SU hires former NFL running back Wheatley to coach backfield
The Syracuse football team hired Tyrone Wheatley as its running backs coach Tuesday, according to a statement issued by SU Athletics. The announcement comes just two days after running backs coach Roger Harriott – who was hired on Jan. 27 of this year – left the team to accept a position elsewhere.
The Inkster, Mich., native brings two years of collegiate coaching experience to the Orange, most recently serving as running backs coach at Eastern Michigan last season.
Wheatley began his collegiate coaching career at Ohio Northern in a coaching internship sponsored by the NFL in 2008. Prior to his one-year stint there, Wheatley spent two years as the head football coach at his alma mater, Hamilton J. Robichaud High School, from 2006 to 2008.
At Eastern Michigan, Wheatley coached the running backs, served as the recruiting coordinator and was responsible for organizing EMU’s high school football camps. He figures to fill a similar role this season for the Orange.
The 17th overall selection in the 1995 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, Wheatley spent 10 years in the NFL with the Giants and Oakland Raiders, compiling 4,962 rushing yards and 47 total touchdowns.
In 2004, after a hamstring injury ended his season with the Raiders, Wheatley called it a career, turning his focus to coaching upon retirement. He later participated in a training camp internship with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2006 and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008.
A three-time All-Big Ten running back at Michigan, Wheatley ranks fourth on the Wolverines’ career rushing yards record list (4,178) and second in career rushing touchdowns (47). He was the 1992 Big Ten Player of the Year and earned the 1994 Rose Bowl and 1994 Hall of Fame Bowl most valuable player awards.
Wheatley will come into a running backs core that returns its top three rushers – Delone Carter, Antwon Bailey and Averin Collier – next season.
Combined, the Orange ranked 87th in the nation in total rushing last year, amassing 1,519 yards and 15 touchdowns.
