Restoring the tradition of defensive excellence at the University of Florida, Sal Sunseri’s impact in his first season (2018) in Gainesville was immense as his defensive line wreaked havoc in opposing team’s backfields.
Florida forced 11 fumbles and totaled 37 sacks in 2018, marking the first time it achieved those combined totals since 2015.
Sunseri, who came to Florida after spending three seasons as the Oakland Raiders’ linebackers coach, has 35 years of coaching experience that includes 10 seasons in the NFL and six in the Southeastern Conference.
Prior to his stint with the Raiders, Sunseri spent two years at Florida State (2013-14).
In addition, he has been a defensive coordinator (Tennessee, 2012), assistant head coach at Alabama for Nick Saban (2009-11) and a seven-year defensive line coach for the Carolina Panthers (2002-08).
Prior to his time at Carolina, Sunseri worked as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Michigan State in 2001 after spending 2000 on Saban’s Louisiana State staff in the same capacity. He was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Alabama A&M in 1998 and 1999 after three seasons as the linebackers coach at Louisville. Sunseri’s climb of the coaching ladder included one-year stops at Illinois State (1994) and Iowa Wesleyan (1993).
He broke into coaching at his alma mater, Pittsburgh, in 1985 and directed the defensive line and linebackers before being named assistant head coach in 1992.
Florida (2018)
Florida’s defense, led by the guys up front that Sunseri coached, made huge improvements in 2018 compared to the prior season:
Category ‘17 Stats FBS Rank ‘18 Stats FBS Rank Change
Fumble Recoveries 3 t-125th 12 t-12th +113
Forced Fumbles 3 t-129th 11 t-52nd +77
Takeaways 17 t-81st 26 t-11th +70
Passing Efficiency Defense 130.87 73rd 112.69 17th +56
Scoring Defense 27.3 69th 20.0 20th +49
Yards Per Play 5.73 73rd 5.12 33rd +40
Sacks Per Game (Total) 2.09 (23) t-59th 2.85 (37) t-20th +39
In addition, the Gators’ 26 takeaways ranked tied for 11th nationally, and they scored 85 points off those turnovers.
Individually, Sunseri tutored Jachai Polite to an All-American caliber season and coached Jabari Zuniga and Cece Jefferson to All-SEC type seasons.
Polite tied Clifford Charlton’s 1986 single-season school record for forced fumbles with FBS-leading six and he became the fourth Gator in history with at least eight career forced fumbles, joining Charlton (15 –1984-87), Guss Scott (11 – 2000-03), and Alex Brown (9 – 1997-2001). In addition, Polite was one of two players in the country to record at least five forced fumbles and 10-plus sacks. The Daytona Beach, Fla. native finished the season with 17.5 tackles-for-loss, which left him a 0.5 tackles for loss shy of tying Alex Brown’s 1999 season for the 10th-highest single-season total in school history.
For his outstanding play on the field, here is the complete list of accolades he earned:
- SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (Miss. St)
- Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week (FSU)
- Bednarik Award Semifinalist (DL)
- AP First Team All-SEC (DE)
- Coaches First Team All-SEC (DL)
- AP All-America Second Team (DE)
- Athlon Sports First Team All-SEC (DL)
- ESPN First Team All-SEC (DL)
- Phil Steele All-American Third Team (DL)
- Phil Steele All-SEC First Team (DL)
Zuniga, who totaled career-highs in tackles (45), tackles-for-loss (11), sacks (6.5) and quarterback hurries (4), was named to the Ted Hendricks Award Watch List and earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors after UF’s win over Colorado State.
Moreover, Polite and Zuniga became the first pair of Gators with at least 11 tackles-for-loss in a season since the trio of Jon Bullard (17.5), Antonio Morrison (12.0) and Jarrad Davis (11.0) all reached that mark in 2015. They are also the first pair of Gators defensive linemen to reach that total in a season since Jaye Howard (12.0) and Justin Trattou (11.0) did it in 2010.
Jefferson, who was on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Ted Hendricks Award Watch Lists, finished his seniors season with one sack, six tackles-for-loss, four QB hurries and two pass breakups.
