Syracuse, N.Y. -- Six days after news got out that Syracuse football linebackers coach Steve Stanard was leaving to take the same position at Kansas State, Dino Babers has hired his replacement.

The Orange is bringing on Chris Achuff, a longtime college coach who spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

“Chris has been around some of the top coaches and athletes in the sport,” Babers said in a statement. “He was in the NFL for two seasons in addition to his college experience. He’s a fantastic addition to our staff and we are excited to have him on board.”

“I can’t thank Coach Babers enough for this opportunity,” Achuff said in a statement. “Growing up in Pennsylvania, I knew all about Syracuse and its storied football tradition. I’m truly excited to work with these players and help Coach Babers add to that legacy.”

Achuff served as the Cardinals defensive line coach last year, mentoring former SU standout Chandler Jones, after breaking into the NFL as Arizona’s assistant d-line coach in 2018. Before that, he spent 14 years in the college ranks as a defensive line coach, including an eight-year stint at Baylor (2008-16), where he overlapped with Babers from 2008-11.

Achuff was retained by BU head coach Jim Grobe for his last year in Waco, Texas, after Art Briles was fired in the wake of a sexual assault scandal.

Achuff also coached the d-line at Navarro Junior College (2017), UT Martin (2006-07), Charleston Southern (2005) and Chattanooga (2004). Before that, the Bellefonte, Pa., native was a graduate assistant at Penn State from 2012-13. He coached linebackers at Kutztown State from 2000-01 after joining the coaching ranks as Bryant College’s linebackers coach in 1999.

In Syracuse, Achuff will work with a linebackers group that is replacing its starters for a third straight campaign while transitioning to defensive coordinator Tony White’s 3-3-5 system. Bigger bodies Tyrell Richards and Geoff Cantin-Arku were slotted as the first-teamers heading into the spring, though sophomore Mikel Jones returns the most on-field experience playing linebacker.

SU held its first two spring practices on Sunday and Tuesday and is scheduled to return to the field on Thursday.

Stephen Bailey covers Syracuse football for The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com. You can follow him on Twitter @Stephen_Bailey1 and on Facebook. He can also be reached anytime via email.

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