Syracuse head football coach Doug Marrone has named Jaime Elizondo Orange wide receivers coach. Elizondo has experience as a professional and collegiate coach. He joins the Orange after coaching the wide receivers for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Elizondo spent two years as an intern in the National Football League's Minority Internship Program, including in 2007 with the New Orleans Saints when Marrone was on staff. Elizondo has also coached at Hofstra, William & Mary, Catholic University and the University of Maryland.
"Jaime is a great communicator and a great teacher," Marrone said. "We had an opportunity to work together during his experience in the NFL Minority Internship Program at the New Orleans Saints. The entire Saints staff was very excited about Jaime and I am fortunate to have the opportunity to hire him. He is very technique oriented and very precise, which is something that we need in the wide receiver position."
In Montreal, Elizondo mentored two CFL First Team All-Stars, including Jamel Richardson and Ben Cahoon. He was also the team's assistant special teams coordinator.
With the Saints, Elizondo worked with all aspects of the special teams and assisted with the wide receivers during individual periods.
In his three seasons as the wide receivers coach at Hofstra, Elizondo mentored All-Atlantic 10 selections Marques Colston, who just completed his third season with the New Orleans Saints, and Devale Ellis, who signed with the Cleveland Browns. He also coached receiver Shaine Smith, who signed with the New York Jets in 2007. During his time at Hofstra the Pride featured its conference's leading receiver in every season. In 2005, the Pride passing attack (306.5 ypg) ranked third in I-AA and first in the Atlantic 10. Hofstra also ranked second in the conference and 14th in I-AA in total offense (429.8 ypg). Elizondo was also Hofstra's special teams and recruiting coordinator.
He joined Hofstra after two seasons as the tight ends and special teams coach at the College of William and Mary in 2002 and 2003. Under his direction Tribe kicker Greg Keuhn and punter Michael Mesi to All-Atlantic 10 honors for two consecutive seasons.
Elizondo was the special teams coordinator/defensive secondary coach at Catholic University in the 2001 season. The Cardinals led the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in net punt average, punt return yardage and kickoff coverage.
Elizondo began his coaching career at Georgetown Prep High School in Rockville, Md., in August 1998. In January 2000, he moved over to College Park to become assistant recruiting coordinator for the University of Maryland football program, where he oversaw the best recruiting class in College Park in 20 years.
A native of El Paso, Texas, Elizondo earned a bachelor's degree in physiology and neurobiology from the University of Maryland in 1997 and a law degree from American University's Washington College of Law in 2002.