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Syracuse is expected to hire Bowling Green special teams coordinator Alex Bayer to the same position at SU, Zach Barnett of FootballScoop.com reported Wednesday. Bayer will replace Ricky Brumfield, who was fired by Fran Brown on Dec. 1, along with multiple assistant coaches.

Bayer has spent the past three seasons with Bowling Green, hired by former head coach and current Eagles quarterback coach Scot Loeffler in 2022. Bayer started his coaching career at Otterbein University as an offensive graduate assistant from 2016 to 2019. He then moved to Wake Forest, where he was a special teams analyst in 2019 and 2020. The following year, he made the jump to special teams coordinator with Valparaiso.

The 36-year-old is now tasked with helming Syracuse’s special team unit, which actually improved under Brumfield last season. James Vollono was Brown’s first special teams coordinator in 2024, but the unit was a point of weakness. Vollono ended up leaving the program, making way for Brumfield.

This season, Tripp Woody excelled as Syracuse’s kicker, making 12-of-14 kicks and all 22 of his extra points. Punter Jack Stonehouse was arguably SU’s best player, making first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference, before declaring for the NFL Draft.

Despite SU’s special teams improvement, Brown moved on from Brumfield. Bayer will lead the group in 2026, as Syracuse looks to improve on its three-win season.

Published on January 14, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Contact Zak: zakwolf784254@gmail.com | @ZakWolf22