Wildhack says a shortfall of wins led to firing of Babers as Syracuse football coach

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse football’s inability to reach seven wins this season and its lack of success in November in past years is what led to the firing of head coach Dino Babers on Sunday.

Syracuse University Director of Athletics John Wildhack told Babers before the season that the benchmark for this season was a 7-5 record.

“Once that obviously wasn’t attainable, it was time to move and make a decision,” Wildhack said in a Monday news conference at the Iocolano-Petty Football Wing at the Lally Athletics Complex on Syracuse University’s South Campus.

“The decision was not a knee-jerk reaction, not an emotional decision,” Wildhack told the assembled media. “I’ve evaluated the program on a consistent basis. To me, one of the things it really boils down to is November. We’ve not had the success in November.”

In his remarks, the athletic director cited the last three seasons. In 2021, the Orange were 5-4, coming off a road victory at Virginia Tech and a home win over Boston College. The team went on to lose the final three games to Louisville, N.C. State, and the home finale against Pittsburgh.

In 2022, Syracuse started off 6-0, before losing five straight games, and then defeating Boston College to finish the regular season at 7-5.

This season, the Orange began the season 4-0, lost five straight including the Nov. 3 game against Boston College, defeated Pittsburgh, and then lost this past weekend at Georgia Tech — dropping the season record to 5-6.

“So, there’s a consistent theme that we’ve not been successful in November,” Wildhack said. “And we’ve played meaningful games in November and that’s what you want.”

The losing in November “is one the of the things that stood out to me,” he added.

The athletic director went on to say that the Orange football coaching staff has been in contact with recruits and those who have committed to join the program “to reinforce that our commitments are solid and to hold this recruiting class together.”

Coaching search

The search for the next head football coach is underway and Wildhack told the media it will be “thorough.”

He noted that the firing happened with a week to go in the regular season because it gives Syracuse a “head start” on the search.

When asked about the qualities he’s looking for in a head coach, Wildhack said he wants a good leader.

“It’s a complex operation to be a head football coach. You need someone who’s a really good leader. I think someone who’s really clear communicator,” he told reporters.

The athletic director wants a coach who has an eye for talent and who can develop his players. Someone who can build a staff and represent the values of the school and community as well.

Wildhack also noted that the next head coach doesn’t need to have a connection to Syracuse University or the Syracuse area but should have connections throughout the Northeast. Syracuse University will use a search committee to find its next coach.

Wake Forest game

The Syracuse football program has a two-fold emphasis heading into Saturday’s game against Wake Forest, in which the Orange can become bowl eligible with a victory.

“Let’s honor our seniors the right way. We will do the senior walk after the game on Saturday night,” Wildhack said. “It’s a chance for the community and I do hope that they come out and support our seniors for everything that they’ve given to this program and this community.”

Nunzio Campanile, current Syracuse tight-ends coach, has been named interim head coach and will lead the Orange against the Demon Deacons to conclude the regular season and try to earn a bowl bid.

“He’s done it before. He was an interim at Rutgers for a longer period of time, so he’s had the experience of that,” Wildhack said. “He’s an experienced coach at the high school level, the assistant level. Obviously, New Jersey is a really important recruiting ground for us. We’ve got a number of verbal commitments from New Jersey, so that factored in as well.”