Babers Adds Hart, Reynolds to Coaching Staff

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse native Mike Hart is coming home.

A star at Onondaga Central High School and the University of Michigan's all-time leading rusher, Hart is the new running backs coach at Syracuse University, Orange head football coach Dino Babers announced today.

Hart, who coached the Western Michigan offensive backfield for the past two years, was one of two Broncos assistants named to the Orange staff Wednesday. Babers also appointed former Western Michigan defensive line coach Vinson Reynolds to the same position at Syracuse.

"Mike and Vinson are two coaches that I had the opportunity to watch in the MAC," Babers said. "They've been successful coaching their respective position groups and will be tremendous assets to our staff. I'm especially happy for Mike to have the chance to come back home and reconnect with the Syracuse community."

Mike Hart (Running Backs)
Hart returns to Central New York after five years coaching in the Mid-American Conference. He broke into the profession as a quality control assistant for offense at Eastern Michigan in 2011. He served as the running backs coach at EMU in 2012 and 2013 prior to his two-year stint at Western Michigan.

In two seasons with the Broncos, Hart helped produce a pair of 1,000-yard rushers who both garnered MAC Freshman of the Year honors. With Hart's tutelage, Jamauri Bogan was named the league's top rookie in 2015 after rushing for 1,051 yards and finishing second in the MAC with 16 rushing touchdowns. The previous year, Hart protégé Jarvion Franklin gained 1,551 yards on the ground, the second-highest freshman total in the nation, and set the WMU single-season records for points (150) and rushing touchdowns (24). Franklin was named the MAC Freshman of the Year, MAC Offensive Player of the Year and a USA Today Freshman All-American.

At Eastern Michigan in 2013, Hart oversaw an Eagles rushing attack that racked up 1,896 yards, the 12th-most in team history. Individually, running back Bronson Hill ranked 31st nationally in rushing, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark and earning third-team All-MAC plaudits. In 2012, Hart's first year as a full-time assistant, EMU rushed for 1,960 yards and 13 touchdowns, the third consecutive season the Eagles topped 1,900 yards on the ground.

Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Hart spent three injury-shortened seasons in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts. A sixth-round draft choice in 2008, Hart carried the ball a total of 71 times for 264 yards in his 21-game NFL career. His best season was in 2010 when he gained 185 yards on 43 carries.

Before embarking on his pro career, Hart starred at Michigan from 2004-07 and set the school records for career carries (1,015) and rushing yards (5,040). A four-year starter for the Wolverines, Hart's 41 career touchdowns rank third in U-M history, and he is fourth all-time in the Big Ten in career rushing attempts and fifth in yards.

Hart broke onto the national scene as a freshman in 2004, setting the Michigan freshman rushing record with 1,455 yards on 282 carries and scoring nine touchdowns. It was the second-highest rookie rushing total in Big Ten history and he became just the third true freshman to lead the conference in rushing, joining Ron Dayne (Wisconsin, 1996) and Darrel Thompson (Minnesota, 1986).

A two-time finalist for the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back, Hart finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2006.

Hart graduated from Onondaga Central High School in 2004 after a decorated scholastic career in which he set the national record for career rushing touchdowns (204) and finished second in career rushing yards (11,045). The Tigers were 46–1 and won three state championships with Hart in the backfield.

Hart and his wife, Monique, have two children.

Vinson Reynolds (Defensive Line)
Reynolds joins the Orange after serving as the defensive line coach at Western Michigan from 2013-15. Prior to his three-year stint in Kalamazoo, Reynolds mentored the defensive line at Central Michigan, helping the Chippewas to a victory in the 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

In 2014, Reynolds led a Western Michigan defensive line that recorded 17 of the team's 29 sacks. The unit was part of a Broncos defense that finished third in the Mid-American Conference in points allowed per game. Reynolds also made his mark as a recruiter that season, as Rivals.com named him to its list of the top 10 recruiters from non-Big Six schools.

Before heading to Central Michigan, Reynolds was the defensive line coach at Central Oklahoma in 2010. He also previously worked as a graduate assistant and defensive quality control coach at Oklahoma State (2008-09) for head coach Mike Gundy. Oklahoma State made appearances in the 2008 Holiday Bowl and 2009 Cotton Bowl while Reynolds was on the staff.

Reynolds began his coaching career in 2006 as the defensive line coach at Division III University of Wisconsin-Platteville. While with the Pioneers, he mentored two All-WIAC selections (Chris Booze, Robert Key).

A Detroit, Mich. native, Reynolds played his college football at Northern Illinois from from 2000-03. He was named an All-MAC First Team selection at defensive end as a senior in 2003 after totaling 76 tackles, including 15.0 for a loss, and 6.0 sacks.

Reynolds earned his master's degree in adult education from Wisconsin-Platteville in 2007. He and his wife, Cynthia, have two sons – Eric and Josiah.

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