Head coach Doug Marrone added Steve Morrison and Donnie Henderson to the Orange coaching staff.
Photo by: Charles Wainwright
Marrone Adds Defensive Assistants
2/8/2012 8:22:52 AM | Football
Two coaches with extensive experience have joined head coach Doug Marrone's staff. Steve Morrison, who has coached at the collegiate level for 10 years, and Donnie Henderson, who has worked NFL sidelines for 10 years and in the college ranks for 17, will work with the Syracuse defense, mentoring the linebacker and defensive backs, respectively. Defensive coordinator Scott Shafer will run the defense and assistant coach Tim Daoust will mentor the Orange defensive line.
“We are excited to have Steve and Donnie join the staff,” Marrone said. “I look forward to working with Donnie again after having been on the staff with him with the New York Jets and to having Steve be reunited with Scott Shafer and Tim Daoust from their time at Western Michigan. They bring a great deal of experience to our program.”
Morrison is familiar with several members of the Orange coaching staff, including defensive coordinator Scott Shafer and defensive line coach Tim Daoust. Shafer was the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan during Morrison's first two seasons with the Broncos, while Daoust worked with Morrison on the defensive coaching staff from 2006 through 2009.
Marrone and Henderson worked together with the New York Jets from 2004 to 2005, when Marrone mentored the offensive line and Henderson was the defensive coordinator.
Morrison's Football Roots Developed in Standout Playing Career
Morrison coached the linebackers at Eastern Michigan University in 2010 and 2011, where he mentored third-team all-conference linebacker Justin Cudworth, who led the team in tackles with 83, on a defense that ranked 34th nationally in total defense and averaged nearly six tackles for loss per outing in 2011.
At Western Michigan, Morrison served as the defensive line coach in 2005 and was the linebackers coach in 2006 and 2007, before becoming the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2008-09. The 2006 and 2008 Broncos qualified for post-season bowl games, playing in the International Bowl after the 2006 season and the Texas Bowl at the completion of the 2008 campaign. In 2006, the WMU defense ranked 11th nationally and its rush defense was sixth in the country.
Morrison previously coached at the University of Michigan, spending two seasons as the graduate assistant in charge of outside linebackers (2003-04) and a year in quality control for defense (2002). He also served two seasons (2000-01) as defensive coordinator at Brother Rice High School, helping the Warriors to a state title in 2000.
The Birmingham, Mich., native graduated from the University of Michigan in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in sport management and communications after turning in a stellar five-year football career for the Wolverines after receiving a medical hardship for his freshman year. He was a first-team All-Big Ten performer and co-captain in 1994. He ranks 10th on the Michigan career tackles record list.
Morrison went on to play four seasons in the National Football League with the Indianapolis Colts (1995-98)., where he started 31 games over four seasons for the Colts and was on the team that played in the 1995 AFC Championship Game. Morrison and his wife, Mary, who was a first-team All-BIG 10 softball student-athlete at Michigan, have three sons, Alexander , Marco and Roman.
Henderson Brings NFL and College Experience to the Orange
Henderson joins the Syracuse staff with 28 years of coaching experience, including 10 in the National Football League and 17 in the collegiate ranks. He returned to college football as the secondary coach at Southern University in 2011 after having worked for six NFL teams. At Southern, Henderson guided the Jaguars defensive backfield that ranked 29th nationally in pass defense.
His professional football coaching career includes stints at Arizona, Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Detroit, New York and Baltimore, in addition to one season with the California Redwoods of the UFL in 2009.
In 2010, Henderson mentored the Arizona Cardinals defensive backs. He was the defensive backs coach with Jacksonville in 2008 after working as a consultant to Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis in 2007. He previously worked as the defensive coordinator for Detroit in 2006 as he helped the Lions defense rank 10th in the NFL with 30 takeaways.
In 2004, Henderson was the coordinator for the Jets defense that improved to seventh, from 21st, in the NFL in total defense and rookie linebacker Jonathan Vilma was named the 2004 AP Defensive Rookie of the Season. In 2005, the Jets finished second in the NFL in total passing yards allowed (172.2 avg.) and finished fifth with 21 interceptions.
Henderson began his NFL coaching career with Baltimore in 1999 as the assistant defensive backs coach and was promoted to coach defensive backs in 2000. During Henderson's tenure with the Ravens from 1999-2003, Baltimore ranked second in the NFL with 88 interceptions and he tutored a secondary that included Pro Bowlers in safeties Rod Woodson, who is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Ed Reed, and cornerback Chris McAlister.
In 2000, Baltimore set defensive records for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season (165), fewest rushing yards allowed (970) while also setting franchise records with 23 interceptions and leading the NFL with 49 takeaways. The Ravens secondary was responsible for 12 interceptions, six forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
Prior to joining the Ravens in 1999, Henderson was an assistant for 16 years at the collegiate level. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater Utah State (1983-85), where he also coached linebackers for three seasons (1986-1988) before coaching defensive backs and serving as recruiting coordinator at the University of Idaho in 1989. He then spent two seasons at California (1990-91) as linebackers coach before joining the Arizona State staff where he coached safeties (1992-94) and defensive backs (1995-97). He spent the 1998 season as the defensive backs and assistant head coach at the University of Houston prior to joining the NFL.
