Vollono Hired as Special Teams Coordinator
2/9/2024 4:15:00 PM | Football
James Vollono is joining Syracuse's football staff as the Special Teams Coordinator, bringing 20 years of coaching experience to the Orange staff.
Vollono most recently served as Troy's special teams analyst, but also has stops at Georgia, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Colorado, Navy, FIU, Towson and the CFL's Edmonton Elks.
"I'm grateful to Coach Fran Brown for an opportunity to join such a prestigious and storied program as Syracuse," Vollono said. "I look forward to championing his vision for the program of being Detailed, Accountable, Relentless and Tough. My family and I are excited to get involved and join the Syracuse community. I'd like to thank Dr. Hawkins and Jon Sumrall for an opportunity to be part of the Troy University football program. Being a part of back-to-back Sun Belt Championships as well as the time we spent in the Troy community will always be special to my family!"
The Trojans had strong special teams play under Vollono's guidance the past three seasons, while he helped build the program into a consistent winner. Troy went 23-5 over his two seasons there, won back-to-back Sun Belt Championships and had appearances in the Cure Bowl (2022) and Birmingham Bowl (2023). The Trojans finished the 2022 season ranked in a major poll for the first time in school history, checking in at No. 19 (AP), No. 20 (USA Today/Coaches) and No. 22 (College Football Playoff) in each outlet's final ranking.
"Coach Vollono has character, charisma and a passion for winning" said head coach Fran Brown. "He loves special teams and talked about it being the bridge between offense and defense. There will be no one better than him at pulling us together completely. He's really good at recruiting and building relationships. Beyond being great on special teams, he's a great person all around and at everything it takes to be a coach. Building a young man academically, athletically and being able to inspire and equip."
This past season, kicker Scott Taylor Renfore made 19-of-24 field goal attempts, the second-most makes in program history. Punter Robert Cole turned in the ninth-best season in school history, averaging 42.27 yards per punt.
In his first season at Troy, kicker Brooks Buce made 17-of-19 field goal attempts, setting the school's single-season field goal percentage record. Buce was a perfect 4-of-4 on kicks longer than 40 yards. Punter Mike Rivers averaged 42.1 yards per punt that same year, which is the 10th-best mark in school history.
His coverage and return units were also strong in his time in Troy. In 2023, his punt unit ranked 36th nationally in punt return defense, surrendering just 5.64 yards per return. The year prior, Troy allowed just one punt return of more than 20 yards (23), and the kickoff team tied for eighth nationally in allowing just one kickoff return of more than 30 yards (36).
Prior to his stint at Troy, Vollono served as the running backs coach for Edmonton in 2021, where James Wilder ranked third in the league in rushing (770 yards) and the Elks had two of the CFL's top-14 rushers.
He spent the 2018-2020 seasons on Florida International's staff as the Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach. While with the Panthers, return man Maurice Alexander was a First Team All-Conference USA selection and punter Stone Wilson earned second-team honors. FIU had multiple special teams players earn all-conference honors in two of his three seasons there.
Vollono coached at Georgia in 2016 as a special teams analyst. Prior to that, he spent three years at Mississippi State. From 2013-14, he was the quality control assistant for special teams, before adding offense to his duties, in addition to his special teams work, in 2015. During his time in Starkville, the Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history. The Mississippi State kickoff unit led the SEC in kickoff return defense in both 2014 and 2015 and Vollono's teams set the program record with four blocked kicks in 2014 – a mark they tied in 2015.
Vollono coached back-to-back Lou Groza Award winners in his career. He worked with Rodrigo Blankenship, who claimed the honor with the Bulldogs in 2019 and Jose Borregales won it in 2020 with Miami after his tenure at FIU.
He spent the 2012 season at Colorado as a special teams assistant, after spending three seasons at Towson. He was the Tigers' Special Teams Coordinator and also worked with running backs and tight ends. While in Baltimore, his 2011 squad won the Colonial Athletic Association Championship and reached the second round of the FCS playoffs. He served as the lead recruiter for running back Terrance West, who'd go on from Towson to spend five seasons in the NFL. West won the Jerry Rice Award, which honors the FCS freshman of the year and would later set the FCS single-season rushing record.
Vollono spent the 2007-08 seasons at North Carolina as the Tar Heels' special teams quality control coach and offensive assistant, where he worked with kicker Connor Barth before his 10-year NFL career.
He began his career at the United States Naval Academy (2003) and later held positions at Annapolis High School (Offensive Coordinator, 2005) and Georgetown (Special Teams Assistant/Defensive Quality Control, 2006). He graduated from The Catholic University of America in 2003.
