Slowly but surely, Scott Shafer is filling the holes in his first Syracuse coaching staff.
On the heels of adding a linebackers coach over the weekend, Shafer announced Monday that DeAndre Smith has been hired to coach the Orange’s running backs. Smith will replace Tyrone Wheatley, who is one of four assistants to follow Doug Marrone to the Buffalo Bills.
“DeAndre Smith is a dynamic recruiter who has experience covering all parts of the nation to bring in some of the best student-athletes.” Shafer said. “He has a proven track record, year after year, after year, tutoring several high-profile running backs every team he has coached in college football.”
Smith spent last season at New Mexico and as RBs coach and held the same title at Illinois the two years prior to that. He also spent time on coaching staffs at Northern Illinois, UNLV and Miami of Ohio.
The release announcing Smith’s hiring noted that he has mentored nine 1,000-yard rushers in 14 years of collegiate coaching.
“Our running backs will be physical and very intelligent on the field,” Smith said. “We have to secure the football and we have to make plays. It is an honor to be part of the great running backs tradition at Syracuse. When you walk through the Carrier Dome and see the history and tradition of running backs it is inspiring. I want to continue to build on that and continue the tradition of great Orange running backs.”
Shafer now has two spots on his nine-man staff left to fill.
(Photo credit: New Mexico athletics)