Syracuse TEs coach Nunzio Campanile reportedly leaves for UConn OC position
Syracuse tight ends coach Nunzio Campanile has departed SU to take the UConn offensive coordinator role, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Friday. Ryan Jermyn | Daily Orange File Photo
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Syracuse tight ends coach Nunzio Campanile has departed SU to take the UConn offensive coordinator role, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Friday. Campanile helped coach quarterbacks Kyle McCord and Steve Angeli before a switch to tight ends.
A New Jersey native, Campanile was a key piece to Syracuse’s offensive staff in recent years. His role as part of a historic Garden State football family increased his status through roles at the prestigious Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco Prep. Campanile coached at Rutgers from 2018-22, serving as an interim head coach in 2019 for the final eight games.
Future SU head coach Fran Brown joined the staff from 2020-21, and the two worked together until Brown left for Georgia in 2022 and Campanile for Syracuse in 2023. Campanile coached SU’s tight ends, including a Dan Villari breakout, before head coach Dino Babers was fired. Campanile then served as the interim head coach for the regular-season finale, a win over Wake Forest to clinch a Bowl appearance.
When Brown took over the Orange, Campanile slotted into the quarterbacks coach role. He helped SU acquire and develop McCord into the nation’s leading passer. The next year, he leveraged his relationships through New Jersey high school football to recruit Angeli, who played for his brother, Vito, at Bergen Catholic. Angeli developed into a star until tearing his Achilles.
Syracuse’s offense fell apart with Rickie Collins and other options, and Brown shuffled his offensive staff. Campanile moved to tight ends, while Michael Johnson Sr. went to the quarterback room.
Campanile was an exceptional recruiter for the Orange in his home state, leading the charge alongside Brown. In moving to UConn, he’ll join Jason Candle’s new staff and serve as a full-time college offensive coordinator for the first time. This is the second offseason move on the offensive side of the ball, joining the firing of Dale Williams on the offensive line and the hiring of Juan Castillo.