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Vollono most recently served as Troy's special teams analyst, but also has stops at Georgia, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Colorado, Navy, FIU, Towson and the CFL's Edmonton Elks.
"I'm grateful to Coach Fran Brown for an opportunity to join such a prestigious and storied program as Syracuse," Vollono said. "I look forward to championing his vision for the program of being Detailed, Accountable, Relentless and Tough. My family and I are excited to get involved and join the Syracuse community. I'd like to thank Dr. Hawkins and Jon Sumrall for an opportunity to be part of the Troy University football program. Being a part of back-to-back Sun Belt Championships as well as the time we spent in the Troy community will always be special to my family!"
The Trojans had strong special teams play under Vollono's guidance the past three seasons, while he helped build the program into a consistent winner. Troy went 23-5 over his two seasons there, won back-to-back Sun Belt Championships and had appearances in the Cure Bowl (2022) and Birmingham Bowl (2023). The Trojans finished the 2022 season ranked in a major poll for the first time in school history, checking in at No. 19 (AP), No. 20 (USA Today/Coaches) and No. 22 (College Football Playoff) in each outlet's final ranking.
"Coach Vollono has character, charisma and a passion for winning" said head coach Fran Brown. "He loves special teams and talked about it being the bridge between offense and defense. There will be no one better than him at pulling us together completely. He's really good at recruiting and building relationships. Beyond being great on special teams, he's a great person all around and at everything it takes to be a coach. Building a young man academically, athletically and being able to inspire and equip."
This past season, kicker Scott Taylor Renfore made 19-of-24 field goal attempts, the second-most makes in program history. Punter Robert Cole turned in the ninth-best season in school history, averaging 42.27 yards per punt.
In his first season at Troy, kicker Brooks Buce made 17-of-19 field goal attempts, setting the school's single-season field goal percentage record. Buce was a perfect 4-of-4 on kicks longer than 40 yards. Punter Mike Rivers averaged 42.1 yards per punt that same year, which is the 10th-best mark in school history.
His coverage and return units were also strong in his time in Troy. In 2023, his punt unit ranked 36th nationally in punt return defense, surrendering just 5.64 yards per return. The year prior, Troy allowed just one punt return of more than 20 yards (23), and the kickoff team tied for eighth nationally in allowing just one kickoff return of more than 30 yards (36).
Prior to his stint at Troy, Vollono served as the running backs coach for Edmonton in 2021, where James Wilder ranked third in the league in rushing (770 yards) and the Elks had two of the CFL's top-14 rushers.
He spent the 2018-2020 seasons on Florida International's staff as the Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach. While with the Panthers, return man Maurice Alexander was a First Team All-Conference USA selection and punter Stone Wilson earned second-team honors. FIU had multiple special teams players earn all-conference honors in two of his three seasons there.
Vollono coached at Georgia in 2016 as a special teams analyst. Prior to that, he spent three years at Mississippi State. From 2013-14, he was the quality control assistant for special teams, before adding offense to his duties, in addition to his special teams work, in 2015. During his time in Starkville, the Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history. The Mississippi State kickoff unit led the SEC in kickoff return defense in both 2014 and 2015 and Vollono's teams set the program record with four blocked kicks in 2014 – a mark they tied in 2015.
Vollono coached back-to-back Lou Groza Award winners in his career. He worked with Rodrigo Blankenship, who claimed the honor with the Bulldogs in 2019 and Jose Borregales won it in 2020 with Miami after his tenure at FIU.
He spent the 2012 season at Colorado as a special teams assistant, after spending three seasons at Towson. He was the Tigers' Special Teams Coordinator and also worked with running backs and tight ends. While in Baltimore, his 2011 squad won the Colonial Athletic Association Championship and reached the second round of the FCS playoffs. He served as the lead recruiter for running back Terrance West, who'd go on from Towson to spend five seasons in the NFL. West won the Jerry Rice Award, which honors the FCS freshman of the year and would later set the FCS single-season rushing record.
Vollono spent the 2007-08 seasons at North Carolina as the Tar Heels' special teams quality control coach and offensive assistant, where he worked with kicker Connor Barth before his 10-year NFL career.
He began his career at the United States Naval Academy (2003) and later held positions at Annapolis High School (Offensive Coordinator, 2005) and Georgetown (Special Teams Assistant/Defensive Quality Control, 2006). He graduated from The Catholic University of America in 2003.
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