The Buffalo Bills today announced the hiring of Doug Marrone as the 16th head coach in franchise history. Marrone, 48, replaces former Bills head coach Chan Gailey who was relieved of his duties on Dec. 31.
Marrone spent the previous four years as the head coach of his alma mater’s football program at Syracuse University from 2009-12 and led the program to a 21-17 record in the last three seasons. He guided the Orange to an 8-5 mark in 2010 and 2012 – with both campaigns culminating in a New Era Pinstripe Bowl Championship. Syracuse’s offense set program records in 2012 for total yards (5,681), passing yards (3,619) and first downs (300).
Prior to his Syracuse tenure, Marrone spent seven years in the NFL. From 2006-08 he served as the offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints after a four-year span as the offensive line coach of the New York Jets (2002-05).
Before arriving in New York, Marrone coached the tight ends and tackles at the University of Tennessee in 2001. He spent the 2000 season at the University of Georgia as the program’s offensive line coach after spending the previous five years at Georgia Tech.
Marrone’s coaching career began in 1992 at Cortland State as the school’s tight ends coach before stints as the offensive line coach at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (1993) and Northeastern University in 1994.
Marrone, a Bronx, N.Y. native, was drafted in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Raiders and played two years in the NFL, first with the Miami Dolphins in 1987 and then with the Saints in 1989. He also had playing stints with Pittsburgh, Dallas and Minnesota before closing his career with the NFLE London Monarchs (1991-92).
A three-year letterman at Syracuse, Marrone returned to the university and graduated in 1991. He and his wife, Helen, have two daughters, Madeline and Anne, and a son, Mack.
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