Syracuse head football coach Doug Marrone added New York native John Anselmo to his staff as the secondary coach. A graduate of Freeport High School, Anselmo earned his undergraduate degree from Cortland State in 1971 and his master's degree from Syracuse University, where he was a graduate assistant in 1971 and 1972.
"John is a veteran coach who has a great deal of experience in recruiting, particularly in one of our most critical areas in New York City, Long Island and New Jersey," said head coach Doug Marrone. "He is a winner who has accomplished a lot. I want to surround our players with people who have won. John will bring stability in the area of recruiting. From a standpoint of evaluating talent, he has seen more high school players than most coaches in college football today."
The winningest active junior college coach, Anselmo compiled a record of 151-38 (79.8 win percentage) in 16 years at Nassau Community College (1989 through 1994 and 1999-2008). He mentored more than 150 student-athletes who went on to Division I schools, and more than 400 who moved on to four-year colleges.
"There are not too many people I would have left my situation for, but Doug was one of them," said Anselmo of Marrone, with whom he worked at Georgia Tech from 1995-98. "I have been recruiting Long Island and New York City for the past 30 years. I remember as a young boy watching Syracuse play in the Cotton Bowl. I liked (Heisman Trophy winner) Ernie Davis and (All-American tight end) John Mackey was from my hometown. He went to Hempstead High School and I went to Freeport High School. When I went to Cortland State I continued to follow Syracuse. In my senior year we had a scrimmage against SU in Archbold Stadium."
Anselmo excelled in both football and baseball at Cortland State before moving on to begin his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Syracuse University. In 1972, he started his teaching career and was an assistant coach at Tappan Zee High School in Orangeburg, N.Y., where he stayed until 1976. Anselmo returned to his alma mater, Freeport High School, as a physical education teacher and baseball coach in 1977. After one year, he began his association with Nassau Community College as an assistant coach. He was the defensive coordinator for 10 years before becoming Nassau's head coach in 1989. In six years, Anselmo guided Nassau to 56 wins in 58 games.
In 1995, Anselmo moved to Atlanta to serve as the secondary coach for head coach George O'Leary at Georgia Tech, where he was on the staff with Marrone. Under Anselmo's guidance free safety Brian Wilkins tied a Georgia Tech record with 3 interceptions against Florida State in 1996. He returned to Nassau Community College as its head coach in 1999.
Anselmo, who was also an NCC professor in the Department of Health, is a frequent speaker at coaching clinics and banquets. He and his wife, Carol, have three children.