Oakland Raiders (2015-17)
Despite a disappointing overall record in 2017, veteran linebacker Navarro Bowman, who joined the team midway through the season, finished tied for first on the team with 89 tackles and also accrued 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one interception and two fumbles recovered.
In addition, Bruce Irvin finished second on the team with 8.5 sacks, while Nicholas Morrow and Cory James finished the season with 60 and 56 tackles, respectively across 16 contests.
Under Sunseri in 2016, LB Malcolm Smith led the team in tackles for the second-straight year with 115 (87 solo). Smith appeared in 15 games and finished with one interception, six passes defended and tied a career-high two forced fumbles. Veteran LB Perry Riley Jr., who joined the team a quarter of the way into the season, proved to be a great addition for the Raiders in his first season, as he finished with 62 tackles (45) in just 11 games. New free agent signee Irvin tied for first in the NFL with six forced fumbles while setting a career-high 61 tackles (46) in his first year with the Silver and Black.
Sunseri guided then rookie Cory James, who emerged as a significant contributor in 2016. James appeared in all 16 games with five starts and recorded 48 tackles (38) with one forced fumble.
Under Sunseri’s tutelage in 2015, free agent signee Smith led Oakland in tackles in his first year with the team, recording a career-high 143. Smith helped solidify the Raiders’ linebacking corps, starting all 16 games and playing nearly every defensive snap. Smith finished with four sacks, good for second on the team. Sunseri helped develop rookie LBs Neiron Ball and Ben Heeney as they made substantial contributions in their first year. Ball emerged as a starter at outside linebacker before injuring his knee in Week 7, totaling nine tackles (four), one sack and one pass defended in six games with two starts. Heeney played in 15 games with three starts and earned 39 tackles (28), 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble.
Florida State (2013-14)
Sunseri helped Florida State complete a 13-1 Rose Bowl campaign in 2014 and an undefeated (14-0) BCS National Championship season in 2013. Following the 2013 season, Sunseri was promoted to head coach of defense while continuing to serve as defensive ends coach. The 2014 Seminole defense was key to Florida State’s school- and ACC-record 29-game winning streak, which tied for the 12th longest streak in NCAA history.
Seven FSU defenders were named to the All-ACC team in 2014. DE Mario Edwards Jr. led the team with 11 tackles for loss and also had three sacks, five passes defended and two forced fumbles.
Overall, Florida State went 28-1 with Sunseri as an assistant coach, as he joined the team prior to the 2013 Orange Bowl. The 2013 National Championship marked Sunseri’s third BCS title in five years, following his 2009 and 2011 championship runs at Alabama.
The defensive ends, coached by Sunseri, had monumental success in 2013. The Seminole defense also ranked No. 1 in scoring defense (12.1 points per game) and No. 3 in total defense (281.4 yards per game).
Christian Jones collected All-ACC Second-Team accolades and finished with 56 tackles, eight tackles for loss and a team-best six quarterback pressures, while Edwards Jr. was named to the All-ACC Third Team and finished with 28 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Tennessee (2012)
With the Vols, Sunseri coached two of the nation’s top defensive players in LB A.J. Johnson and CB Byron Moore. Johnson was fourth in the nation and led the SEC with an average of 11.5 tackles per game. Moore was tied for 11th in the nation in interceptions, leading the SEC in that category.
Alabama (2009-11)
During his three year span in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide won two national championships (2009, 2011).
The 2011 Crimson Tide outside linebackers flourished under Sunseri and contributed to the overall success of the defense. Lombardi and Butkus Award finalist OLB Courtney Upshaw led the way with 17 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks, which ranked second and fourth, respectively, in the SEC. Sunseri was also recognized individually for his contributions when he was named a finalist for the Broyles Award, presented to the nation’s top assistant coach.
In 2010, Sunseri continued to build on his solid foundation from the National Championship season. The defensive unit ranked third in the country in scoring defense and fifth in total defense. Sophomore LB Dont’a Hightower garnered second-team All-SEC honors with 69 tackles and nine quarterback hurries. Upshaw led the Crimson Tide with 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks, and was named the MVP of the Capital One Bowl.
