Syracuse Football: Tom Kaufman, Brad Wittke Join Dino Babers's Orange Staff

The Christmas holiday was far from quiet for the Syracuse Orange football program, as the team appeared to add two new names to Dino Babers's growing staff. As Syracuse.com's Stephen Bailey tracked down on Twitter, Bowling Green linebackers coach Tom Kaufman comes over to coach linebackers and special teams at Syracuse. Additionally, the Orange add a new director of football operations in Brad Wittke, who served the same role at Bowling Green as well.

Kaufman's add seemed pretty likely when Babers was named head coach, so it's good to see that finally come to fruition. Wittke's add wasn't necessarily on the radar, but given the make-up of this staff containing a lot of former Bowling Green coaches, it would also make a ton of sense.

Over on Syracuse.com, Bailey breaks down the Orange staff as it currently stands.

Sean Lewis, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach

Mike Lynch, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach

Brian Ward, Defensive Coordinator

Tom Kaufman, Linebackers Coach/Special Teams Coordinator

Nick Monroe, Secondary Coach

Kim McCloud, Assistant Head Coach

Chris Beatty, Assistant Coach

Those seven leave two more full-time spots open still. Wittke doesn't count against that total, nor will additional support staff such as strength and conditioning, quality control, etc.

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Some background on both new Syracuse adds:

Kaufman's coaching career started at Heidelberg College (Division III) as a linebackers coach, then moved on to Case Western and University of Chicago, respectively, before moving on to Mississippi State (grad assistant), Kansas (quality control) and Texas (quality control). He joined Babers's Eastern Illinois staff in 2012, and then followed along to Bowling Green in 2014.

Wittke was a grad assistant at Eastern Illinois prior to Babers's arrival and then left for the Pittsburgh Power (Arena Football League) front office in 2012. In 2015, he took the job with Bowling Green, where his father Roy is currently still employed as recruiting coordinator. No word yet on whether Roy joins his son at Syracuse.

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With more coaching staff spots still to fill out, we'll update as we can. Without official announcements from Syracuse, we're relegated to watching social media for the time being.