Syracuse Football: Steve Stanard leaving extends game of musical chairs

SYRACUSE, NY - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Dino Babers of the Syracuse Orange checks on Antwan Cordy #8 after a big collision during the second half against the Western Michigan Broncos at the Carrier Dome on September 21, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeats Western Michigan 52-33. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Dino Babers of the Syracuse Orange checks on Antwan Cordy #8 after a big collision during the second half against the Western Michigan Broncos at the Carrier Dome on September 21, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeats Western Michigan 52-33. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Syracuse football continues to blow up its coaching staff with yet another change. Here are the details on Steve Stanard leaving the Orange.

The game of musical chairs continues for the Syracuse football coaching staff.

Despite the fact that Dino Babers “finalized” his coaching staff back on February 11, more changes continue to come down the pike. The latest is Steve Stanard who is reportedly leaving the Orange.

Stanard was with Syracuse since 2017 as the defensive ends coach and was promoted to interim defensive coordinator when Brian Ward was let go with three games left in the 2019 season.

On Thursday morning Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports reported that Steve Stanard was heading to Kansas State to take the same position he held at Syracuse.

Since 2019 the Orange have experienced a variety of changes to the staff including but not limited too:

  • Kirk Martin left to go back to coach high school football in Texas. He was recently demoted from quarterbacks coach to an offensive senior analyst position.
  • Kim McCloud had served as the team’s cornerback coach and was with Dino Babers at Eastern Illinois, Bowling Green, and most recently with the Orange. He was let go this offseason.
  • Zach Arnett was initially hired as the team’s defensive coordinator but 11 days later left for the same position at Mississippi State.

Where the Orange will miss Stanard the most is his ties to the Carolinas from a recruiting perspective. He helped Syracuse develop some relationships that quite frankly didn’t exist prior to him joining the staff.

Per 247 Sports some of his recruiting wins included Latarie Kinsler, Lee Kpogba, Steven Linton, and Jonathan Kingsley.

This now means mere days before camp opens the Syracuse football staff now has a hole to fill (linebackers coach).

With all the changes to the coaching staff, including the latest here with Steve Stanard, Babers has no more excuses. If 2020 proves to be a failure of epic proportions the responsibility will squarely fall on his shoulders.