Syracuse football head coach Dino Babers has a new target for the DC role. Here are all the details on potential candidate Rocky Long.
It’s been eerily quiet on the hill since the Syracuse football squad decided to move on from defensive coordinator Brian Ward, but finally, there’s some news to report.
Per Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports, Dino Babers is hosting San Diego State head coach Rocky Long on Monday for a visit.
Long reportedly has “been shopping himself” for college defensive coordinator jobs per Thamel’s report.
Rocky is 69 years old (will be 70 by the start of the 2020 season) and has an incredible track record as a top defensive mind.
He’s been coaching football non-stop since 1972:
- 1972–1973: New Mexico (as a graduate assistant)
- 1974–1975: Eldorado High School (in New Mexico as an assistant)
- 1978–1980: New Mexico (OB, DB coach)
- 1981–1985: Wyoming (defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach)
- 1986–1987: BC Lions (linebackers coach)
- 1988–1990: TCU (defensive backs coach)
- 1991–1995: Oregon State (defensive coordinator)
- 1996–1997: UCLA (defensive coordinator)
- 1998–2008: New Mexico (head coach)
- 2009–2010: San Diego State (defensive coordinator)
- 2011–present: San Diego State (head coach)
Overall as a head coach Rocky Long owns a 146-107 record, with 14 bowl game appearances, and three Mountain West Conference Championships (2012, 2015, and 2016).
With San Diego State he’s achieved unparalleled success achieving at least seven wins every year since he took over in 2011.
It doesn’t appear there are any direct links between Syracuse head coach Dino Babers and San Diego State head coach Rocky Long. Although Dino was the wide receiver coach for the Aztecs back in 1994, prior to Rocky’s arrival.
Babers was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii as a military child and spent a large part of his life building connections on the west coast.
Speaking of connections after a tumultuous 2019 season, Babers has reportedly severed several ties to his ohana over the last few weeks.
"Kim McCloud, one of Dino Babers’ longest-tenured assistant coaches, is not expected to have his contract renewed in 2020, according to Football Scoop."
McCloud was a candidate for the defensive coordinator job on the hill after spending time with Dino at Baylor, Eastern Illinois, Bowling Green, and here at Syracuse.
In addition, the Orange also lost Director of Player Personnel Landan Salem he announced on Twitter after taking up a similar role at Memphis.