In Sunseri’s first season at Alabama in 2009, he helped guide the Crimson Tide to the National Championship behind a dominant defense that ranked second nationally in four major categories: rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, total defense and scoring defense. The Alabama defense generated 32 sacks and 98 tackles for loss, despite losing Hightower to an early-season injury.
Carolina Panthers (2002-08)
Sunseri’s defensive line with the Panthers was regarded as one of the best in the NFL. Defensive ends Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker and defensive tackle Kris Jenkins earned Pro Bowl honors during his tenure. He produced at least one Pro Bowl defensive lineman five times as the line coach. The Panthers were among the top 10 in the NFL in terms of fewest yards allowed in four of his seven seasons and made three playoff appearances.
Sunseri came to Carolina as a defensive assistant in 2002 and took over as defensive line coach in 2003.
It was a seamless transition as the Panthers defensive line accounted for 32.5 of the team’s 40 total sacks and also produced a pair of Pro Bowl players in Jenkins and Rucker, setting the standard for which his future units would be measured.
Carolina also won the NFC Championship in 2003 with a 14-3 win over Philadelphia in the conference championship game, two years removed from a 1-15 season in 2001. The Panthers fell to New England in Super Bowl XXXVIII that season, 32-29. During Sunseri's time with the Carolina, the franchise won two NFC South titles and made the playoffs three times.
Pittsburgh (1985-92), Iowa Wesleyan (1993), Illinois State (1994), Louisville (1995-97), Alabama A&M (1998-99), LSU (2000), Michigan State (2001)
Sunseri worked as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Michigan State in 2001 after spending 2000 on Saban’s Louisiana State staff in the same capacity. He was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Alabama A&M in 1998 and 1999 after three seasons as the linebackers coach at Louisville. Sunseri’s climb of the coaching ladder included one-year stops at Illinois State (1994) and Iowa Wesleyan (1993).
He broke into coaching at his alma mater, Pittsburgh, in 1985 and directed the defensive line and linebackers before being named assistant head coach in 1992.
Background
Sunseri began his playing career at the University of Pittsburgh in 1978 as a walk-on and ended it as a team captain and consensus All-American as a senior in 1981. A three-year starter at linebacker, he helped the Panthers to a combined record of 33-3 and anchored a defensive unit that led the NCAA in total defense in 1980 and 1981. He was the defensive MVP in the 1982 Senior Bowl and was drafted in the 10th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers but had his pro career cut short by a knee injury in training camp.
He received a bachelor’s degree in communications from Pittsburgh in 1982.
Sunseri is married to the former Roxann Evans, who was a varsity gymnast at Pittsburgh. The couple has two daughters, Jaclyn and Ashlyn (a former volleyball player at UAB), and two sons, Santino (a former quarterback at Pittsburgh) and Vinnie (a former defensive back at Alabama).
Santino spent two years in the CFL with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2013-14). Meanwhile, Vinnie was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 2014 and playing in nine games as a rookie. He later played in six contests for the San Francisco 49ers in 2016.
