Maybe it should not be overly surprising that Syracuse dipped into New Orleans for its next head coach.

When Syracuse hired Saints offensive coordinator Doug Marrone this week, it continued a tradition that New Orleans has established as a breeding ground of college head coaches.

Mike Riley was the Saints assistant coach in 2003, when Oregon State hired him as its head coach and he since has put together a 47-38 record. Ron Zook was the Saints defensive coordinator in 2001, when the University of Florida hired him. John Bunting was the Saints linebackers coach in 2000, when he was hired as the head coach at North Carolina, where he compiled a 27-45 record before being fired in 2006.

And now the Saints have hired Marrone, who Syracuse hopes fares better than some of his former New Orleans predecessors.

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