Posted by Chip Patterson
Alabama assistant coach Sal Sunseri will be Tennessee's next defensive coordinator. Early reports from GoVols247 and the Tuscaloosa Bureau were confirmed in an official release from the school on Friday. Sunseri replaces former defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox, who accepted a position on the Washington coaching staff in September.
"The chance to work with Derek Dooley, who has been around championships and knows what it takes to build an elite program, combined with the rich tradition of the University of Tennessee, makes this opportunity so exciting to me," Sunseri said in the official release. "I am fired up to work with all of the young talent on the defensive side of the ball, and I can't wait to get up to Knoxville and coach them."
After winning two national championships in three seasons on Nick Saban's staff at Alabama, Sunseri will be in good company with head coach Derek Dooley. Dooley spent five years as an assistant to Saban at LSU, then two more on his Miami Dolphins coaching staff.
Like Dooley, Sunseri's family has been surrounded by college football. His oldest son, Tino, is the starting quarterback at Pittsburgh (where Sunseri was an All-American linebacker in 1981) and his youngest son, Vinnie, recorded just finished a 31-tackle freshman campaign as an Alabama linebacker.
"Sal has had unparalleled success over the last decade in not only contributing to team and unit success, but also in his ability to motivate and develop elite individual talent," Dooley said in a prepared statement. "His combination of defensive knowledge, recruiting success, high-energy personality, ability to connect with players, and personal integrity and character make him an exceptional fit for Tennessee."
Sunseri is Dooley's second hire of the week, looking to fill the positions left by other departing coaches. On Thursday Tennessee announced former North Carolina assistant Sam Pittman as the new offensive line coach. Pittman replaces Harry Hiestand, who left to take a job on Brian Kelly's staff at Notre Dame.
For more information on Tennessee's recent coaching hires, follow Daniel Lewis and the Volunteers RapidReports
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Blog Entry
Alabama's Sal Sunseri to Tennessee as DC
Posted on: January 13, 2012 11:32 am
Edited on: January 13, 2012 11:54 am
Category: NCAAF
Tags: Alabama, Alabama Assistant Tennessee, Chip Patterson, Derek Dooley, Justin Wilcox, Nick Saban, Sal Sunseri Alabama, Sal Sunseri Hired, Sal Sunseri Tennessee, SEC, Tennessee, Tennessee Coaching Rumors, Tennessee Defensive Coordinator, Tennessee Defensive Coordinator Hired, Tennessee Defensive Coordinator Rumors, Tennessee Defensive Coordinator Search, Washington
Comments
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Since: Jan 3, 2007 |
Posted on: January 13, 2012 6:06 pm
Alabama's Sal Sunseri to Tennessee as DCSal Sunseri obviously did an outstanding job with Alabama's linebackers ... who can name a group of LBs anywhere in the country with a better track record? We all wish him success in Tennessee. May he help restore that program to its former glories ... excepting of course one game per year. ;-) (Two if they win the East. LOL)
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Since: Aug 12, 2006 |
Posted on: January 13, 2012 5:46 pm
Alabama's Sal Sunseri to Tennessee as DCSabn will do like he does with top recruits replace them and make the rplacement 4 times better!
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Since: Jan 13, 2012 |
Posted on: January 13, 2012 2:22 pm
Alabama's Sal Sunseri to Tennessee as DCAnd when was your last BCS NC? That's right you have to get to the game to play in it. Good hire!!!!!!!
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Since: Mar 9, 2010 |
Posted on: January 13, 2012 1:41 pm
Alabama's Sal Sunseri to Tennessee as DCI predict Sal sunseri will become the new head coach at Tennessee after this season.. That is how awful Derrick Dooley is. Why else would sal leave the champs to go be a DC at a what USED to be a good football program
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Since: Sep 5, 2006 |
Posted on: January 13, 2012 1:30 pm
Alabama's Sal Sunseri to Tennessee as DCThere is no way Sal could turn down an offer to become DC at Tennessee and triple his current salary at the same time. |
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Since: Nov 27, 2011 |
Posted on: January 13, 2012 1:24 pm
Alabama's Sal Sunseri to Tennessee as DCAS BAMA'S LB COACH AND A FR SON AT BAMA, NO DOUBT A TOUGH DECISION TO LEAVE.....WOW, A DEFECTION IN THE BAMA FAMILY TO A CONF RIVAL...BUT, YOU CAN'T KEEP GOOD COACHES DOWN AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A STEP UP TO A DC POSITION, MORE MONEY, AND NECESSARY RESUME BUILDER IN SAL'S QUEST TO BECOME A HEAD COACH....BEST OF LUCK TO HIM.
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Since: Aug 24, 2006 |
Posted on: January 13, 2012 1:22 pm
Alabama's Sal Sunseri to Tennessee as DCwhy doesnt' sal at least stay at bama until his son graduates? Guess his son ask him if he would leave so he could enjoy college without his father looking over his shoulder all the time...
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Since: Feb 6, 2008 |
Posted on: January 13, 2012 1:09 pm
Alabama's Sal Sunseri to Tennessee as DCIf you can't beat em hire em. Roll Vols Roll!
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Since: Apr 2, 2011 |
Posted on: January 13, 2012 12:23 pm
Alabama's Sal Sunseri to Tennessee as DCGood hire
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