Syracuse announces multiple additions to coaching staff
Syracuse football announced multiple additions to its coaching staff Friday. Leonardo Eriman | Senior Staff Photographer
Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.
Syracuse football has added multiple coaches to its staff, the program announced Friday. Of note is running backs coach Dennis Thomas and nickels coach Marcus Walker. Nine other coaches were hired in roles varying from Director of Player Operations, offensive analysts and recruiting assistants.
Thomas joined Syracuse in 2023 as its Director of High School relations, before being elevated to a quality control coach the following year. He stayed in that role until now, where he’ll coach SU’s running backs. Before coming to Syracuse, Thomas was the head coach at Millville High School (New Jersey) for seven seasons, where he coached former SU running back LeQuint Allen Jr.
Now Thomas will coach Syracuse’s new crop of running backs. The position was overhauled this offseason, with Yasin Willis — the Orange’s leading rusher in 2025 — transferring to Kansas. Will Nixon declared for the NFL Draft, while Malachi James transferred to Eastern Michigan. Syracuse brought in transfers Ahmad Miller (Jackson State) and Ju’Juan Johnson (LSU) to solve its questions at the position.
Meanwhile, Walker has over a decade of coaching experience. Over the past three seasons, he occupied the same role at Towson, where multiple players earned All-Coastal Athletic Association honors. Before that, Walker coached at McNeese State, Henderson State and Oklahoma. As a player, Walker was a two-time All-Big 12 cornerback with the Sooners, before playing professionally with the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings.
Other coaching additions from Syracuse include Stack Williams as the Director of Player Development, along with Andre Keats as a special assistant to Fran Brown. Alessandro Castillo will be SU’s assistant strength and conditioning coach, while Daniel Bolden will be a Defensive Analyst that works with linebackers and Ryan Krum will be an Offensive Analyst that works with offensive linemen.
More analysts include Charlie Brewer on the offensive side, who will be paired with Syracuse’s quarterbacks. Chris Mull was added for assistance on the defensive line. The last two hires were Trent Sherman as a recruiting analyst and Bruce Eugene as a scouting assistant.
