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Syracuse Football: Former Orange head coaches where are they now?

By Christopher Queripel

6 Sep 1997: Head coach Paul Pasqualoni of Syracuse University during the Orangemen 36-34 loss to the Oklahoma University Sooners at Oklahoma Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport
6 Sep 1997: Head coach Paul Pasqualoni of Syracuse University during the Orangemen 36-34 loss to the Oklahoma University Sooners at Oklahoma Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport /
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Scott Shafer (2013-2015)

Syracuse Coaching Record: 14-23

Scott Shafer is the most recent Syracuse coach and preceded Dino Babers. Unlike the other coaches mentioned, most of Shafer’s career occurred before heading to Syracuse.

Shafer started his coaching career as a grad assistant at Indiana in 1991. From there he graduated to more significant coaching roles across the country. Shafer coached at seven different colleges before arriving at Syracuse.

Unlike the other coaches on this list, Shafer had been a coordinator at three schools before ‘Cuse. So he had lots of experience leading a team, albeit at differing levels of competition. Also, before and after Syracuse, Shafer has never been affiliated with an NFL team. This is also another difference between the three coaches that came before him.

Doug Marrone hired Shafer to revitalize the defense, which Shafer brilliantly did. Syracuse went from being one of the worst defenses in the nation to a competitive team once Shafer was put on the staff.

Little did Marrone know that he was hiring his eventual replacement.

Shafer’s defense ranked among tops in the country when Chandler Jones, 2012 first-round pick was on his defense. After Jones’ departure, Shafer took over as head coach once Marrone took the Bills job.

For Syracuse, Shafer finished with a 14-23 record over three seasons. His lone bowl appearance resulted in a victory over Minnesota in 2013.

After leaving Syracuse, Shafer took a two-year hiatus before accepting a job offer as the defensive coordinator for Middle Tennesee State.

In Shafer’s first year as the defensive mastermind, his new team got revenge on his old employer. In 2017 Middle Tennesee State traveled to the Dome and upset ‘Cuse 30-23.

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It’s been Shafer’s defenses that have kept him around college football for so long. We will see if he gets another opportunity to be a head coach again. Or at least an offer to be on the defensive side of the ball in a power five conference.

Current Position: Middle Tenesesse State Defensive Coordinator

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