Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Syracuse football team will hire former Rutgers coach Nunzio Campanile to coach tight ends next season, according to a report by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Thamel cited anonymous sources.
Campanile will take over a position group coached by offensive coordinator Robert Anae last season. While Oronde Gadsden II was listed as a tight end, he functioned as more of a wide receiver. The Orange has struggled to recruit and get production out of traditional tight ends in recent years.
Campanile had coached at Rutgers since 2018. He initially joined head coach Chris Ash’ staff coaching running backs before moving over to tight ends under Greg Schiano.
He has done two stints as in interim offensive coordinator with Rutgers after the previous offensive coordinator was fired, including last season. In 2019, he served as both the interim offensive coordinator and head coach.
Campanile announced two weeks ago that he wouldn’t be returning to Rutgers. The decision came shortly after the school hired former Minnesota offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca as its new offensive coordinator.
The Campanile family is among the most well-known football families in New Jersey, earning the title of The First Family of New Jersey football in a profile done in The New York Times. Before joining the college ranks, Nunzio was the head coach at Bergen Catholic, a New Jersey power.
Nunzio’s father, Mike, coached at Paramus Catholic. All four of his sons went on to become football coaches. One of Nunzio’s brothers, Anthony, coaches the Miami Dolphins. The two others are high school coaches in New Jersey.
When Syracuse has been at its best, the football program has had a strong recruiting presence in New Jersey.
The hire leaves Syracuse with one anticipated opening on its coaching staff after head coach Dino Babers lost half his assistant coaches following last year’s bowl game appearance. Cornerbacks coach Chip West is reportedly a target of Wake Forest.
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