James Vollono (ST coordinator)

[TexanMark]

Special teams was scary today.

Hate that every week we have a concern

Here’s to the Stanford game and hoping we put it all together

We play 7 games a season in the most controlled environment in college football. We usually don't have more than 1 or 2 weather games a season. We should have Top 25 worthy special teams every season.

We better see improvement by Stanford.

 

[TexanMark]

I'm pretty sure Denaburg wasn't ordered to kick the ball out of bounds.

He just whiffed.

All of his kickoffs reached the endzone except for one which landed short, and the out of bounds one.

I agree...he lost focus.

Brought back bad memories of past seasons.

 

[David321]

What's the difference between a coordinator and coach? If memory serves Vollano was brought in as ST coach and not coordinator.

 

[TexanMark]

One of my coworkers was a specialist under Vollono as a prior stop. When we hired him a few months ago we were talking about SU football and he mentioned it, and kinda gave me that "yikes" face without any additional context. Didn't love that reaction and now I know why...

That being said if we did move on after this season, there is a VERY capable SU alum coaching special teams in the Ivy League.

You mind sharing the name and school?

 

[TexanMark]

What's the difference between a coordinator and coach? If memory serves Vollano was brought in as ST coach and not coordinator.

I think coordinator would be considered an equal pillar to OC and DC.

A ST coach would be similar to a position coach.

I could be off base though

 

[OrangeXtreme]

What's the difference between a coordinator and coach? If memory serves Vollano was brought in as ST coach and not coordinator.

James Vollono is joining Syracuse's football staff as the Special Teams Coordinator, bringing 20 years of coaching experience to the Orange staff.

James Vollono - Football Coach - Syracuse University Athletics

James Vollono is joining Syracuse's football staff as the Special Teams Coordinator, bringing 20 years of coaching experience to the Orange staff. Vollono mo...

cuse.com

I think a coordinator gets more $$$.

 

[SmilinBob]

I'm pretty sure Denaburg wasn't ordered to kick the ball out of bounds.

He just whiffed.

All of his kickoffs reached the endzone except for one which landed short, and the out of bounds one.

Very true OX but it still happened as a special break down/mistake. Even if a guy doesn't fumble and does it's considered a turnover.

 

[ECE '76]

He is the Sterlin Gilbert of STs coaches.

It's was only a matter of time before someone brought this up here...

I can only remember 2 years that SU had truly bad special teams - the year Dino thought he could get by without a ST coordinator, and 2024. And this year was the worst!

If Fran has aspirations of making the CFP, we need top ST's. Sorry, but Vollono was given many chances, and he isn't the answer.

I know Fran doesn't want to fire anyone, so maybe he can be moved to some kind of analyst/helper role. He certainly shouldn't have anything to do w/ STs!

Brady Denaburg wasn't the cause screwing up on-sides kicks or punts getting blocked. With some good coaching, Denaburg should have been able to improve his FG accuracy. But he seriously regressed.

What went right under Vollono? Because I'm not seeing anything. We had the worst ST in the ACC, maybe in all of D1.

Just about everyone in coaching gets fired at some point. dArt => Accountability.

 

[FrancoPizza]

He is the Sterlin Gilbert of STs coaches.

It's was only a matter of time before someone brought this up here...

I can only remember 2 years that SU had truly bad special teams - the year Dino thought he could get by without a ST coordinator, and 2024. And this year was the worst!

If Fran has aspirations of making the CFP, we need top ST's. Sorry, but Vollono was given many chances, and he isn't the answer.

I know Fran doesn't want to fire anyone, so maybe he can be moved to some kind of analyst/helper role. He certainly shouldn't have anything to do w/ STs!

Brady Denaburg wasn't the cause screwing up on-sides kicks or punts getting blocked. With some good coaching, Denaburg should have been able to improve his FG accuracy. But he seriously regressed.

What went right under Vollono? Because I'm not seeing anything. We had the worst ST in the ACC, maybe in all of D1.

Just about everyone in coaching gets fired at some point. dArt => Accountability.

Fran needs to make a business decision here. Keep emotions out of it.

 

[OrangeTarheel]

How many blocked punts was that this year - 3? Georgia Tech, UNLV (?) and Washington State. Am I missing one?

 

[FrancoPizza]

How many blocked punts was that this year - 3? Georgia Tech, UNLV (?) and Washington State. Am I missing one?

I think Ohio too

 

[kcsu]

He is the Sterlin Gilbert of STs coaches.

It's was only a matter of time before someone brought this up here...

I can only remember 2 years that SU had truly bad special teams - the year Dino thought he could get by without a ST coordinator, and 2024. And this year was the worst!

If Fran has aspirations of making the CFP, we need top ST's. Sorry, but Vollono was given many chances, and he isn't the answer.

I know Fran doesn't want to fire anyone, so maybe he can be moved to some kind of analyst/helper role. He certainly shouldn't have anything to do w/ STs!

Brady Denaburg wasn't the cause screwing up on-sides kicks or punts getting blocked. With some good coaching, Denaburg should have been able to improve his FG accuracy. But he seriously regressed.