Coaching History
| Seasons |
School/Team |
Title/Position Coached |
| 2018-Present |
Florida |
Defensive Line |
| 2015-17 |
Oakland Raiders |
Linebackers |
| 2014 |
Florida State |
Defensive Head Coach / Defensive Ends |
| 2013 |
Florida State |
Defensive Ends |
| 2012 |
Tennessee |
Defensive Coodinator |
| 2009-11 |
Alabama |
Assistant Head Coach / Linebackers |
| 2003-08 |
Carolina Panthers |
Defensive Line |
| 2002 |
Carolina Panthers |
Defensive Assistant |
| 2001 |
Michigan State |
Linebackers / Special Teams |
| 2000 |
LSU |
Linebackers / Special Teams |
| 1998-99 |
Alabama A&M |
Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers |
| 1995-97 |
Louisville |
Linebackers |
| 1994 |
Illinois State |
Defensive Coordinator |
| 1993 |
Iowa Wesleyan |
Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator / Special Teams |
| 1992 |
Pittsburgh |
Defensive Line / Linebackers / Assistant Head Coach |
| 1985-91 |
Pittsburgh |
Defensive Line / Linebackers |
Postseason History
| Season |
Bowl / Playoff Game |
Opponent |
Result |
| 2018 |
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Florida) |
Michigan |
W, 41-15 |
| 2016 |
Wildcard (Raiders) |
Texans |
L, 27-14 |
| 2014 |
Rose Bowl / CFP Playoff
(FSU) |
Oregon |
L, 59-20 |
| 2013 |
BCS National Championship (FSU) |
Auburn |
W, 34-31 |
| 2012 |
Orange Bowl (FSU) |
Northern Illinois |
W, 31-10 |
| 2011 |
BCS National Championship (Alabama) |
LSU |
W, 21-0 |
| 2010 |
Capital One Bowl |
Michigan State |
W, 49-7 |
| 2008 |
Division (Panthers) |
Cardinals |
L, 33-16 |
| 2005 |
NFC Conference Championship (Panthers) |
Seahawks |
L, 34-14 |
| 2005 |
Division (Panthers) |
Bears |
W, 29-21 |
| 2005 |
Wildcard (Panthers) |
Giants |
W, 23-0 |
| 2003 |
Super Bowl (Panthers) |
Patriots |
L, 32-29 |
| 2003 |
NFC Conference Championship (Panthers) |
Eagles |
W, 29-10 |
| 2003 |
Division (Panthers) |
Rams |
W, 29-23 |
| 2003 |
Wildcard (Panthers) |
Cowboys |
W, 14-3 |
| 2001 |
Silicon Valley Classic (Michigan State) |
Fresno State |
W, 44-35 |
| 2000 |
Peach Bowl (LSU) |
Georgia Tech |
W, 28-14 |
| 1989 |
John Hancock Bowl (Pitt) |
Texas A&M |
W, 31-28 |
| 1987 |
Bluebonnet Bowl (Pitt) |
Texas |
L, 32-27 |
NFL Players (Round Drafted)
DT Derrick Nnadi (3rd) – Florida State ’18 – Kansas City Chiefs
DE DeMarcus Walker (2nd) – Florida State ’17 – Denver Broncos
DE Mario Edwards Jr. (2nd) – Florida State ’15 – Oakland Raiders
DT Daniel McCullers (6th) – Tennessee ’14 – Pittsburgh Steelers
LB CJ Moseley (1st) – Alabama ’14 – Baltimore Ravens
LB Nico Johnson (4th) – Alabama ’13 – Kansas City Chiefs
LB Don’t’a Hightower (1st) – Alabama ’12 – New England Patriots
LB Courtney Upshaw (2nd) – Alabama ’12 – Baltimore Ravens
LB Rolando McClain (1st) – Alabama ’10 – Oakland Raiders
LB Tyrus McCloud (4th) – Louisville ’97 – Baltimore Ravens
LB Alan Campos (5th) – Louisville ’97 – Dallas Cowboys
QB Alex Van Pelt (8th) – Pittsburgh ’93 – Pittsburgh Steelers
DE Sean Gilbert (1st) – Pittsburgh ’92 – Los Angeles Rams
LB Ricardo McDonald (4th) – Pittsburgh ’92 – Cincinnati Bengals
DT Keith Hamilton (4th) – Pittsburgh ’92 – New York Giants
DT Mark Gunn (4th) – Pittsburgh ’91 – New York Jets
DE Mark Spindler (3rd) – Pittsburgh ’90 – Detroit Lions
DT Tom Sims (6th) – Pittsburgh ’90 – Kansas City Chiefs
DE Carnel Smith (11th) – Pittsburgh ’90 – Indianapolis Colts
DE Burt Grossman (1st) – Pittsburgh ’89 – San Diego Chargers
LB Jerry Olsavsky (10th) – Pittsburgh ’89 – Pittsburgh Steelers
DE Jon Carter (5th) – Pittsburgh ’88 – New York Giants
DT Lorenzo Freeman (4th) – Pittsburgh ’87 – Green Bay Packers
DE Bob Buczkowski (1st) – Pittsburgh ’86 – Los Angeles Raiders
Personal Information
Education: Bachelor’s from Pitt, 1982
Wife: Roxann
Children: Jaclyn, Ashlyn, Santino, Vinnie
