Syracuse Picks Pasqualoni as Its New Coach

Paul Pasqualoni, Syracuse’s linebacker coach for the past four years, today was named to replace Dick MacPherson as coach of the Orangemen.

Pasqualoni was introduced at a morning news conference at Manley Field House. His appointment comes two days after MacPherson was named coach of the New England Patriots, where he replaced Rod Rust.

Pasqualoni, 41, played at Penn State and was a member of 1971 Cotton Bowl team.

He began his college coaching career as an assistant at Southern Connecticut State in 1976. Six years later, he was named head coach and athletic director at Western Connecticut State. He joined MacPherson’s staff in 1986.

Two Syracuse linebackers, Terry Wooden and David Bavaro, earned All-East honors under Pasqualoni’s tutelage. Both now play in the NFL, Wooden with the Seattle Seahawks and Bavaro with the Phoenix Cardinals.

Pasqualoni said he was told Tuesday morning by Syracuse Athletic Director Jake Crouthamel that the job was his. The new coach admitted to being “a little nervous and still a bit in shock” as he met reporters this morning.

He said he planned to continue MacPherson’s system and style of play.

“I do not plan any changes in style offensively,” he said. “I do not plan any changes in style defensively, or in the overall administration of the program.”

In naming Pasqualoni, Syracuse passed up several long-time MacPherson assistants, some of whom are expected to be hired by New England. Secondary Coach Randy Edsall and offensive coordinator George DeLeone were in the running for the Syracuse job, as were Cornell Coach Jim Hofher and George O’Leary, an assistant at Georgia Tech.

The Boston Globe reported today that Edsall and DeLeone were likely to join MacPherson, as were defensive coordinators Norm Gerber and Ivan Fears.