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Syracuse head football coach Dino Babers announced on Thursday that special teams coordinator and outside receivers coach Justin Lustig has been promoted to assistant head coach.
Lustig earned the promotion after working as Syracuse's special teams coordinator and running backs coach in 2017, and serving as the program's special teams coordinator and outside receivers coach last season. Lustig will continue to oversee both special teams and the Orange's outside receivers in his new role.
"Justin has been instrumental to the success we've had here," Babers said. "His special teams units are outstanding and he's an excellent teacher and mentor for our student-athletes. We're fortunate to have him as part of our football family."
In 2018, Lustig's work helped propel the Orange to a 10-3 record, the program's best season in 17 years. His special teams units led the ACC in net punting average (39.3) for the second year in a row and topped the conference in kickoff return yardage defense (18.3 ypr). Additionally, the Orange ranked among the top three in the conference in four more special teams categories.
Lustig has coached five All-ACC selections in his two years with the Orange, including punter Sterling Hofrichter and kicker Andre Szmyt. Both players were named to the 2018 All-ACC First Team, with Szmyt garnering unanimous All-America honors and winning the Lou Groza Award as the nation's best kicker. Szmyt led the country in virtually every kicking category. He made an ACC-record 30 field goals and became the second placekicker in FBS history to lead the nation in points per game (11.6).
Lustig's guidance was also critical to the development of wide receiver Jamal Custis, who more than tripled his career receiving totals last season. Custis was voted to the 2018 All-ACC Second Team and earned an invitation to this week's NFL Scouting Combine.