Syracuse football fires Dino Babers as head coach, national search for replacement underway

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University Director of Athletics John Wildhack on Sunday announced that Dino Babers will conclude his tenure as head coach of the football program “effective immediately.”

Nunzio Campanile, current Syracuse tight-ends coach, has been named interim head coach to lead the Orange in their 2023 season finale at home against Wake Forest next Saturday, per a Sunday statement from the school. A national search to identify Babers’ successor is now underway, Syracuse said.

The Orange rallied but fell short in its loss at Georgia Tech on Saturday night, 31-22, dropping their season record to 5-6.

Wildhack issued the following statement about Babers on Sunday.

“I appreciate everything Dino, his wife Susan, and their family have done over the last eight years for Syracuse Athletics, Syracuse University and most importantly, our student-athletes,” Wildhack said. “Thanks to Dino’s leadership, our student-athletes have performed at the highest levels in the classroom, have dedicated countless hours to supporting our communities and have gone on to achieve great success, both professionally and personally. As we embark on a change in leadership at the helm of Syracuse Football, on behalf of Syracuse University I thank Coach Babers for his leadership, character and dedication, and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Mark Coyle, former Syracuse director of athletics, hired Babers in 2015 following his tenure at Bowling Green. Babers took the Orange to the Camping World Bowl following the 2018 season and to the Pinstripe Bowl after the 2022 season.

But the Orange also endured extended losing streaks in recent seasons, including the current one.

Babers, 62, compiled a 41-55 total record (20-45 in ACC games) in nearly eight full seasons at the helm of the Syracuse football program. He was 18-9 in two seasons at Bowling Green.