||||||
| OC | Sean Lewis / Mike Lynch | Sean Lewis / Mike Lynch | Mike Lynch | Mike Lynch | Sterlin Gilbert | Sterlin Gilbert | Robert Anae | Jason Beck | |
| DC | Brian Ward | Brian Ward | Brian Ward | Brian Ward | Tony White | Tony White | Tony White | Rocky Long | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||
| Offense | 18 | 27 | 55 | 32 | 2 | 33 | 46 | 11 | |
| Defense | 10 | 17 | 60 | 27 | 44 | 53 | 77 | 50 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 53.8 | 53.2 | 43.7 | 45.0 | 45.2 | 26.3 | 45.8 | 35.0 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 43.3 | 41.3 | 33.8 | 54.1 | 51.0 | 25.9 | 46.1 | 35.4 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 43.2 | 46.6 | 20.8 | 31.7 | 34.4 | 34.5 | 25.0 | 38.5 | |
Underperforms his recruiting talent on offense and performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on defense.
Barely touches the portal — recruits and develops his own.
Typical size for position, once adjusted for position mix.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
8 NFL Draft picks: Zaire Franklin (2018), Chris Slayton (2019), Alton Robinson (2020), Sterling Hofrichter (2020), Andre Cisco (2021), Ifeatu Melifonwu (2021), Matthew Bergeron (2023), Garrett Williams (2023)
1 player-season honored (All-America / national award): Sean Tucker (2021)
7th-best Syracuse tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Doug Marrone (2009–2012) · succeeded by Dino Babers (2016–2023).
| Season | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 7-6 | 3-9 | 4-8 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #74 | #52 | #57 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 42.3 | 47.5 | 40.7 | |
| Coordinators | ||||
| OC | — | George McDonald | Tim Lester | |
| DC | — | Chuck Bullough | Chuck Bullough | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 34 | 4 | 18 | |
| Defense | 60 | 88 | 36 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 33.7 | 35.8 | 30.2 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 28.2 | 38.9 | 33.0 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 29.2 | 15.9 | 15.0 | |
Underperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
3 NFL Draft picks: Jay Bromley (2014), Marquis Spruill (2014), Riley Dixon (2016)
6th-best Syracuse tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Greg Robinson (2005–2008) · succeeded by Scott Shafer (2013–2015).
| Season | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 4-8 | 8-5 | 5-7 | 8-5 | |
| Postseason | — | W bowl | — | W bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | #92 | #60 | #58 | #60 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | 45.7 | 44.8 | 51.4 | 46.0 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | 32 | 43 | 45 | 84 | |
| Defense | 84 | 90 | 42 | 66 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | 31.9 | 39.1 | 47.0 | 41.5 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 46.6 | 41.5 | 45.6 | 41.2 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 15.0 | 22.6 | 26.5 | 25.5 | |
9 NFL Draft picks: Mike Williams (2010), Arthur Jones (2010), Delone Carter (2011), Douglas Hogue (2011), Chandler Jones (2012), Andrew Tiller (2012), Justin Pugh (2013), Ryan Nassib (2013) + 1 more
4th-best Syracuse tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Paul Pasqualoni (1991–2004) · succeeded by Doug Marrone (2009–2012).
| Season | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 1-10 | 4-8 | 2-10 | 3-9 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #64 | #55 | #45 | #52 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | 43.5 | 42.5 | 50.5 | 43.3 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | 0 | 34 | 10 | 33 | |
| Defense | 78 | 17 | 11 | 23 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | 33.8 | 38.9 | 53.4 | 32.3 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 30.2 | 36.4 | 58.1 | 38.6 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 24.1 | 23.5 | 13.9 | 25.9 | |
8 NFL Draft picks: Anthony Smith (2006), Quinn Ojinnaka (2006), James Wyche (2006), Ryan LaCasse (2006), Tanard Jackson (2007), Kelvin Smith (2007), Tony Fiammetta (2009), Ryan Durand (2009)
2nd-best Syracuse tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Dick MacPherson (1981–1990) · succeeded by Greg Robinson (2005–2008).
| Season | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||||||||
| Record | 10-2 | 10-2 | 6-4-1 | 7-4 | 9-3 | 9-3 | 9-4 | 8-4 | 7-5 | 6-5 | 10-3 | 4-8 | 6-6 | 6-6 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | W bowl | — | — | W bowl | W bowl | L bowl | L bowl | W bowl | — | W bowl | — | — | L bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | #59 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 39.2 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 56 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25.0 | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27.6 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25.8 | |
30 NFL Draft picks: Qadry Ismail (1993), Chris Gedney (1993), Kevin Mitchell (1994), Pat O'Neill (1994), Melvin Tuten (1995), Dave Wohlabaugh (1995), Kevin Abrams (1997), Antonio Anderson (1997) + 22 more
3rd-best Syracuse tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Frank Maloney (1974–1980) · succeeded by Paul Pasqualoni (1991–2004).
| Season | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||||
| Record | 4-6-1 | 2-9 | 6-5 | 6-5 | 7-5 | 5-6 | 11-0-1 | 10-2 | 8-4 | 7-4-2 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | — | L bowl | — | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
18 NFL Draft picks: Joe Morris (1982), Craig Bingham (1982), Gary Anderson (1982), Mike Charles (1983), Blaise Winter (1984), Jamie Kimmel (1985), Tim Green (1986), Doug Marrone (1986) + 10 more
5th-best Syracuse tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Ben Schwartzwalder (1949–1973) · succeeded by Dick MacPherson (1981–1990).
| Season | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||||
| Record | 2-9 | 6-5 | 3-8 | 6-5 | 3-8 | 7-5 | 5-6 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | — | — | W bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
7 NFL Draft picks: Tim Moresco (1977), Rich Rosen (1978), Art Monk (1980), Bill Hurley (1980), Craig Wolfley (1980), Jim Collins (1981), Andy Gissinger (1981)
1st-best Syracuse tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Reaves Baysinger (1947–1948) · succeeded by Frank Maloney (1974–1980).
9th-best Syracuse tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Vic Hanson (1936) · succeeded by Biggie Munn (1946).