Syracuse Hires Former D-III National Champion Coach As Defensive Coordinator

The Orange are looking to recover from a down 2025.

Vince Kehres won big at Mount Union before working as Toledo's defensive coordinator for six years. / Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Syracuse's next defensive coordinator will reportedly bring a national championship pedigree to Upstate New York.

The Orange are hiring Toledo defensive coordinator Vince Kehres to the same position, according to a Saturday afternoon report from Pete Thamel of ESPN. Kehres, 49, won two Division III national championships as Mount Union's head coach from 2013 to '19.

All told, Kehres amassed a 95-6 record with the Purple Raiders after taking over for his Hall of Fame father Larry, winning national titles in 2015 and 2017. With the Rockets, he coached a consistently stout defense and produced players such as Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.

Toledo, 8-4 this season, lost coach Jason Candle to UConn Saturday morning after 10 years.

Syracuse took a massive step back after winning 10 games in 2024 under coach Fran Brown; the Orange, 3-9 this year, are scheduled to open 2026 on Sept. 5 against New Hampshire. Interestingly, Syracuse will host the Rockets two weeks later.

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