A native of Baltimore, Md., Henderson attended Locke High School (Los Angeles, Calif.). He played two seasons at Santa Monica Junior College before transferring to Utah State where he earned first-team Big West Conference honors as a senior cornerback in 1979. He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 10th round (251st overall) of the 1980 NFL Draft.
“We are excited to have Steve and Donnie join the staff,” Marrone said. “I look forward to working with Donnie again after having been on the staff with him with the New York Jets and to having Steve be reunited with Scott Shafer and Tim Daoust from their time at Western Michigan. They bring a great deal of experience to our program.”
Morrison is familiar with several members of the Orange coaching staff, including defensive coordinator Scott Shafer and defensive line coach Tim Daoust. Shafer was the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan during Morrison's first two seasons with the Broncos, while Daoust worked with Morrison on the defensive coaching staff from 2006 through 2009.
Marrone and Henderson worked together with the New York Jets from 2004 to 2005, when Marrone mentored the offensive line and Henderson was the defensive coordinator.
Morrison's Football Roots Developed in Standout Playing Career
Morrison coached the linebackers at Eastern Michigan University in 2010 and 2011, where he mentored third-team all-conference linebacker Justin Cudworth, who led the team in tackles with 83, on a defense that ranked 34th nationally in total defense and averaged nearly six tackles for loss per outing in 2011.
At Western Michigan, Morrison served as the defensive line coach in 2005 and was the linebackers coach in 2006 and 2007, before becoming the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2008-09. The 2006 and 2008 Broncos qualified for post-season bowl games, playing in the International Bowl after the 2006 season and the Texas Bowl at the completion of the 2008 campaign. In 2006, the WMU defense ranked 11th nationally and its rush defense was sixth in the country.
Morrison previously coached at the University of Michigan, spending two seasons as the graduate assistant in charge of outside linebackers (2003-04) and a year in quality control for defense (2002). He also served two seasons (2000-01) as defensive coordinator at Brother Rice High School, helping the Warriors to a state title in 2000.
The Birmingham, Mich., native graduated from the University of Michigan in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in sport management and communications after turning in a stellar five-year football career for the Wolverines after receiving a medical hardship for his freshman year. He was a first-team All-Big Ten performer and co-captain in 1994. He ranks 10th on the Michigan career tackles record list.
Morrison went on to play four seasons in the National Football League with the Indianapolis Colts (1995-98)., where he started 31 games over four seasons for the Colts and was on the team that played in the 1995 AFC Championship Game. Morrison and his wife, Mary, who was a first-team All-BIG 10 softball student-athlete at Michigan, have three sons, Alexander , Marco and Roman.
Henderson Brings NFL and College Experience to the Orange
Henderson joins the Syracuse staff with 28 years of coaching experience, including 10 in the National Football League and 17 in the collegiate ranks. He returned to college football as the secondary coach at Southern University in 2011 after having worked for six NFL teams. At Southern, Henderson guided the Jaguars defensive backfield that ranked 29th nationally in pass defense.
His professional football coaching career includes stints at Arizona, Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Detroit, New York and Baltimore, in addition to one season with the California Redwoods of the UFL in 2009.
In 2010, Henderson mentored the Arizona Cardinals defensive backs. He was the defensive backs coach with Jacksonville in 2008 after working as a consultant to Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis in 2007. He previously worked as the defensive coordinator for Detroit in 2006 as he helped the Lions defense rank 10th in the NFL with 30 takeaways.
In 2004, Henderson was the coordinator for the Jets defense that improved to seventh, from 21st, in the NFL in total defense and rookie linebacker Jonathan Vilma was named the 2004 AP Defensive Rookie of the Season. In 2005, the Jets finished second in the NFL in total passing yards allowed (172.2 avg.) and finished fifth with 21 interceptions.
Henderson began his NFL coaching career with Baltimore in 1999 as the assistant defensive backs coach and was promoted to coach defensive backs in 2000. During Henderson's tenure with the Ravens from 1999-2003, Baltimore ranked second in the NFL with 88 interceptions and he tutored a secondary that included Pro Bowlers in safeties Rod Woodson, who is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Ed Reed, and cornerback Chris McAlister.
In 2000, Baltimore set defensive records for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season (165), fewest rushing yards allowed (970) while also setting franchise records with 23 interceptions and leading the NFL with 49 takeaways. The Ravens secondary was responsible for 12 interceptions, six forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
Prior to joining the Ravens in 1999, Henderson was an assistant for 16 years at the collegiate level. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater Utah State (1983-85), where he also coached linebackers for three seasons (1986-1988) before coaching defensive backs and serving as recruiting coordinator at the University of Idaho in 1989. He then spent two seasons at California (1990-91) as linebackers coach before joining the Arizona State staff where he coached safeties (1992-94) and defensive backs (1995-97). He spent the 1998 season as the defensive backs and assistant head coach at the University of Houston prior to joining the NFL.
A native of Baltimore, Md., Henderson attended Locke High School (Los Angeles, Calif.). He played two seasons at Santa Monica Junior College before transferring to Utah State where he earned first-team Big West Conference honors as a senior cornerback in 1979. He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 10th round (251st overall) of the 1980 NFL Draft.
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