Source: CU set to hire Sunseri
Brings championship pedigree to Sanders’ staff with four titles
Colorado didn’t waste any time in finding a new defensive tackles coach.
A Buffzone source has confirmed that CU and head coach Deion Sanders are set to hire Sal Sunseri to fill its sudden vacancy on the coaching staff. He will replace Patrick Hill, who left earlier this week after less than two months on the job to take a position with the NFL’S Minnesota Vikings.
Sunseri, 63, spent the past four seasons at Alabama, where he worked alongside new CU defensive coordinator Charles Kelly. Sunseri and Kelly also worked together at Florida State (2013-14).
During his coaching career, Sunseri has been a part of four national title teams, including three times at Alabama (2009, 2011 and 2020). He also won a title at Florida State in 2013.
From 2019-21, Sunseri coached Alabama’s outside linebackers. Last season, he moved to an off-the-field role with the Crimson Tide as a special assistant to head coach Nick Saban. That was his second stint at Alabama, as he worked as assistant head coach and linebackers coach for the Tide from 2009-11 under Saban.
Prior to Alabama, Sunseri coached the defensive line at Florida in 2018. During a coaching career that began in 1985, he has also worked at Florida State, Tennessee, Michigan State, LSU, Alabama A&M, Louisville, Illinois State, Iowa Wesleyan and Pittsburgh.
The defensive coordinator at Tennessee in 2012, Sunseri has also been a special teams coordinator at various stops.
Sunseri also spent a decade in the NFL, coaching linebackers for the Oakland Raiders (2015-17) and the defensive line for the Carolina Panthers (2002-08).
A Pittsburgh native, Sunseri played at Pitt. Originally a walk-on, he became a three-year starter and was an All-american in 1981. He was a 10th-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1982, but a knee injury that year ended his playing career.