Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Coach Poach: New Buffalo Bills, old Syracuse Jets

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Syracuse University can now be considered a feeder program for Buffalo Bills coaches. That's if they don't first go to the New York Jets for training.

After former Orange head coach and new Bills coach Doug Marrone brought in Syracuse offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to assume the same role in Buffalo, he further gave his new team the look of his old team, hiring four more assistants from Syracuse. (photo: Jen, Flickr)

Marrone also went to his new division rival for a chunk of his new staff, hiring three former Jets assistants to work under former Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.

Marrone announced the hirings Tuesday.

Donnie Henderson (defensive backs) is coming over from Syracuse and was the Jets' defensive coordinator in 2004-05. Tyrone Wheatley (running backs) Greg Adkins (tight ends) and Jason Rebrovich (defensive quality control) are all formerly of the Orange.

Jim O'Neil (linebackers), Anthony Weaver (defensive line) and Samson Brown (assistant defensive backs) are the other new assistants formerly of the Jets.

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