Syracuse football named Zach Arnett its new defensive coordinator on Saturday, filling the full-time vacant since former coordinator Brian Ward’s firing at the tail end of the 2019 season.

Arnett comes to SU from San Diego State, where he held the defensive coordinator position under head coach Rocky Long — who also interviewed for the SU vacancy — for the 2018-19 seasons. He also coached linebackers, which Ward did at SU.

“He learned under a great defensive mind in Rocky Long at San Diego State and excelled when he got the opportunity to run the defense there,” Dino Babers said, via an SU Athletics press release. “His qualities, both as a person and as a professional, are an excellent fit for our program.”

Arnett spent his entire coaching career to date with the Aztecs, beginning as a graduate assistant in 2011 before being promoted to coaching linebackers in 2014. He played the same position at New Mexico from 2005-08. In 2019, Arnett’s defense ranked top 10 in the nation in rushing defense, scoring defense, interceptions, first downs allowed, total defense, passing efficiency defense and turnovers gained.

It’s unclear at this time if Arnett will be empowered to shape the defensive staff, which remains intact since Ward’s firing, or if he will be tasked with leading the current crop of positional coaches.