Shafer Continues to Build Staff

New Coordinators Press Conference | Assistant Coaches

As Syracuse head coach Scott Shafer's staff continues to fall into place, offensive coordinator, George McDonald, and defensive coordinator, Chuck Bullough, were formally introduced this afternoon. McDonald and Bullough join Shafer as well as defensive line coach Tim Daoust and wide receivers coach Rob Moore, as a part of the Syracuse football coaching staff. Check out the press conference video here.

"The number one trait I was looking for was character," Shafer said. "Sometimes it's hard to really investigate that word. You can talk to people you know that have worked with people and sometimes you have to go that route. I feel like I'm extremely pleased and somewhat blessed to have prior work experience with our coordinators."

Shafer and Bullough have experience working together, for the two were on the same staff at Western Michigan in 2005. Bullough comes to Syracuse with an impressive resume that includes coaching stints in both the NFL and at UCLA and Michigan State.

"It's a great opportunity for me to come back and have a guy, like Coach Shafer, that I know," Bullough said. "Sometimes you go to jobs you know the head coach and you don't really now him. Here it's great because I know him. The benefit of that is that I know Coach McDonald, Coach Lester, Coach Lea and Coach Daoust. There are many guys here that I know what they're all about. It's all about the student-athlete and winning football games."

McDonald was also a part of the 2005 Western Michigan coaching staff and also coached with Shafer at Northern Illinois. McDonald comes to Syracuse after serving as the wide receivers coach at the University of Miami in 2011 and in 2012 had additional duties as passing game coordinator. He was also tabbed as one of the top 25 recruiters in the country by Rivals.com in 2012.

"The biggest thing about me is that I've been chasing this dream for a long time," McDonald said. "I'm very excited to be here. This has been my dream to be an offensive coordinator. I met Coach Shafer way back when I was a young coach and every decision that I have made in this coaching profession, I've called Coach Shafer. To get a chance to reach a dream and fulfill it in the future by winning a championship here and doing it with Coach Shafer, someone who gave me my first start and first opportunity to go do it and do it with my vision, I'm very thankful and very blessed."

Along with McDonald and Bullough, quarterback coach Tim Lester, linebacker coach Clark Lea and running backs coach DeAndre Smith were introduced as well. Lester was also on the 2005 Western Michigan coaching staff while Smith and Shafer coached together at Northern Illinois. Lea and Bullough worked together with the same defense at UCLA.

"This whole staff that we have put together thus far carries a great deal of commitment and more importantly, integrity and respect for the game. That's what excited me the most about these guys."

Syracuse fans are invited to reserve football season tickets for the inaugural season in the ACC today by placing a $25 deposit to get first shot at the best available locations. Deposits can be made online (click here) , by phone (888-DOME-TIX), or in-person at the Carrier Dome Box Office.

Syracuse University Athletics

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