What went right under Vollono? Because I'm not seeing anything. We had the worst ST in the ACC, maybe in all of D1.

Just about everyone in coaching gets fired at some point. dArt => Accountability.

Mcfuk

 

[djorange1989]

He needs to be replaced, STs seemed to improve somewhat as the season wore on but lo and behold, another blocked punt against a team that barely had enough staff members to even create a gameplan let alone focus at all on special teams

 

[cusefan88]

I'm sure Vollono won't be retained. It was also the only position where Fran didn't really have someone in mind and/or recommendation.

I bet he'll ask Kirby/Rhule for leads potentially.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I mean... I believe usually assistants are only on 1 year contracts.

Vollono doesn't need to be fired, per se.

The AD may simply not renew his contract.

This is a graceful way to make a change.

 

[JRHEETER]

He gone

 

[Entropic]

He gone

Feeling or knowing? Are you aware that he has a family and therefore must be retained in perpetuity?

I jest, I think ultimately what Fran was saying is lets not openly chat about the guy needing to lose his livelihood and put his family in fear in the meantime. But that is what you sign up for when you pursue high exposure jobs like a coach at a major school.

 

[richmondcuse03]

Fran was livid with the two point call to open the game.

I think stonehouse also wanted to fire vollano after the blocked punt. Never seen a punter so ticked off with coverage assignments coming off the field. It’s just poorly designed. Three guys had a look at McDonald and blew him up. It’s just broken.

With how much Fran preaches accountability there’s no way he doesn’t upgrade this position. He didn’t get the job done. It’s the nature of the business. He could get reassigned if he’s valuable in other ways or he moves on. No shame in that.

 

[OburgCuse]

Feeling or knowing? Are you aware that he has a family and therefore must be retained in perpetuity?

I jest, I think ultimately what Fran was saying is lets not openly chat about the guy needing to lose his livelihood and put his family in fear in the meantime. But that is what you sign up for when you pursue high exposure jobs like a coach at a major school.

Yeah I think Fran was more or less meaning let’s be respectful to him/his family since at the moment he had a job and was under contract. As the leader of the team it wouldn’t set a good example addressing that midseason.

Now that the season is over and since most assistants are year to year his performance (as well as others) will be evaluated and decisions will be made whether to continue with or move on.

 

[orangepassion]

Fran was livid with the two point call to open the game.

I think stonehouse also wanted to fire vollano after the blocked punt. Never seen a punter so ticked off with coverage assignments coming off the field. It’s just poorly designed. Three guys had a look at McDonald and blew him up. It’s just broken.

With how much Fran preaches accountability there’s no way he doesn’t upgrade this position. He didn’t get the job done. It’s the nature of the business. He could get reassigned if he’s valuable in other ways or he moves on. No shame in that.

There were 3 Wash State guys who could have blocked that punt, after almost blocking the previous punt.

 

[FrancoPizza]

Fran was livid with the two point call to open the game.

as HC doesn’t he get the final say on going for 2????

 

[JRHEETER]

Feeling or knowing? Are you aware that he has a family and therefore must be retained in perpetuity?

I jest, I think ultimately what Fran was saying is lets not openly chat about the guy needing to lose his livelihood and put his family in fear in the meantime. But that is what you sign up for when you pursue high exposure jobs like a coach at a major school.

Know

 

[Cusefan69]

It will be interesting to see how things shake out on Defense as well. Erob I think is totally safe but gotta believe maybe bring in a consultant to like a Coach P or someone?

 

[721Comstock]

He is the Sterlin Gilbert of STs coaches.

It's was only a matter of time before someone brought this up here...

I can only remember 2 years that SU had truly bad special teams - the year Dino thought he could get by without a ST coordinator, and 2024. And this year was the worst!

If Fran has aspirations of making the CFP, we need top ST's. Sorry, but Vollono was given many chances, and he isn't the answer.

I know Fran doesn't want to fire anyone, so maybe he can be moved to some kind of analyst/helper role. He certainly shouldn't have anything to do w/ STs!

Brady Denaburg wasn't the cause screwing up on-sides kicks or punts getting blocked. With some good coaching, Denaburg should have been able to improve his FG accuracy. But he seriously regressed.

What went right under Vollono? Because I'm not seeing anything. We had the worst ST in the ACC, maybe in all of D1.

Just about everyone in coaching gets fired at some point. dArt => Accountability.

Yup.

At best, best, this year, our ST’s made it all the way up to below average.

And I agree 144% - never seen any team at any level struggle soooooo badly with blocking for a punt.

Our kick and punt coverage was meh, and our return game was underwhelming.

And don’t even get me started on our FG kicking.
We play 6-7 games in a freaking DOME.
Our kicking game should be at worst, above average.

I’m sure Vollono is a great guy, and he’s got a lovely family, yada yada yada.

But he literally has ONE JOB.

And he was objectively turrible at it.

I wanted him fired at halftime, and left on the tarmac.
But not renewing his contract works too.

 

[Bulldog04]

Yeah I mean how many “near blocks” were there too? Like 12? They almost blocked first punt and there were so many others throughout the year that were so close. Sorry but you have a job to do and he didn’t do it at all let alone well