UPDATED 11:59 p.m. ET: In a press release, Tennessee has confirmed the hiring of Sal Suneri as the Vols’ new defensive coordinator.
“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,” said head coach Derek Dooley in a 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.”
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On Tuesday it was reported that Alabama defensive assistant Sal Sunseri would interview for the vacant Tennessee defensive coordinator job. Three days later, Sunseri appears to have landed the gig.
First reported by Wes Rucker of GoVols247.com, and subsequently confirmed by multiple media outlets, the Vols have selected Sunseri as its new coordinator. Sunseri would replace Justin Wilcox, who left for the same position at Washington.
The multi-year deal could be worth upwards of $800,000 annually. There’s no word yet on when UT will officially announce the Sunseri’s hiring.
Sunseri, whose sons Tino and Vinnie are a quarterback at Pitt and defensive back at ‘Bama, respectively, has been the assistant head coach for defense/outside linebackers for the Tide since January of 2009. Prior to that, Sunseri spent seven seasons as the defensive line coach of the Carolina Panthers. He’s previously been a coordinator during stops at Alabama A&M, Illinois State and Iowa Wesleyan.
As noted by Andrew Gribble of the Knoxville News Sentinel, “Sunseri is the 4th former Alabama employee Tennessee athletics has hired for an important position since September.” UT’s new athletic director, Dave Hart, was the Tide’s executive director of athletics from 2007 through September of 2011.