Syracuse football head coach Doug Marrone announced Monday that offensive coordinator Rob Spence, wide receivers coach Jaime Elizondo and defensive line coach Derrick Jackson will not return to the program next season. The announcement came just two days after the Orange’s final game, a 56-31 loss at Connecticut that dropped the team to 4-8 on the year.

Spence was in his first year as offensive coordinator after spending the previous four seasons at Clemson. Under Spence’s tutelage, quarterback Greg Paulus set the single-season school record for completions and completion percentage, but his offense struggled without former wide receiver Mike Williams, who suddenly quit the team in early November.

Syracuse scored 3.1 more points per game this season under Spence, but the overall offense is ranked No. 97 out of 120 Division I teams. SU will now search for its sixth offensive coordinator in the past seven seasons.

Elizondo completed his first season with the Orange after coming from the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Besides Williams, the group struggled to make plays. In the team’s four games after the Williams departure, the wide receivers caught just two touchdowns, both coming in the season finale against Connecticut by Alec Lemon and Lavar Lobdell.

Jackson’s departure comes after what seemed like a successful defensive season. He has been the defensive line coach since 2007, even surviving the departure of former head coach Greg Robinson. He also served as co-defensive coordinator in 2008.

Despite being gashed by Connecticut for 204 rushing yards Saturday, SU’s rushing defense is ranked 14th in the country – a strong statement to the play of the defensive line. Jackson also oversaw the development of Art Jones into a projected first-day NFL Draft pick.

mrehalt@syr.edu

Published on November 30, 2009 at 12:00 pm