In a significant shake-up of his coaching staff, Syracuse head coach Fran Brown announced the firing of first-year wide receivers coach and passing-game coordinator Myles White on Monday. This decision comes as the team heads into the final month of the season, with three games remaining. Brown appointed Josh Gattis, previously a quality control coach and the recipient of the Broyles Award in 2021, to lead the wide receivers.
Brown emphasized that the staff changes are intended to evaluate different coaching approaches and their impact on team performance. Alongside Gattis’s promotion, Brown reassigned two other coaches: Nunzio Campanile will transition from quarterbacks coach to tight ends coach, while Michael Johnson Sr. will take over the quarterbacks.
The adjustments aim to optimize the team’s performance in the closing weeks of the season. “We have a lot of experience on this staff when it comes to their expertise and coaching more than just one position,” Brown stated. He expressed confidence that these changes would allow the coaching staff to gauge their effectiveness rather than waiting until the end of the season to assess what might work.
Josh Gattis brings a fresh coaching style that Brown believes will particularly benefit Syracuse’s freshman receivers. Gattis spent the offseason collaborating with White, Campanile, and working closely with two-way freshman Demetres Samuel Jr., which Brown believes has prepared him for the role. “I think [Gattis] has a lot of knowledge when it comes to the game of football,” Brown noted, highlighting Gattis’s intelligence and strong personality.
In his remarks, Brown also indicated a shift in focus regarding the academic performance of the position group, suggesting that academic success often correlates with on-field performance. “That’s the thing that I need to make sure is right,” he explained, suggesting that Gattis’s approach could foster this improvement.
The coaching changes come after the team’s disappointing performance against North Carolina, where they managed only 39 passing yards and have not scored more than 20 points in a game since the injury to starting quarterback Steve Angeli. Brown indicated that the coaching staff would be key to reviving the offensive strategy as they prepare for their next game against No. 18 Miami.
While reflecting on the coaching changes, Brown likened the situation to a boxing match, where different styles can yield different results. He acknowledged that the decision to make these changes might not have occurred if Angeli had not suffered a torn Achilles tendon, but he now believes Johnson’s coaching style will be more compatible with the quarterbacks Joe Filardi and Rickie Collins.
Johnson, who has experience coaching quarterbacks at teams including the San Diego Chargers and Atlanta Falcons, is now tasked with revitalizing the passing game. Campanile, returning to the tight ends group, previously coached this position at Rutgers before taking on the role at Syracuse last season.
As preparations continue for the upcoming game, Brown stated that the team’s starter at quarterback will be determined by this week’s practices. He remains optimistic about the changes, asserting, “We feel that this will give us the best opportunity of going out to be able to compete and win a football game.”
With the clock ticking on the regular season, Syracuse is looking for any edge they can find to improve their performance and finish strong.
