Bowling Green State University Athletics
Carl Pelini Named BGSU Defensive Coordinator
December 19, 2017 | Football
Bowling Green, Ohio – Bowling Green State University Football Coach Mike Jinks has announced that he has hired Carl Pelini as Defensive Coordinator for the Falcons. Pelini has extensive history as both a head coach and defensive coordinator at the highest levels and holds deep roots in the state of Ohio.
"I am extremely excited to become part of the Bowling Green Falcon coaching staff, Bowling Green State University, and the community at large," Pelini said. "I would like to thank Coach Jinks, the staff and the administration for all their help in making this opportunity become reality. I look forward to working with the young men in the program, and to developing a passionate, physical brand of defense that will define us from this point forward."
Pelini will leave his current post as Defensive Coordinator at Youngstown State to assume his duties at Bowling Green. He served three years as the Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach with the Penguins and his tenure has been highlighted by an appearance in the FCS National Championship Game for the 2016 season. He has developed two NFL Draft picks in defensive ends Derek Rivers and Avery Moss.
Pelini's defense allowed just 19.1 points per contest in 2017, the fewest by the program since 2007. YSU led the FCS by allowing just 143.7 passing yards per game, a 46.7 completion percentage and only eight touchdowns. It was the second time in three years under Pelini that the Penguins ranked No. 1 in the country in fewest passing yards allowed.
In 2016, the Youngstown State defense ranked 12th in scoring defense in FCS, allowing just 19.9 points per game, as the team finished 12-4 and reached the FCS National Championship game. In his first season at YSU, the 2015 team allowed just 116.7 yards passing, the lowest total for the program since 1976, while the 41.1 completion percentage allowed was the lowest by opponents since 1980.
"Carl Pelini made an excellent impact on our Youngstown State student-athletes and program," Youngstown State President Jim Tressel said. "He is a superior defensive mind who will serve the Falcons well. We thank Carl for his very fine work at YSU."
Prior to his time at Youngstown State, Pelini was the head coach at Florida Atlantic during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, following a four-year stint as the Defensive Coordinator at Nebraska. During his tenure in Lincoln, the Huskers defense consistently ranked among the nation's best. In combined totals from 2009-11, Nebraska ranked second nationally in pass efficiency defense, fifth in passing yards allowed per game, seventh in scoring defense and No. 10 in total defense. He was a top five finisher in the voting for the Frank Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year Award in both 2009 and 2010.
In his final two seasons at Nebraska, Pelini's defense produced six All-Americans, two first-round NFL Draft picks and two conference defensive players of the year.
Pelini joined Nebraska after spending three years on the coaching staff at Ohio under current head coach Frank Solich. He helped the team to nine wins and a bowl game in 2006, the first time the program had done either of those in almost 40 years. In 2007, the Ohio defense ranked in the top 30 nationally in scoring and total defense.
Pelini also spent a successful stint as the Defensive Coordinator and Secondary Coach at Minnesota State Mankato and rebuilt a program at Austintown Fitch High School prior to that. His early years also included coaching positions at various high schools as well as time at Kansas State under Bill Snyder.
"We're excited to have someone with Carl's experience on our staff," Jinks said. "We looked for someone who has called defense at the highest level. He's an Ohio guy and if we're going to continue to recruit at a high level, it has to begin at home. He is an asset to what we are trying to do in Ohio. He's been in the MAC and his scheme is proven to succeed."
A 1989 Youngstown State graduate, Pelini has a high school and collegiate coaching career that spans almost 25 years. He played two seasons at Columbia University in New York before transferring to Youngstown State, where he earned his bachelor's degree in English literature. He earned his master's degree in journalism from Kansas State in 1991 and a master's degree in education from Ohio State in 1993.
Credit to Youngstown State Sports Information and YSUSports.com for many of the details of this press release.
"I am extremely excited to become part of the Bowling Green Falcon coaching staff, Bowling Green State University, and the community at large," Pelini said. "I would like to thank Coach Jinks, the staff and the administration for all their help in making this opportunity become reality. I look forward to working with the young men in the program, and to developing a passionate, physical brand of defense that will define us from this point forward."
Pelini will leave his current post as Defensive Coordinator at Youngstown State to assume his duties at Bowling Green. He served three years as the Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach with the Penguins and his tenure has been highlighted by an appearance in the FCS National Championship Game for the 2016 season. He has developed two NFL Draft picks in defensive ends Derek Rivers and Avery Moss.
Pelini's defense allowed just 19.1 points per contest in 2017, the fewest by the program since 2007. YSU led the FCS by allowing just 143.7 passing yards per game, a 46.7 completion percentage and only eight touchdowns. It was the second time in three years under Pelini that the Penguins ranked No. 1 in the country in fewest passing yards allowed.
In 2016, the Youngstown State defense ranked 12th in scoring defense in FCS, allowing just 19.9 points per game, as the team finished 12-4 and reached the FCS National Championship game. In his first season at YSU, the 2015 team allowed just 116.7 yards passing, the lowest total for the program since 1976, while the 41.1 completion percentage allowed was the lowest by opponents since 1980.
"Carl Pelini made an excellent impact on our Youngstown State student-athletes and program," Youngstown State President Jim Tressel said. "He is a superior defensive mind who will serve the Falcons well. We thank Carl for his very fine work at YSU."
Prior to his time at Youngstown State, Pelini was the head coach at Florida Atlantic during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, following a four-year stint as the Defensive Coordinator at Nebraska. During his tenure in Lincoln, the Huskers defense consistently ranked among the nation's best. In combined totals from 2009-11, Nebraska ranked second nationally in pass efficiency defense, fifth in passing yards allowed per game, seventh in scoring defense and No. 10 in total defense. He was a top five finisher in the voting for the Frank Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year Award in both 2009 and 2010.
In his final two seasons at Nebraska, Pelini's defense produced six All-Americans, two first-round NFL Draft picks and two conference defensive players of the year.
Pelini joined Nebraska after spending three years on the coaching staff at Ohio under current head coach Frank Solich. He helped the team to nine wins and a bowl game in 2006, the first time the program had done either of those in almost 40 years. In 2007, the Ohio defense ranked in the top 30 nationally in scoring and total defense.
Pelini also spent a successful stint as the Defensive Coordinator and Secondary Coach at Minnesota State Mankato and rebuilt a program at Austintown Fitch High School prior to that. His early years also included coaching positions at various high schools as well as time at Kansas State under Bill Snyder.
"We're excited to have someone with Carl's experience on our staff," Jinks said. "We looked for someone who has called defense at the highest level. He's an Ohio guy and if we're going to continue to recruit at a high level, it has to begin at home. He is an asset to what we are trying to do in Ohio. He's been in the MAC and his scheme is proven to succeed."
A 1989 Youngstown State graduate, Pelini has a high school and collegiate coaching career that spans almost 25 years. He played two seasons at Columbia University in New York before transferring to Youngstown State, where he earned his bachelor's degree in English literature. He earned his master's degree in journalism from Kansas State in 1991 and a master's degree in education from Ohio State in 1993.
Credit to Youngstown State Sports Information and YSUSports.com for many of the details of this press release.
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