Syracuse defensive ends coach Steve Stanard
With Brian Ward receiving the pink slip, Steve Stanard has been asked to step up to the plate. Stanard has officially been listed as the interim defensive coordinator for the final three games of the season.
Babers released this statement on the move to Stanard via the University:
"“Coach Stanard is an experienced defensive coach. He’s been here for three years now and understands the culture of our program. I’m confident in his ability to lead that side of the ball.”"
While there’s no question the Orange defense has underperformed in 2019, it’s not because of a lack of talent. Syracuse has two star edge rushers in Kendall Coleman and Alton Robinson. They have an All-American safety in Andre Cisco and a future NFL’er in Evan Foster.
Stanard has the inside track on the job, he’s already the interim and with three games left on the season can show Dino Babers why he should be the long term answer. This final portion of the season is a three-game audition if he impresses he could retain the job permanently.
This guy is an absolute football junkie who has been a coach for over 30 years and has been a defensive coordinator in college football for over 20 years of that time span. With the Orange, he has done a phenomenal job in his role with the defensive ends.
In the record-breaking 2018 campaign where Syracuse secured 43 sacks, 29 of them came from his players he coached up. He has a championship pedigree being involved in 10 bowl wins/playoff wins during his coaching career. On top of that, he’s gotten players to the NFL under his tutelage.