Report: Syracuse tabs Scott Shafer as coaching replacement for Doug Marrone

Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone speaks at the press conference. Scott Shafer will replace him at Syracuse. (Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports)

Only days after Doug Marrone, the man who turned around a downtrodden program, left to take on the coaching responsibilities for the Buffalo Bills, the Syracuse athletic department has found his successor.

And, according to CBS Sports, it is a familiar face in Marrone’s defensive coordinator, Scott Shafer.

At only 46 years of age, Shafer already has extensive experience as the D-coordinator at big time programs Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Stanford and Michigan. Under Shafer’s guidance, the Orange finished their 2012 campaign with the nation’s No. 6-overall defense and a stifling win over West Virginia’s high powered offense in the Pinstripe Bowl.

He had been in the same position with the Orange since 2009, and the team’s offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, is expected stay on board as well.

Although this will be Shafer’s first head coaching position, he feels that he is ready to take the next step. He was a candidate for the Western Michigan job that instead went to PJ Fleck.

Syracuse and West Virginia nearly brawl before the 2012 Pinstripe Bowl even started

What do you think Gamedayrs?