FB : Russ resigns to take job at Wake Forest
Steve Russ resigned from his position as Syracuse’s defensive coordinator to take a job at Wake Forest on Friday.
Losing Russ means Syracuse will begin the 2008 season with two new coordinators. Mitch Browning was hired to replace Brian White as offensive coordinator on Dec. 7.
Russ, a 1995 graduate of the Air Force academy, and former Denver Broncos linebacker, was hired by Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson as linebackers coach in 2005. Last season, he was promoted to defensive coordinator.
His new position at Wake Forest is undetermined.
‘We are excited to have Steve Russ join our program here at Wake Forest,’ Demon Deacons head coach Jim Grobe said in a press release. ‘Steve played for me at the Air Force Academy. He was a great player, and he has become an equally fine coach. He is an outstanding person with a wonderful family, and we are blessed to have him joining our staff.’
Russ was a linebacker with the Broncos when Robinson was Denver’s defensive coordinator. Both were a part of the Super Bowl XXXII champion team in 1998. Before coming to Syracuse, Russ was an assistant at Ohio for four years.
‘Steve was dedicated to our program and worked hard to help us build the program to take it in the direction we want to go,’ Robinson said in a statement. ‘This is an opportunity for me to enhance our program toward our needs at this time.’
Syracuse finished 111th in the nation in total defense last season.
There is no word on whether Robinson, who oversaw the defense during his first two years as head coach, will reassume those responsibilities in 2008.
Published on February 10, 2008 at 12:00 pm
