Marrone Names Conley and Jackson to Syracuse Staff

Syracuse head football coach Doug Marrone has added linebacker coach Dan Conley and defensive line coach Derrick Jackson to his staff. A 1995 graduate of Syracuse and an All-American linebacker for the Orange, Conley has worked in college football for 13 seasons, including 2008 as SU’s linebacker coach, and has coached every defensive position during his career. A veteran collegiate coach with more than a decade of experience, Jackson has mentored Syracuse’s defensive line for the past two seasons. He has also coached at Michigan State, Northern Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Army and the University of West Georgia. During the summers of 2001 and 2002, Jackson was an NFL Fellow with the Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“Dan and Derrick bring youth and enthusiasm and a commitment to the program,” Marrone said. “They know the players on this team and will be able to help us in our evaluation process from a standpoint of classroom habits, on-field habits, and the processing of information. They will provide some continuity that will benefit us through this transition.”

Conley, who began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach for the Orange in 1997, has twice been a defensive coordinator, including at Iona College in 2004 and at Canisius College from 2000 through 2002. Prior to joining the Syracuse staff in February 2008, he was an assistant coach at Wagner College for three years as a linebacker coach (2005), secondary coach (2006) and defensive line and special teams coordinator (2007). In 2005, Conley mentored All-NEC selection Craig Romano, and directed the special teams group that ranked 13th nationally in Division I-AA in net punting.

In 2003, Conley was the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at West Virginia Tech. In 1999, Conley coached the linebackers and coordinated the special teams at Southern Connecticut State University.

“Dan has a lot of the same passion and enthusiasm that I have for this great university,” Marrone said. “He also brings a lot of knowledge to the position. I have always felt that when you play linebacker and start coaching linebackers you have a little more insight. You are able to know a little bit more about what you can ask the players to do and what you expect them to do. Dan was a fine football player here. He is well-respected in the community and by the alumni.”

As a collegiate standout for the Orange, Conley was a two-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection and was a candidate for the Butkus Award as a junior and senior. In 1994, Conley played a sixth season for the Orange after the NCAA granted a waiver due to injury and was named ESPN's "Comeback Player of the Year." As a senior, Conley captained the Orange and was also selected as the captain of the 1995 Hula Bowl's North squad. In 1999, Conley was selected to Syracuse's All-Century Team, which honored the 44 best Orange players from the 20th century. A 1995 graduate, Conley earned his bachelor's degree in environmental design.

A native of Long Valley, N.J., Jackson has championship experience as a student-athlete and as a coach. A four-year starter at defensive back, Jackson played for Duke’s 1989 Atlantic Coast Conference co-Championship team. As a coach he has worked with league championship teams at Northern Illinois and the State University of West Georgia.

Jackson, who earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Duke University in 1993 and worked in the private sector for six year, began his coaching career as the tight ends coach at West Georgia in 1999. At Syracuse he has mentored 2008 All-BIG EAST defensive tackle Arthur Jones, who has climbed Syracuse’s career record lists. Jackson also served as SU’s co-defensive coordinator in 2008.

“The first thing that caught my eye with Derrick is how he has gone about the process to become a Division I head coach, through hard work, working his way up the ranks I see a lot of the same career moves in his path as in mine,” Marrone said. “This is a very hard profession to get promoted and work your way up as quickly as Derrick has done. Obviously, you cannot do that if you are not a good football coach.”

Prior to joining the Syracuse staff, Jackson was the defensive line coach for Michigan State in 2006 when the Spartans allowed just eight rushing touchdowns and held four opponents to less than 100 yards rushing. In 2004 and 2005, Jackson mentored the defensive tackles at Northern Illinois, where the 2005 Huskies shared the MAC West Championship and ranked 34th nationally in scoring defense.

In 2003, Jackson was the defensive line coach at Eastern Illinois University. The Panthers run defense ranked 18th nationally in his second season at EIU. Jackson coached second-team All-American defensive tackle Marcus Lorick and Ohio Valley Conference sacks leader Kory Lothe. Prior to going to Eastern Illinois, Jackson coached for the first time at the Division I level as the defensive ends coach for the United States Military Academy. While at West Point, Jackson coached Army’s single-season and career sacks leader Clarence Holmes and first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American Brandon Perdue.

At Jackson began his coaching career at West Georgia and immediately enjoyed success. The 2000 Wolves posted a 10-2 overall record, tied for the Gulf South Conference championship and qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs.

As a player at Duke, Jackson recorded 262 career tackles at safety, which ranked eighth on the Blue Devils’ career record list at the conclusion of his career, and he had six interceptions. A four-year starter, he was twice named Duke’s Most Outstanding Defensive Back (1991 and 1992).

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Marrone Names Conley and Jackson to Syracuse Staff

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