Dino Babers was hired as Offensive Coordinator by Head Coach Brent Brennan in Feb. of 2024 and enters his first season with the Wildcats. Babers joins the staff after eight seasons as head coach at Syracuse.
Babers led six teams to bowl eligibility with three double-digit winning seasons. He guided three teams to double-digit winning seasons with 12 wins at Eastern Illinois (2013), 10 wins at Bowling Green (2015), and 10 wins at Syracuse (2018). Babers concluded his 40
th season as a collegiate coach by seeing Syracuse reach back-to-back bowl games for the first time in a decade.
From 1995-2000, Babers served the Arizona Wildcats under legendary Head Coach Dick Tomey as wide receivers coach (1995-96), running backs coach (1997), and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 1998-00. Babers has coached or recruited more than 70 NFL players, including 33 draft picks, four All-Pros (Lance Briggs, Matthew Slater, Josh Gordon, Az-Zahir Hakim) and three Pro Bowlers (Briggs, Slater, Gordon).
Fifteen of his protégés have been picked in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft, including six in the first two rounds. Arizona running back Trung Canidate was the first-round choice of the St. Louis Rams in 2000. Along with Jimmy Garoppolo (Eastern Illinois), wide receivers Brian Alford (Purdue), Will Blackwell (San Diego State), Dennis Northcutt (Arizona) and Josh Gordon (Baylor) were selected in the second round.
Over his impressive coaching career, Babers has coached Arizona players that made it to the NFL including Trung Canidate (St. Louis, Washington), Lance Briggs (Chicago), Mike Lucky (Dallas), Brandon Manumaleuna (St. Louis, San Diego, Chicago), Dennis Northcutt (Cleveland, Jacksonville, Detroit), Andrae Thurman (New York Giants, Houston, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, Tennessee), and Bobby Wade (Chicago, Tennessee, Minnesota, Kansas City, Washington).
He ended his time at Syracuse with a 78-70 (.527) career record and led Syracuse into the top-25 in three of his final six seasons with the program. Babers’ teams also improved on the defensive side of the field in his tenure. The team finished in the top-25 nationally in total defense in two of his final three seasons at the helm.
Babers led teams to 18 postseason appearances including 16 bowl games from 1985 to 2023. He planted the seeds of Syracuse’s revival during his first season in 2016. The Orange knocked off a ranked opponent for the first time in four years, toppling ACC Coastal champion Virginia Tech at home, 31-17. Additionally, he commanded an offense that set or tied more than 40 school records, including new season standards for completions (332) and passing yards (3,855).
Babers took over the Bowling Green program in 2014 and led the Falcons to an 18-9 record in his two years there, including victories over three Big Ten teams (Indiana - 2014; Maryland, Purdue - 2015). The Falcons went 8-6 in Babers’ first season and captured the MAC East Division championship with a 5-3 league mark. Bowling Green lost the MAC title game to Northern Illinois but rebounded for a 33-28 win versus South Alabama in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, BGSU’s first bowl victory since 2004.
He excelled in his first head coaching position, leading Eastern Illinois to a 19-7 record in two seasons, including a 14-1 mark against Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) foes. His 2012 and 2013 Panther teams won the conference championship and earned FCS playoff berths. For his work, Babers was named the OVC Coach of the Year and the AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year after both seasons. The cornerstone of Babers’ Eastern Illinois teams was quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who won the Walter Payton Award (the FCS equivalent of the Heisman Trophy) after throwing for 5,050 yards and 53 touchdowns as a senior in 2013.
A 1984 graduate of the University of Hawaii with a bachelor’s degree in education, Babers started at three different positions (outside linebacker, strong safety, running back) for the Warriors during his career, while earning Western Athletic Conference All-Academic honors. As a senior, he served as Hawaii’s special teams captain and was the squad’s leading rusher.
Babers tried out for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League before an injury in training camp ended his playing career.
Babers, who received his master’s degree in education administration and supervision from Arizona State in 1987, and his wife, Susan, have four daughters – Breeahnah, Tasha, Jazzmin and Paris.
