Syracuse tabs Shafer as Marrone's replacement

Syracuse, NY – Scott Shafer was named the new head coach at Syracuse on Wednesday.

Shafer, the Orange's defensive coordinator for the past four years, replaces Doug Marrone, who left to take the coaching vacancy with the NFL's Buffalo Bills.

"I look forward to representing the hard-nosed city of Syracuse and the great state of New York as the head coach of Syracuse University," Shafer said. "We will go to work every day to put a quality product on the field as we storm our way into the Atlantic Coast Conference. We are very motivated to start preparing for the 2013 campaign with our current team and incoming student- athletes."

During his four-year tenure as coordinator, Shafer's defenses have ranked among the nation's best in various categories. In 2010, he earned a nomination for the Broyles Award as the FBS' top assistant coach after his unit was No. 7 in the country.

Shafer was also a collegiate assistant at Michigan (2008), Stanford (2007), Western Michigan (2005-06), Illinois (2004), Northern Illinois (1996-2003) and Rhode Island (1993-95).

Marrone was 25-25 and led Syracuse to a pair of Pinstripe Bowl wins in four years at his alma mater, turning around a program that had just 10 wins the previous four seasons.