THE BABERS FILE
Experience: 40 seasons/8 at Syracuse
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Alma Mater: Hawaii '84
Family: wife, Susan; daughters, Breeahnah, Tasha, Jazzmin and Paris
| Totals |
Overall |
Conference |
| 12 seasons |
78-70 (.527) |
46-50 (.479) |
|
|
|
| COACHING HISTORY |
|
|
| Years |
School |
Position |
| 2024-present |
Arizona |
Offensive Coordinator |
| 2016-23 |
Syracuse |
Head Coach |
| 2014-15 |
Bowling Green |
Head Coach |
| 2012-13 |
Eastern Illinois |
Head Coach |
| 2009-11 |
Baylor |
Special Teams Coordinator/Wide Receivers |
| 2008 |
Baylor |
Wide Receivers |
| 2007 |
UCLA |
Asst. Head Coach/Running Backs |
| 2006 |
UCLA |
Running Backs |
| 2004-05 |
UCLA |
Wide Receivers |
| 2003 |
Pittsburgh |
Running Backs |
| 2001-02 |
Texas A&M |
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks |
| 1998-00 |
Arizona |
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks |
| 1997 |
Arizona |
Running Backs |
| 1995-96 |
Arizona |
Wide Receivers |
| 1994 |
San Diego State |
Wide Receivers |
| 1991-93 |
Purdue |
Wide Receivers |
| 1990 |
Northern Arizona |
Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs |
| 1988-89 |
UNLV |
Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs |
| 1987 |
Eastern Illinois |
Running Backs |
| 1985-86 |
Arizona State |
Graduate Assistant |
| 1984 |
Hawaii |
Graduate Assistant |
| HEAD COACHING RECORD |
|
|
|
| Year |
School |
Record |
Conf. |
Championships/Postseason |
| 2023 |
Syracuse |
5-6 |
1-6 |
Boca Raton Bowl |
| 2022 |
Syracuse |
7-6 |
4-4 |
Pinstripe Bowl |
| 2021 |
Syracuse |
5-7 |
2-6 |
|
| 2020 |
Syracuse |
1-10 |
1-9 |
|
| 2019 |
Syracuse |
5-7 |
2-6 |
|
| 2018 |
Syracuse |
10-3 |
6-2 |
Camping World Bowl Champions |
| 2017 |
Syracuse |
4-8 |
2-6 |
|
| 2016 |
Syracuse |
4-8 |
2-6 |
|
| 2015 |
Bowling Green |
10-3 |
7-1 |
MAC Champions/GoDaddy Bowl |
| 2014 |
Bowling Green |
8-6 |
5-3 |
MAC East Division Champions/Camellia BowlCar Champions |
| 2013 |
Eastern Illinois |
12-2 |
8-0 |
OVC Champions/FCS Playoffs (Quarterfinals) |
| 2012 |
Eastern Illinois |
7-5 |
6-1 |
OVC Champions/FCS Playoffs (First Round) |
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Hawaii (1979-83)
Columbia Lions (CFL - 1984 free-agent signee)
POSTSEASON COACHING EXPERIENCE
1985- Holiday Bowl
1987- Rose Bowl
1997 - Insight.com Bowl
1998 - Holiday Bowl
2001 - Galleryfurniture.com Bowl
2003 - Continental Tire Bowl
2004 - Las Vegas Bowl
2005 - Sun Bowl
2006 - Emerald Bowl
2007 - Las Vegas Bowl
2010 - Texas Bowl
2011 - Alamo Bowl
2012 - FCS Playoffs (First Round)
2013 - FCS Playoffs (Quarterfinals)
2014 - Camellia Bowl
2018 - Camping World Bowl
2022 - Pinstripe Bowl
2023 - Boca Raton Bowl (did not coach)
PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED
Arizona State
Darryl Clack (Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, Toronto Argonauts - CFL)
Purdue
Brian Alford (New York Giants, Miami Dolphins)
Jermaine Ross (Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars)
San Diego State
Will Blackwell (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Az-Zahir Hakim (St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, New Orleans, San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins)
Arizona
Lance Briggs (Chicago Bears)
Trung Canidate (St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins)
Mike Lucky (Dallas Cowboys)
Brandon Manumaleuna (St. Louis Rams, San Diego Chargers, Chicago Bears)
Dennis Northcutt (Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions)
Andrae Thurman (New York Giants, Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans, Winnipeg Blue Bombers - CFL)
Bobby Wade (Chicago Bears, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins)
Pittsburgh
Brandon Miree (Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers)
Lousaka Polite (Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons)
UCLA
Kahlil Bell (Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers)
Matthew Slater (New England Patriots)
Baylor
David Gettis (Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Winnipeg Blue Bombers - CFL)
Josh Gordon (Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks)
Terrance Williams (Dallas Cowboys, St. Louis BattleHawks - XFL)
Eastern Illinois
Jimmy Garoppolo (New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers)
Kamu Grugier-Hill (New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins)
Erik Lora (Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions)
Bowling Green
Jude Adjei-Barimah (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Diego Fleet - AAF)
Gehrig Dieter (Kansas City Chiefs)
Matt Johnson (Cincinnati Bengals, 2015 MAC Player of the Year)
Roger Lewis (New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts)
D.J. Lynch (New England Patriots)
Gabe Martin (Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints)
Scotty Miller (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
James Morgan (New York Jets)
Syracuse
Josh Black (New Orleans Saints)
Andre Cisco (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Kendall Coleman (Indianapolis Colts)
Nolan Cooney (New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals)
Eric Dungey (New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Renegades - XFL, Cincinnati Bengals)
Amba Etta-Tawo (Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Houston Texans, Birmingham Iron - AAF)
Zaire Franklin (Indianapolis Colts)
Kingsley Jonathan (Buffalo Bills)
Sterling Hofrichter (Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Steve Ishmael (Indianapolis Colts)
Trishton Jackson (Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings)
Koda Martin (Arizona Cardinals)
Ifeatu Melifonwu (Detroit Lions)
Ervin Philips (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Legends - AAF, Ottawa Redblacks - CFL)
Sean Riley (New England Patriots)
Alton Robinson (Seattle Seahawks)
Chris Slayton (New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers)
Sean Tucker (All-American)
McKinley Williams (Indianapolis Colts)
Trill Williams (Miami Dolphins)
